Lucky Strikes again?

 
This blog piece uncovers an interesting happening at A&M.  One in which looks like the same, tired old malediction about smoking in public areas.  But the writer, with a bit of diggery, found it's something completely else. 

Trevor Stevens is the wordsmith for this article written September 26th, 2012.  His passages can be found at A&M's Battalion.  

Stevens is giving us incite into the manipulation big business uses to benefit themselves--via guerrilla tactics--appearing concerned for those that imbibe in: tha smoke.  His tirade is surprisingly moderate.  And because of the genial meekness of his 'voice', he had me captive and engaged to the very end of his article.

By virtue of the subject matter, this topic will grab the eye of any militaristic, smoker-hater on the prowl.  On immersion though, I found the article a mammoth nod to that old bastard: big business and his interminable quest for Control Ultimo.

On the face of the article is the continual message that smoking is bad--even worse for those who are innocent/forced partakers of it.  Stevens found that this time the topic's just a front for conglomerates doing what they do best--attempting ascendancy and worshipping the all-powerful: cash cow.

The culprit in this issue is the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas.  CPRIT requires that their buildings (and all to whom they've dispensed funding) be clear of those dab-nasted smokers in and around their research facilities--including what used to be, designated smoking areas.

CPRIT is bridling its benefactors through means of 'gentle' persuasion to play the heavy on those that are still choosing to partake of the tobacco leaf.  Basically, those damned smokers are effecting their bottom line. 

The would-be values in this case is that all will prosper with the onset of forced cessation--or at least forced abstinence in the work place.  (I'd like to slide in this little gem, however: being in the presence of a person in the throes of nicotine withdrawal with no promise of relief is NOT a nice nor productive environment.) 

At the onset, this article seems to be about smoking and health, but it's really a power-brokering move by political manipulators, strategizing toward bigger conglomerates whom they determine can slide a bit of coin their way. The true scoundrels of this article are revealed as: Power and her big brother: MONEY.

The evidence in the article is slight, yet severely effective: a single email signed by A&M's University President Loftin, stating policy has been modified.  That's it.  It's done.  (Oh, the diadem!)

Lesson: big business will always strive to control their surroundings, regardless of persons, to the benefit of their influence and money-hoarding ability.  This article nourishes my staid definition of the true nature of big business: insatiable monsters...rawr!