THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Re "Hike in state smoking age to 21 sought," June 4: In their eternal
search for new ways to manage the individual's pursuit of happiness, our
rulers are now proposing to raise the "smoking age" to 21 -- just a small
step toward prohibiting tobacco altogether!

A reasonable reading of the Declaration of Independence and the
Constitution would make it legal for each adult to pursue happiness in ways
he or she deems suitable as long as others are not threatened or harmed.

As for added health costs to the smoker, I am sure that the taxes on
tobacco are more than enough to insure for that. If the tax is inadequate,
it certainly should be raised as required.

Instead of devouring our rights one bite at a time, our rulers should be
restoring them "one drug at a time," starting with marijuana!

Philip S. Kearney

Sacramento