Tobacco Documents Online

The National S~mokers Alliance The Voice of Reason Standing For Facts Fairness Privrrcy of the Individual Courtesy

The NSA: The Voice of Il;eason There is a need for a new point of' view on the controversial issue of smoking in America today. The highly aggressive and confrontational actions of the Antii Smoking, Movement, unbalanced by anys~enseofobjectivityor p~erspectiveonthisissue, has resultedi in a controversy that i& out of control. This controversy now fails to include reasonable or rational discussion,, fails t& recognize the fundamental concept of Freedom of Choice, and fails to balance the importance of smoking with our nation's lfst of significant issues. Among others, these include a failing education system, the burdensome: cost of a selective healthcare system, and rampant, escaldting crime in our streets. This condition is of' great concern to all Americans,, whether they choose to smoke or whether they don't. At the NSA, we believe it is imperative that "the! vosce of reason" be heard over rhetoric. The NSA: For Facts, Not Propaganda 'The NSA stands for introducing, a, renewed sense of accuracy to the smoking controversy. We advocate the separation of facts from fiction. We support an end to the inflammatory rhetoric which has become this issue's dominant form of public expression. As a, major objective, our focus on facts includes the mandate too painstakingly and truthfully examine the very complicated issue of secondary snnoke, and the even more complicated rulings that the government, via the Environmental' Protection Agency, has chosen to make: on this topic. Smokers and non-smokers alike agree today that Americans db not have the government "they are entitled to." But, making government moreresponsible~ can only come about when voters get thefactsthey need to make informed decisions. The NSA will keep Ameriican voters informed by working witihi the media, so more balanced views are aired. T'his way, we can all make up our own, ra ~. CW MP~ N ~

minds~~ based on a review of~facts and i~nformation,~ not polatically~~ correct propaganda. The NSA: For Fairness, Not Excess and Tax Abuse For the fifty million Americans who choose to smoke, the right to smoke is being overly restricted and the right for reasonable and equitable taxation is being abused. The NSA speaks for these smokers iin diemanding that America's additional tax burdens. not be placed unfairly on smokers, who already carry a large tax burden on the purchase of tobacco: On the tax rolls and on the long list of no-smoking bans and restrictions--in place and currently being, planned--fairness to the smoker has beenn forgotten. The NSA is working to restore a sense of equity to this situation. Our goals include moderating the proposed increase in federal excise taxes. This tax increase is regressive and strikes many people who are least able to~ pay it. The smoker's right to equitable taxation will be respected and honored in Washington, DC.. The NSA: For Privacy of the Individuai; Not "Big Brother" The NSA stands for the principle of individual rights. The choice to smoke is an individual privilege. And it is a legal one. T'he government may have a preference as to the choice to smoke. But the decision, by an informed adult, belongs tol that adult alone. Not to Federal, State or Local governrnents. And' not to an employer, particularly as a conditioa of employment. The NSA is working to stop the alarming trend towards hiring and firing people based on their choice to smoke. This practice is not only unfair, itt is discriminatory. Adidiitiionally; we're working, to stop the intrusive invasiions of privacy these practices involve.

The NSA: For Courtesy, Not Mistreatment The NSA stands for recogtuzing that the American smoker is a person, a citizen, an important: member of society .. People who smoke come in all colors, from all segments of society. They are not a facelless group. Each person who smokes is some one's sister, brother, mother, father. Each one has friends. They happen to choose to smoke. Allowing extremists m label smokers as social outcasts, as targets of unwarranted discrimination, is unjustified and in some cases,, illegal.. The NSA believes the focus should be about smokers being dealt with as people, as individuals, one at a time. And we plan to use our legal and' legislative systems to curtail, and ultimately stop, the abusive attacks on people who smoke. The 1N5A: For Accommodation, Not Confrontation At the 1T1'SA, we offer the solution, of Accommodation, both in principle and practi ce. Arnonge the many interested and concerned' members of society, we ask for a renewed' cormmitmentto fairness and to : acceptiingour iind'iwidual choices. Making ourcountryan even better place i~san important dream we all share. To do this, we must all! acknowledge that individual rights and the Freedom to Choose are paranaountL . We believe sanctioned and'enforced "Accommodation Programs" offer us all a way to respect eachl other's rights equally, , By offering equally appointed and properly ventildtedi smnoking and nonsmoking sections in our buildings, offices, arenas, hotels, restaurants and other public places, there is a way to provide for everyone's freedom to choose. The NSA's AccomrnodationProgram& can offer a solutionL

The NSA: For Reason - NOW Each day the lists of excessive restrictions, unfair additional taxes, abusive and undeserved personal treatment, and torrents of false information about cigarette smoke grow at compounded rates.. In today's legislative environment, these events are looking and sounding exactd'ylikea"1Vfarch to Prohibition,,•. Thus, happened once. It didn't work. And it must not be allowed' to happen again, Americans, including people who smoke, have a history of tolerance and compromise. At the NSA we acknowledge and support the principle which says all people, even zealots, deserve their say. But when things go too far, way too far, it is imperative for us to join together and restore a sense of balance. A zealot-driven campaign does not represent the fair-mindedness of most Americans. And a zealbt-driven campaign, like most special interest efforts, succeeds only when the victims, and others who: care about fairness and reason in society, don't speak up. In the case of the smoking controversy, the time has come. Enough, is enough.. The National Smokers Alliance The Voice of Reason

Join The National Smokers A1liance Today Call 1 (800) 822'-89@O for Membership Information The Voice of Re+asnn e For Reason A,,,,Ainst Prejud'ic For Reasonable Solutions Against hiflammatory Rhetoric For Facts and Accuracy Against Propaganda For Fairness Against Excessive Taxes and Bans For Privacy of the Indiwidual Against "Big Brother" For Courtesy Against Abusive Behavior The National Smokers Alliance President Hon. William Althaus, Mayor of' York, PA. Past President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Board of Advisors Hon: Alan Diamonsteinj State Delegate in Virginia (D-94) and Chairman of the Virginia State General Laws Committee. Former Chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia. Ms. Ruth Fertel, Presidentand founder of Ruth's Chris Steak Houses, Inc: of Pittsburgh, PA. Mr. Andre Morgan, motion picture and television producer. Mr. Pierre Salinger, journalist and'author. Former White House Press Secretary to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B: Johnson. ABC News Bureau Chief in Paris. Hon. Alexander Sands, State Sent!w in North Carolina (D-12). Chairman of the North Carolina State Rules Committee. Hon. Phil Stout, former state legislator inNevada Dr. Charles Sydnor, President & CEOofCentral Virginia Public Broadcasting, Inc. Member of the Board of Directors of NationaliPublic Broadcasting Service. Past President of F.mory and Henry College, Virginia. Hon. Guy Vander Jagt, former U:S. Representative from Michigan. The National Smokers Alliance 211 North Union Street Suite 100 Alexandria, VA. 22314