A Swift Kick in the Butts
Regarding “Lawmakers Should Extinguish Cigarette Taxes,” by Lawrence J. McQuillan of the Pacific Research Institute in your issue of July 9: May I suggest that we add $1 to the cost of a pack of filter cigarettes—and not as a tax, but as a California Redemption Value?
Smokers could collect five cents for each cigarette butt they turn in, and we might save some birds and fish from choking to death on filter tips that have been dropped on streets and sidewalks and later washed out to sea.
If smokers won’t turn in their own butts, maybe the folks who collect cans and bottles will.
Thomas D. Bratter
Los Angeles
Editor’s Note: There were other Letters to the Editor that did not make it into this issue, our last. We regret the lack of space and our pending closure, and hope that everyone finds a new home for their viewpoints.
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