Proposition A would improve children's health

To the editor:

I was extremely disappointed to read your editorial regarding Proposition A. As president of the Missouri Chapter of the American Pediatrics and as a practicing pediatrician for more than 34 years, I have a completely different perspective. I strongly believe that Proposition A, the ballot initiative to increase the excise tax on tobacco, is about improving the health of all Missourians. In particular, it's about making life better for our kids and making sure they grow up into healthy, productive adults. I know from my own professional experience that we're losing our kids to tobacco, to poor health, and to a lack of quality education. If we don't do something to improve the situation, we not only put at risk hundreds of thousands of young lives, but our future as a state.

Pediatricians are motivated by one simple goal: the health of all children. That is why we so strongly support Proposition A. I can't speak to what motivates the tobacco industry and their friends at the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores Association, but it seems to me that they are most interested in selling more tobacco to more people. It is time for this to stop. It is time for us to take our future into our own hands.

For the sake of our kids, for the sake of our future, I urge your readers to support Proposition A.

DR. TED D. GROSHONG

President

Missouri Chapter

American Academy of Pediatrics

Columbia, Mo.