Government motivated by taxes

To the editor:

A Speak Out comment wondering who will be the next victims after smokers are eliminated reminded me of Martin Niemoller's statement decades ago:

"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a Jew. They came for me -- and there was no one left to speak out for me."

The next victims will be whatever group of people they can convince the unthinking to consider dangerous enough to warrant extra taxation. Our government never intended us to stop smoking. It just wanted to justify to the majority and get approval for more taxes.

MARY TOOMBS, Marble Hill, Mo.