Appalachian

Our Appalachian Mountains are being invaded by a brutal and ruthless force that has been in the rest of nation for decades. Air pollution is becoming a threat that not even our rural areas can withstand. Major corporations are constantly pumping out emissions from fossil fuels and other pollutants. These toxicities in the air have become so plentiful that residents can now watch the industrial smoke blend in with the clouds above.

Because of the arrangements that employers have with local leaders and politicians, this practice is seldom targeted and never eliminated. To make matters acceptable to the public, tobacco smoke and automobile emissions is typically the only “pollution” representatives seek to eradicate, even though they are only a slight fraction of the real problem.

Despite the lack of legitimate studies regarding second-hand tobacco smoke, area leaders like to implicate that, if tobacco is prohibited, air pollution will cease to exist. This practice has been on-going in our nation for decades, however, only made it to the Appalachian areas in the previous few years.

The only studies conducted with second-hand tobacco smoke are solely in “worst-case scenario,” environments. The Appalachian residents have been hit dramatically by the sluggish prohibition of tobacco. Farmers find their crops are bringing less and less. Many experience financial hardship to the point of losing their land.

The tobacco lawsuits were equally ludicrous and have only resulted in bankrupted farmers. The “tobacco companies,” that are always portrayed as evil and maniacal are seldom solely dependent upon tobacco sales. They have employees who work for their tobacco divisions and they may be laid off, but the companies continue to thrive and draw in major profits. These companies operate other corporations aside from tobacco.

One of the most humorous aspects of the “anti-tobacco” propaganda is the portrayal that tobacco companies actually panic when the industry is targeted. They don’t and have good reason to be as apathetic as most business people are.

For example, take the Marlboro maker Phillip Morris. The parent company of Phillip Morris is called Altria. Altria, according to their web site, has substantial financial interests in SABMiller (Miller brewing companies) and Kraft.

What should be focused on in this battle is far more than company emissions or tobacco. It goes farther than any drug.

Methamphetamine and marijuana are some of the biggest “cash crops” in Appalachian regions. The focus on tobacco is merely a ruse to mask the growing problems with illegal drugs and corporate apathy. Our mountains are suffering due to the indifference and corruption from area leaders.

There is a popular video game series and a movie spin-off from the series. One of the aspects of these movies is a major corporation owns and operates a city. This fictional portrayal gains a new plausibility in our Appalachian regions.

Industries that are considered “major” for the region do run cities and people must live in them. They have the city leaders by the throat and nothing can be done. The corporations literally take the respective area hostage and, if there’s trouble, they’ll simply relocate and leave a few thousands people on unemployment. These corporations boast of annual billion-dollar profits while general employees may make around $30,000-$40,000 per year.

Homemade “meth” labs are rampant and present incredible danger to residents. While makers are dumping their toxic waste in public areas, our leaders and employers are patting themselves on the back for creating “tobacco-free” environments.

Employers are dictating what employees can do in their personal lives, while OSHA declares that on-the-job stress is a major factor in rising health care costs and illness per company. Stress can induce panic attacks, physical illness, and can lower the strength of the immune system if given an opportunity. Yet, no attention is given to reducing stress. No attention is given to encouraging employees to diet and exercise.

Most residents can see precisely what is happening with the “anti-tobacco” forces. It will only be a short while before alcohol, caffeine, fat, and sugar become the next social pariahs. Alcohol is addictive and can cause cancer as well as liver disease. One individual can cause multiple deaths, in a single night, by excessively drinking and driving. Individuals have consumed too much alcohol at parties and public places only to find they’ve been robbed or physically attacked.

Caffeine can cause of heart problems, hypertension, and can exacerbate high blood pressure and kidney or bladder problems. Fat and cholesterol clogs arteries and can be difficult to eradicate from the body. Sugar is in most processed foods and can be a significant factor in weight gain, which leads to diabetes and other serious health issues.

From the consumer’s perspective, it seems the American public has been duped in many ways. Instead of demanding an end to the illegal drug epidemics and an immediate halt to the dumping of toxic emissions and waste into our beautiful lands, residents are manipulated into applauding the demise of a perfectly legal substance.

Since most substances we come into contact with on a daily basis can and do have adverse effects to health, choosing one group over another is ludicrous and merely targets people based upon their lifestyle. People have the right to enjoy legal substances and the attention should be going to eliminating pollution and illegal drugs.

Employers are lauded as great heroes in the fight for health. The practice of firing employees over smoking has finally came to the rural region. This practice is certain to raise employee stress levels and ensure many more are sick. This will also urge employees to have fewer doctor’s visits because the implication that eliminating tobacco will eliminate illness altogether.

In reality, they’re hoping to save a buck or two on employee health insurance and merely have more grounds to punish workers for what they do in their personal time. They already decide where their employees live, what they drive, and how they live based upon their pay. It’s just another way for them to exercise control over employees.