🚀 go-pugleaf

TO:     Clinton-Gore Committee (CLINTON-GORE-DOM)
        112 West Third Street
        Little Rock, AR 72201

        Domain Name: CLINTON-GORE.ORG

        Administrative Contact:
        Krause, Bill  (BK87)  billk@CLINTON-GORE.ORG
        (501) 372-1992
FROM:   David M. Sonntag, MSPH
SUBJ:   An open letter to President-Elect Clinton:

CC:     Cross-posted to several internet Lists, usenet groups, local
newspapers,
        several special interest groups in the .org domain, and
        billk@CLINTON-GORE.ORG

Mr. President:

I would like to congratulate you on your victory in the recent election.
While I did not vote for you, I, like many in the country, feel hopeful
that your administration will indeed bring new ideas, and with them,
new changes.  Change does not come easily.  It requires all of us to
commit ourselves to do what we know is right for the country.

You have spoken of the need to reform our health-care system, and I sincerely
hope that your administration will be able to do so.  

I am an Industrial Hygienist, working to prevent occupational and environmental
health hazards from causing unnecessary burdens on our human and economic

resources.  In my daily work, I constantly strive to minimize workers' 
exposure to toxic substances in the working environment.  And yet, the
same workers will go on break, and light up their tobacco, exposing 
themselves and others to levels of carbon monoxide, benzene, and many other
toxics, at levels well in excess of what the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration has established as working Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs).

Thus, I was deeply troubled when I saw a picture of you playing golf with a
cigar between your teeth.  Sir, I believe that you can offer a wonderful
role-model to our nation, and the world, by publicly commiting to quit
smoking.  If more people would quit smoking, the savings to our health-care
system would be immense.  I believe that your public example would be
an important statement from your administration that would reflect highly
your commitment to make positive changes in our healthcare system.

I look forward to your acceptance of this challenge.

Truly,

David M. Sonntag, MSPH (MS, Public Health)
Clearfield, Utah