It'll be your turn next

Discrimination -- 1. An act or instance of discriminating. 2. Action or policies based on prejudice or partiality.

Discriminate -- 1. To make a distinction in favor of or against a person on the basis of the group or class to which the person belongs, rather than according to merit, show partiality.

Those are two definitions you can find in the Webster's Universal College Dictionary. All you have to do is look under the big heading, D.

Now let's talk about some discrimination. No, I'm not talking about racial discrimination. I'm not talking about religious discrimination.

I'm talking about the amazing gall that people have to discriminate against smokers.

I have heard recently that state legislators are wanting to impose yet another tax on smokers. They say that this tax will help pay for state-funded health insurance.

First of all, why should I pay any more for state-funded health care? I already pay taxes for that. And I don't even get to use it. I pay exorbitant premiums for the insurance that I do use.

Should I be made to pay because the Governor of our state didn't make sure that he had the money that he needed when he made his budget? No, I don't think so. If he wasn't sure where the money was going to come from, maybe he shouldn't have put it in the budget.

And has any of these legislators ever heard of the word discrimination? Because that is exactly what they are doing. They are discriminating against a group of people simply because they don't agree with or like the habit exhibited by that group of people.

Well, isn't that just tough cookies. There are lots of things that I don't like, but that doesn't mean that I would tax a group of people beyond belief simply because I didn't like it.

The whole goal of the plan is to get people in Missouri to quit smoking. Okay, let's think about this for a minute.

They impose this new 80 cent-per-pack tax on cigarettes and tobacco products. Everyone, or almost everyone, in the state quits smoking.

Uh-oh.

The money-makers have suddenly quit forking over taxes. The state isn't making enough money.

They're going to need a new group to discriminate against. Wonder if it will be a group that you are a member of?

How about a huge tax on anything with chocolate? Or on cakes and pies and doughnuts and other sweets. The excuse would be that those things make you fat. So, for "your own good," the state is going to make you pay astronomical taxes.

Uh-oh. People quit, or most people quit, eating sweets and chocolates. Time to find another group of money-makers.

How about those who like candles. Fires caused by candles have risen dramatically in the past few years. Therefore, they are a danger to your health. So, "for your own good," here comes the state and all their do-gooder followers to impose a tax.

Once again, candle sales drop off sharply. Not enough tax money being generated. So it's time to move on to something else.

How about fast food? That makes people fat, clogs arteries, causes heart disease, etc. Here comes the big tax machine to start taxing fast food.

Suddenly, people quit buying fast food. Places like McDonald's can no longer afford to keep as many employees and smaller mom-and-pop businesses can't afford to stay in business, period.

Unemployment rates skyrocket, but once again, tax revenue drops.

Where does it end? Sure, there are those of you out there who adamantly hate smokers and don't give a fig about whether or not those of us who smoke are DISCRIMINATED against and forced to pay huge taxes.

But what happens when it is your turn? Because, it will be soon. It won't end at the smokers. It will turn into a huge albatross and your day will come. You will find yourself in a group of people who are being UNFAIRLY taxed by the lawmakers of this state.

Think about that for just a moment while I make yet another point.

Doctors in our great state are rallying behind the tax because, they are told by the state, that if the tax passes they are going to get paid more for accepting state-funded patients.

You know, for one of the smartest groups of people on the planet, you have to been pretty dumb to believe that line.

How many months behind is the state right now on paying doctors and hospitals for their state-funded patients. More than six? More than 12?

What in the world makes you believe that just because some yahoo in Jefferson City tells you you're going to get more money, that that is what is going to happen? Doctors will be lucky if they ever see a cent of the money that is going to be generated by the new tax.

Because there is a new tax will speed up the state's payments to you? Are you kidding me? Surely you don't believe all that garbage. C'mon. Wake up.

That was just the state's way of garnering more support for the tax. Let's tell doctors that they are going to get more money and they will jump right behind this thing. And, in some cases, it seemed doctors were gullible enough to fall for the ploy.

Smokers already put up with far too much, if you ask me. We are shoved outdoors to enjoy a cigarette or in "special sections" of restaurants. Even though cigarette smoke can be much less offensive than the body odor or perfume and cologne choices of some people, we are punished.

How about the other stinkies go in their own special section?

If you don't like smoking, too bad. I don't push it off on you and I'm sure as heck not allowed to do it around you in public.

What people like you -- and the state -- are doing is called discrimination. Plain and simple. You are singling out a specific group of people and treating them differently than you would anyone else. Don't like the truth of that statement, tough. Sometimes the truth hurts.

So, I say bring on the new tax. Go ahead. I'll pay it.

But just remember, once you get the ball rolling, it's going to be your turn someday.

Sacha Champion may be reached via e-mail at schampion@dailystatesman.com