In 1989 the tobacco industry would mount an “unprecedented campaign,” according to the Tobacco Institute, to defeat California’s Proposition 99, an initiative effort to increase the tax on cigarettes by $.25 and devote a substantial portion of the funds to discouraging tobacco use. The industry recognized that passage of the initiative would pose one of the greatest threats to tobacco use it had ever encountered.
Irritating people with power is an unfortunate talent of mine. I’ve burned enough bridges in my life to cross the Mississippi, Amazon, Congo and Nile Rivers combined— at flood stage. In the fall of 1986, I added Jay Michaels to the list of people annoyed with me. Jay was the Executive Director of the California Medical Society (CMA), one of the most powerful organizations in California, which made Jay one of the most powerful people in California. He and I were working together on an effort to increase the state sales tax on tobacco. But ‘working together’ was a misnomer. Jay didn’t like my allies, he didn’t like me, and he didn’t like how I proposed we spend the revenues.
One day I had a phone call from two of his staff members, wanting to take me to lunch.
“OK,” I had responded, more than a little curious— make that massively curious. I also admit I was amused about going to lunch on Jay’s dollar. They suggested we meet somewhere Jay was unlikely to frequent.
“First, Curt,” they explained when we sat down, “understand that we aren’t here. This lunch is not taking place. We’d be fired if Jay knew we were meeting with you.” CMA, apparently, wasn’t paying for the lunch.
Looking back, I think it took a great deal of courage for the two of them to do what they did. They shared several things with me. Although they had reservations about the environmental programs I was supporting, they were totally behind my primary objective for the use of the tax funds, which was the prevention and control of tobacco use. They told me they would be as supportive as they could be, given the circumstances. Just as we were wrapping up, they gave me a warning. I suspect it was their primary reason for meeting with me.
“Jay was talking about you at a staff meeting last week and he smashed the pencil he was holding into the conference table. He hit the table so hard the pencil shattered.”
“He can destroy your career, Curt,” they told me in all seriousness. I laughed; I couldn’t help myself. It wasn’t about the pencil, which was scary. It was about the career. I had none to destroy. Given the worst-case scenario, I would scoot off into the woods. It is what I do to celebrate, but it is also what I do to lick my wounds. In fact, any excuse for taking off into the wilderness works for me.
A few months earlier I had returned from a major wound-licking session of backpacking alone for six months in the wildest places I could find in the western United States. Part of my therapy afterwards was taking on the tobacco tax, doing penance so to speak. The story of how I became involved, the campaign, and the end results of the effort will be the subject of my Friday essays for the next several weeks. Some of the tales I have blogged about before, others, such as the confrontation with Jay, I am writing about for the first time.
So join me next Friday when, suffering from depression, I left my job as Executive Director of the Alaska Lung Association and fled down the Alaska Highway toward an effort that would eventually become one of the largest, most successful prevention programs in history. I’ll even take you backpacking.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Fascinating to learn you had a role in this, Curt. Sounds like there was some real-life drama involved!
Lots of real life drama, Carrie. And also proof that a small group of committed people can make a significant difference. –Curt
Ohhhh, let me get my hiking shoes! Looking forward to this~
Yes, Cindy. 🙂 There will be three backpacking adventures before I get into the nitty gritty of politics. –Curt
PS- Look up my hubby if you’re bored, James D. Knoke. He did a lot of the medical research on tobacco…..
I will do that Cindy. Hopefully Prop 99 helped to pay for his research efforts. –Curt
Can’t wait for the next installment! OMG you’ve had a life. Nothing much held you back did it?!
Alison
Laughing here, Alison. I’ve found many ways to get in to trouble. –Curt
Former Peace Corps Volunteers never follow the well-tread path. I don’t know if it’s a chicken-or-egg issue, but it is a curious reality! Can’t wait for the story.
I am attending the National Peace Corps conference for RPCV’s in Berkeley right now Susan. Quite interesting. And yes, I think it takes someone with a slightly different perspective to join the Peace Corps and that the experience reinforces that perspective. –Curt
Hope it’s very enjoyable.
It was very interesting, Susan. I wrote a little about it in my most recent post. And then there was Berkeley, of course… 🙂 –Curt
Looking forward to next Friday’s episode – G & G
Glad you are along for the ride, G&G. 🙂 –Curt
Looking forward to reading some more…
Thanks Lumar. –Curt
Very much looking forward to hearing more on this.
Thanks AC. Now I am back in town, hopefully I’ll get back on schedule. –Curt
But wait, didn’t Big Tobacco prove that there was no causal relationship between cigarettes and lung cancer? I thought I read that somewhere.
Truth never did stop the tobacco industry. I always liked the photo of them raising their hands and lying to Congress. Thought of you when I walked by the Amoeba and Rasputin Records stores in Berkeley last week, Bruce. –Curt
The whole street seems a little worn out. It’s been tired for a while, but some days, I just want to pull up with a truck full of buckets, mops and rags and put everyone to work.
I felt the same way about Telegraph, Bruce, like something was lost. I guess it is. There was a fair amount of construction going on. I wonder what it will morph into next? –Curt
I think I’m beginning to buy into the Friday longer reads. Okay, Friday… 🙂
Certainly glad, Timi. I’ll try to keep it interesting. 🙂 –Curt
Sign me up for this adventure! Irritating people blinded by their own sense of self, backpacking, working for the people – you certainly make good stories, Curt.
Grin… I like to think making good stories beats collecting material goods. At least I better believe that. Welcome along on the adventure Crystal. –Curt
Wow. What an interesting, but covert, lunch. Can’t wait to hear how this plays out. And how you left a job that sounds so rewarding/challenging. You’ve got me hooked.
Some rough sledding to start… 🙂