Regarding the Nov. 11 article "DPJ shelves tobacco tax hike to appease opposition": With the No. 1 preventable cause of premature death being from smoking, it is just incredible that the tobacco tax increase was rejected because lawmakers have cozy support from tobacco farmers.
It seems that we want to make tobacco affordable ... at the expense of the suffering of so many from cancer. I expected to see the health minister getting dramatically angry that tobacco profits were a priority over the health of citizens. Instead, we will see more suffering and increased health care expenses.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.
john wocher
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