text: Old Soul -
  
  What I don't believe in is some kid who is 18 - who very likely first tried cigarettes when he was 12-14 because some other 18-year old "adult" offered him cigarettes - and who is now addicted - going out and buying cigarettes for some other 12-14-year old.
  
  It is a senseless cycle.
  
  We scream bloody murder about the illegal drugs pouring in from other countries, but allow US cigarette companies to addict our kids - and to export cigarettes to other countries.
  
  The American tobacco industry accounts for less than 1% of our national economy, but our political system has never shut them down.  But we can't figure out why those OTHER countries cannot get their illegal drug growers and manufacturers in check - though in those countries that industry can account for 40-60% of their GDP.
  
  Cigarettes have been proven to be terribly harmful since the 1950's.  That our kids can still get them so easily is a huge societal failure.