Let us now, if not praise, at least offer some sympathy to Maine smokers.

In their favor, let us point out the following:

n Smoking is not (yet) a crime.

n Cigarettes are not (quite) illegal.

n And the syllogism ...

A. Some people smoke cigarettes.

B. Smoking is bad.

C. People who smoke are bad.

... is wrong.

When we see people smoke, we don't think less of them. We do feel bad for them, because we have seen too many people we all love damage their health and even end up dying because of this terrible addiction.

Some of us were just lucky and never got past that first awful cigarette (the coughing and the watery eyes). Others got hooked but had whatever it takes to break the habit. Many others have tried and failed to quit.

Smoking has been banished from just about everywhere because non-smokers are affected by second-hand smoke -- moves this newspaper has strongly supported because damaging someone else's health is no one's right.

In the process of virtually outlawing smoking, we have made the smoker feel like an outlaw. If that prompts them to quit and get healthy, then it has been worth the temporary stigma.

The same argument has been made for the extraordinary level at which cigarettes are taxed -- especially here in the Maine, which is becoming as well known for its taxes as it is for pine trees and lighthouses.

And now comes a proposal from a Democratic House leader to increase the tax on a pack of smokes from $2 to $2.50. That's a 25 percent increase. And a group called Health Policy Partners of Maine wants to go that one better and raise the tax $1 per pack, a 33.3 percent increase. Meanwhile, few if any wage earners are getting those sorts of pay jumps -- most are lucky to just stay even, given the current tough economy.

The $1 increase would make Maine No. 1 in the U.S. for tobacco taxes.

The tax revenue from either increase, assuming something is approved by the Legislature and governor, would go to health care programs. The legislative proposal by Rep. Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, would send the new taxes paid by smokers to Dirigo Health, the state's program that provides subsidized heath care to qualified residents. The $1-a-pack money would go to Dirigo and other state health programs.

The logic is twofold: 1. Taxes on an unhealthy habit should to go helping keep people healthy; 2. Bigger taxes on cigarettes will prompt more people to quit and thereby become healthier. And healthier people lower the cost of health care.

While we could poke a hole in that logic by quoting studies that say smokers lower health costs because they don't live that long and thereby don't need health care as many years as healthier people do, we recognize the cruelty in that argument and won't press it.

In the end, we have to grudgingly withhold opposition to a bigger cigarette tax. On balance, the arguments in its favor are just a little stronger than those against it.

Sorry, smokers. You'll just have to face the fact, if you haven't already, that our elected officials and the people who vote them in don't want you to smoke. It's not good for you, and its not good for us.