Carding smokers could leave scars
I am quite concerned about your March 2 editorial, "Carding underage smokers."
Unsure what you meant, I consulted a dictionary and found out that carding involves combing with a wire brush. Yikes! Much as I would like to perform this act on inconsiderate smokers and tobacco executives, I question whether such punishment is appropriate for youngsters who have been induced to break the law by slick advertising.
While I believe it should be illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21, it seems more efficient to curtail the suppliers than to torture children.
Of course most educators in Virginia are Democrats. (Ray Garland column, Dec. 5, "Virginia's expensive politics of higher education.")
To draw Republican job applicants, schools would have to raise salaries and lower educational requirements.
Graduate school requires challenging one's beliefs. Republicans, conservatives and religious fundamentalists feel obligated to protect beliefs that are too weak to stand on their own.
Last updated: 28 March 2006