It was a stunning revelation to me, and the information is correct.  It is not howsomever, right.  Correct and right may be distant cousins, but in this case they appear to be travesties in the tapestry of equality of like punishment for sinners in a similar line of work.

What served to get my dander up was the price of decadence and sinful behavior levied upon some, but not all of the nicotine addicts in our diverse congregation.  If you’re an active puffer in the ranks of cigarette consumption you are now required by law to cough up a buck a pack extra for the privilege of blowing smoke rings.

Admittedly, that nickel a stick will go to the coffers of the fund to educate our young’uns.  The income will be an additive to the proceeds from our legal stipend from the bookie faction of our celebrated assemblage of duly elected guardians of our public weal down in Austin.

Back in the springtime of my youth smoking was not recognized as a sin or detriment to heart or moral behavior.  As a matter of fact, if you were down on your luck in those days you could purchase the makings for a nickel a sack at the local grocery or drug store.  Or, if you were shy on age and money you could gain custody of a Lucky Strike or Camel at various locations, for one red cent.  Enterprising pushers would break the seal on a pack to aid and abet rookie smokers in the fine art of nicotine addiction.

When I was enjoying a sixteen week regimen of basic training in the soldiering profession smokes could be purchased by the carton for a one dollar bill at the Post Exchange.  The rest of my salary was invested in poker and galloping domino tournaments that were common in the barracks.  Mastery of those sports was not accomplished by me, but smoking became one of my outstanding talents.  Confessions of my youthful transgressions is my repentance and supplication for understanding and forgiveness, but you can’t drive by the illumination of taillights,  so I’ll just bear my cross and strive to do better.  Odds are, my efforts will be rewarded with the same success as old Don Quixote’s war with the windmills.  He lost.

At this juncture you are most likely wondering what in tunket I’ve got my back up about.  It is inequity—pure and simple.  Nicotine is not the sworn enemy of our over zealous state government.  The miserable cigarette addicts who gather under culverts and various and sundry other locales to “enjoy” a five dollar smoke are being put upon.

The smokeless faction of our population can still purchase the little nicotine nuggets at last year’s price, and partake of them with the zeal of a kid downing M&Ms.

Furthermore, I have learned that a twenty stick pack of those pygmy cigars did not appreciate in value along their cousin of the cigarette variety.  They are available with filters, but they are loaded with tobacco enough to bring tears and coughing fits to me.

To summarize, I’m of the opinion that bedfellows make strange politics and it’s my conviction that Rick rigged the rules to favor his rival in the recently demised election.  There was no increase in the price of vice for at least one of the applicants for the Governor’s cat bird seat.  I regard it as the Kinky Accord.

Kinky favors stogies, and his habit is excluded from a tax enhancement.

Think about it.  It ain’t right, but it’s correct.  As the French like to toast—“Á votre sauté!”

Information for this column was acquired at Freddie's Short Stop—on the "S" curve in De Leon.

Let me hear from you.

My phone number is 254-893-5063, my official postal address is: 333 W AYERS AVE – DE LEON TX 76444-2113, and you can e-mail chupp@charleschupp.com.

Ol’ Margaret, my operator, is standing by.