>>I was originally going to cite where the tobacco industry was directed to do those ads as part of their restitution, but darned if I could find one. Might have been another "Internet" fact(rumor). Payments to the states were to be used as payment against prior health related costs and to fund antismoking campaigns. All this "hick in the sticks" knows for sure is that the initial payment to my county went most definitely to whatever the Legislature deemed necessary. I know for a fact not a penny went for anything related to smoking. It got stuffed in the General Fund and that was that. Letters to all my Legislators, Assemblymen, the State Attorney General, Comptroller, and Governor questioning this distribution of funds went unanswered. I had my answer. Talk about coverups and lies....
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>One of the sentiments expressed here is the general feeling of being a gnat versus a monster corporation (or government) – what can little old me do on my lonesome?
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>We have at our disposal some of the most awesome tools ever created:

  - The Internet
>  - E-Mail
>  - Visual FoxPro

Let’s overcome the inertia and leverage our skills to start achieving something useful. Do you have the e-mail addresses of the Legislators, Assemblymen, State Attorney General, Comptroller or Governor? What do you reckon – one e-mail a day, or one a minute? And who cares how long it has been since you asked your questions!

Yes, I have those emails and they were also utilized. I wanted to make the point that I went the extra yard and hand (yes, hand) wrote individual letters to each of these individuals - with no response. To be 100% accurate, I received one response - from a Dan Fesenden, who personally took the time to respond. As a lame duck, he had nothing to lose and little to gain, other than my respect. He felt I deserved an response and agreed 100% with my stance. He also stated that these types of activities in the Assembly were part of the reason he chose not to seek re-election. It was nice to know I wasn't alone.

But you are right. I should have persisted. Instead, I've taken on a new attitude - when I vote from now on, I will never select the incumbent. Never. Regardless of party affiliation or track record. And never a lawyer. If that leaves me with zero choices, so be it. I dream of the day for "None of the above" to be on the ballot. These people are supposed to work for and represent me. Am I p*ss*d? You bet.