In response to your editorial on Sunday, "Thanks for not smoking," I must ask: When did the BND become a big government newspaper?

First, smoking, approve of it or not, is legal. To declare it a bold initiative to grant the government the privilege to restrict an adult from a legal activity because it foots some of the bill is dangerous. As most of us will all soon become subject to some government subsidy for our health care, we should be careful of allowing that level of control over our lives.

To carry this concept forward, alcohol is a dangerous and harmful substance and is often abused. Perhaps St. Clair County should look at restricting alcohol consumption in government- supported housing as well.

Your editorial snidely asked how "poor" people can afford to smoke. How they do it is none of your business. Your inference seems to be, since they are poor they should not be able to spend their money how they please. Perhaps that would be better since, as you say, "If the government pays the bills they make the rules."

Maybe it would be wise to place some financial oversight on the poor. Perhaps the county needs to assign a budgetary overseer who will tell those poor folk what to purchase and perhaps fine them if they fail to follow the orders of their betters. You know, those who are richer and more privileged and so have the right to order the lower classes about.

Edward Tourigny

Belleville