It is important for democrats to take nothing for granted in the 2016 presidential election. Democrats must rally enthusiasm, understand the social and political importance of the 2016 election, continue to register to vote, help with voter registration, help get out the vote on election day--and vote on election day. The larger the voter turnout the better it will be for democrats up and down the ticket in all fifty states and territories on election day 2016.
If democrats do win the White House, as I believe they will, what will be the cause championed by the new First Lady/Husband of a Bernie Sanders or Hillary Rodham Clinton presidency?
A worthy and needed cause is increasing awareness and educating smokers and non-smokers about the dangers of exposing children, family members, the sick and friends to secondhand cigarette, cigar, and pipe smoke in their homes, cars, vans, trucks and other transportation vehicles.
First Lady's of the United States have with much success, championed many causes. The term First Lady was first used to describe Dolley Madison. As First Lady, Dolley Madison (1809-1817) championed the cause of many charities, including the Washington City Orphan Asylum, founded in 1815 to help poor children without families. Lucy Webb Hayes was the first of the First Lady's to graduate from college, she was a role model and advocate for women's education.
As First Lady, Nancy Reagan (1981-1989) championed the "Just Say No" campaign against drug abuse. As First Lady, Betty Ford (1974-1977) was known for her role in helping to reduce the stigma of alcoholism, a disease she struggled with at one point in her life. Betty Ford was involved in the opening of the Betty Ford Clinic. Betty Ford was also diagnosed with breast cancer and she served as an inspiration for other women to seek treatment for the disease. As First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton (1993-2001) advocated for and helped raise the visibility of health care issues in America. Hillary was also a strong supporter of historic preservation and education. She was an honorary chair of the Save America's Treasures committee. First Ladies and Their Causes.
As First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt (1933-1945) was a champion of equal rights, she was an opponent of segregation and lynchings of African-Americans. Eleanor famously flew in a fighter plane with a Tuskegee Airman to show her confidence and support for allowing African-American men to fly as combat pilots during World War II.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt Lends Her Support.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was very interested in the work at the Tuskegee Institute, particularly in the aeronautical school. In 1941 she visited Tuskegee Army Air Field and asked to take a flight with one of the Tuskegee pilots. Although the Secret Service was anxious about the ride, flight instructor Charles A. Anderson piloted Mrs. Roosevelt over the skies of Alabama for over an hour. That flight proved for Mrs. Roosevelt that blacks could fly airplanes and she did everything in her power to help them in that endeavor. Mrs. Roosevelt marked the occasion with a photograph of herself and Mr. Anderson which she promptly brought back to her husband, the President of the United States, and successfully urged FDR to utilize the 99th Squadron in combat missions.
As America's current First Lady, Michelle Obama champions and promotes the importance of healthy eating habits for Americans children. Michelle Obama also promotes the importance of exercise for children through her "Let's Move Campaign"--Eat Healthy and Let's Move.
Health Link British Columbia: Dangers of Secondhand Smoke.
Second-hand smoke is poisonous and has over 4000 chemicals, including 50 that can cause cancer. Some of the chemicals in second-hand smoke are:
Benzo[a]pyrene - found in coal tar, one of the most potent cancer-causing chemicals.
Formaldehyde - used to preserve dead animals.
Hydrogen cyanide - used in rat poison.
Ammonia - used to clean floors and toilets.
What Chemicals and Cancer Causing Agents are in Cigarettes.--Click on the link to read the full list.
Experts say that cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 different compounds. A significant number of them are toxic (poisonous) and can damage our cells and many of them are carcinogenic (cause cancer). If you've ever wondered exactly what you might be breathing in when you inhale cigarette smoke, this list is a real eye opener...
...Acrolein - commonly used in herbicides and polyester resins. It is also used in chemical warfare. Acrolein is an ingredient in tear gas. It is very poisonous and irritates the eyes and upper respiratory tract...
...1-aminonaphthalene - an ingredient in weed killers. It is a known carcinogen.
...2-aminonaphthalene - this substance causes bladder cancer. It is banned in industrial uses.
Ammonia - it is known to cause asthma and raise blood pressure. Ammonia is used in cleaners.
Benzene - used in gasoline, causes several cancers, including leukemia
Benzo[a]pyrene - this chemical is found in coal tar pitch, and creosote. It is a known carcinogen, especially for lung and skin cancers. It can also undermine human fertility...
...Cadmium - a known carcinogen. It damages the brain, kidneys and liver. Cadmium is used in non-corrosive metal coatings, storage batteries, pigments, and bearings.
Chromium - known to cause lung cancer. It is used in wood treatment, wood preservatives, metal plating and alloys. Those involved in welding have the greatest risk of exposure...
...Crotonaldehyde - a warning agent in fuel gasses. Experts say it messes up the human immune system. It can also cause chromosomal changes.
Formaldehyde - part of the resin used in foam insulation, plywood, fiberboard and particleboard. It can cause nasal cancer, as well as damaging the digestive system, skin and lungs.
Hydrogen Cyanide - some states use this chemical in their gas chambers for executions. It weakens the lungs and causes fatigue, headaches and nausea. It is used in the production of acrylic plastics and resins, and can also be a fumigant...
...Lead - lead damages the nerves in the brain, as well as the kidneys and the human reproductive system. Lead intake can also cause stomach problems and anemia. It is a known carcinogen and is particularly toxin to children. Lead is used in paint and metal alloys.
Nickel - a known carcinogen, nickel also causes bronchial asthma and upper respiratory irritation.
NNN, NNK, and NAT - NNN and NNK are known carcinogens and NAT might be one. The three compounds are unique to tobacco. NNN may also cause reproductive problems. NNK is closely linked to lung cancer risk...
...Nicotine - this is not carcinogenic. However, it is highly addictive. Smokers find it very hard to quit because they are hooked on the nicotine...
...Carbon Monoxide - this is a poisonous gas. It has no smell or taste. The body finds it hard to differentiate carbon monoxide from oxygen and absorbs it into the bloodstream...
...Tar - consists of several cancer-causing chemicals. When a smoker inhales cigarette smoke, 70% of the tar remains in the lungs...
Link to Similar List of Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents in Tobacco Products and Tobacco Smoke: From the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Dangers of Secondhand Smoke.
Secondhand smoke is the combination of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke breathed out by smokers...There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke causes numerous health problems in infants and children, including more frequent and severe asthma attacks, respiratory infections, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Smoking during pregnancy results in more than 1,000 infant deaths annually. Some of the health conditions caused by secondhand smoke in adults include coronary heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer.
Secondhand smoke is a major health related problem in America, that needs to be addressed and reduced. The serious and dire health risks of secondhand smoke and smoking has been documented and made public by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), Surgeon General of the United States, The American Cancer Society as well as many other medical organizations and groups.---
From the Surgeon General's Website: Dangers of Secondhand Smoke.---
American Cancer Society: Dangers of Secondhand Smoke.
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention: Millions of Non-Smokers Still Exposed To Secondhand Smoke
“We have made tremendous progress in the last 15 years protecting people in public spaces from secondhand smoke,” said Tim McAfee, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Office on Smoking and Health at CDC. “The good news is that people are applying the same protection in their homes and vehicles. However, millions of non-smokers, many of whom are children, remain exposed to secondhand smoke in these environments.”
Additional study findings include:
Eighty-one percent of U.S. adults report having smoke-free rules in their homes and 74 percent have smoke-free rules in their vehicles
Eighty-nine percent of non-smokers report having smoke-free home rules, while only 48 percent of smokers have them.
Eighty-five percent of non-smokers report having smoke-free vehicle rules, while only 27 percent of smokers have them.
Secondhand smoke exposure among nonsmokers in homes and vehicles was greatest among men, younger adults, non-Hispanic blacks, and those with a lower level of education.
Many of the states with the lowest prevalence of smoke-free rules in homes and vehicles are states with a high prevalence of adult smoking.
“While almost half of all U.S. residents are protected by 100 percent smoke-free policies in work-sites, restaurants and bars, overall there are still an estimated 88 million non-smoking Americans over the age of three who are exposed to secondhand smoke,” said Brian King, PhD., an epidemiologist in the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health and lead author of this study. “It’s important to educate people on the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure and how smoke-free homes and vehicles can reduce that exposure.”
Other major countries around the world have banned smoking in cars occupied by children--some have passed laws banning smoking in cars occupied by not only children but pregnant women as well.--
Italy Bans Smoking in Cars With Children--
U.K. Bans Smoking in Cars With Children--
Most of Canada Bans Smoking in Cars with Children. In the United States, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Maine, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Puerto Rico have already passed legislation banning smoking in cars occupied by children of different ages
--States That Have Banned Smoking in Cars With Children and Pending Legislation in the U.S..-- Many other states and cities are considering similar legislation. Tempe, Arizona has banned smoking in cars with children.--
Tempe, Arizona Bans Smoking in Cars With Children--
Kingman, Arizona Bans Smoking in Cars With Children.
Because of the reduced space inside a car, secondhand smoke is more intense and dense. The dense amount of cigarette smoke inside a car only multiplies the amount of chemicals and carcinogens inhaled by children or non-smoking adults riding in any car or vehicle.
It should come as no surprise that exposure to secondhand smoke in the home and cars are more prevalent among the poor and minorities. Many poor and minority smokers and non-smokers are unaware of the chemicals and carcinogens found in cigarettes, cigars and smoking pipes. The need for education to make the poor and minorities aware of the dangers of secondhand smoke is greatly needed.
Another way of trying to reduce the number of smokers is to educate and inform smokers of the dangers secondhand smoke poses to their children, sick family members, friends, and people in general. Most smokers despite the fact that they smoke--which is a health risk for them, still love their children, family and friends. With Hillary Rodham Clinton or Bernie Sanders as president, maybe a higher profiled public campaign headed by the First Lady/Husband of the United States of America, could help reduce the number of children and non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke, by shining a brighter light on the dangers of secondhand smoke.