Michael Fumento is an author, journalist, and attorney specializing in science and health issues. And he has a lot to say about the Surgeon General's recent announcement that the second-hand smoke debate is over -- that second-hand smoke does in fact kill. Fumento believes that the debate is over means if you have your doubts, then keep them to yourself -- that the topic is not up for discussion any longer. But Fumento states that we should definitely have doubts -- about the effects of second-hand smoke and about what the Surgeon General has to say about it.

The report by the Surgeon General is apparently based on findings that already existed -- no new science or research supports the foundation of this dramatic new -- and extremely long -- report on what has already been studied. The first borrowed-from study by the EPA came about in 1993 and Fumento says that it has as many holes in it as a spaghetti strainer. One such hole involves manipulating statistics to guarantee the intended result by sheer luck of the draw. Then came several more meta-analysis studies that are largely flawed.

Fumento does not argue with urging smokers to stop smoking and reducing the onset of teen smoking and minimizing the annoyance of second-hand smoke. What he does say is this -- inventing scientific outcomes and shutting down scientific debate is intolerable. Especially when back in 1975, a New England Journal of Medicine study revealed that even when smoke is blown directly in someone's face, the concentration is equal to 04 cigarettes an hour or 0.1 cigarettes a day. Not quite the same as smoking two packs a day. And not probable that this would cause the number of deaths the Surgeon General reports.

Fumento says this -- The purpose of the passive smoking campaign has never been to protect non-smokers. Instead, it is to cow smokers into giving up the habit, expand bureaucratic turf, and fatten agency and pressure group coffers. So is this debate a matter or opinion or a matter of science? Read on. Check the facts. Think about it. And detemine where you stand on this hot topic.