Government & Tobacco

[Dr. Shane]

From the Religious Liberty Forum:

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

3) Concern over Drop in Demands on the Tobacco Industry

Advocates for public health are expressing concern over

the dramatic reduction in the Government’s demands in

litigation with the tobacco industry. The tobacco industry

for decades knew their product was addictive and deadly,

and did all they could to hide this from the public.

Millions of Americans, and tens of millions of people

worldwide died agonizing early deaths as a result.

While justice for those people is not possible, the

current litigation aims at ensuring the tobacco provides

funds to independent entities to engage in the kind of

multi-billion dollar campaign necessary to counteract the

tobacco industry’s marketing efforts. The tobacco industry

spends over $34 BILLION a year advertising in the U.S.

alone – much of it aimed at kids. Experts have urged the

Government seek $120 billion from the tobacco companies for

a multi-year anti-smoking campaign. Recently the

administration of the U.S. Department of Justice reduced

the amount they are asking for to just $10 billion.

Of course $10 billion is a lot of money, until you compare

it with the $34 billion the tobacco industry is spending

every single year. Will $10 billion help? Sure it will. But

over ten years, the tobacco industry will outspend that

amount 34 to 1. No wonder kids continue to start smoking –

with $34 billion a year, you can do a lot to influence the

decisions of insecure, vulnerable kids.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

I am no fan of smoking. If I had my way it would be illegal. Yet they have had warning labels on their products for many decades. And how can the governement sue a company for selling a product the same government lisenced them to sell?

[Neil D]

You may have seen this bumper sticker-

If it wasn't for the IRS, I would be rich....

I think we should tax thier advertising moneys out of existance. The goverment should levey 34 million dollars in various tax leveys and finds. And the more they spend on advertising the more the goverment taxes.

Did you know that a recent goverment litigation in which the goverement COULD have recieve 120 million was reduced to 10 million over the next 5 years. Bush's administration pushed that....and the court awarded it.

[Robert]

Quote:

---

Did you know that a recent government litigation in which the government COULD have received 120 million was reduced to 10 million over the next 5 years. Bush's administration pushed that....and the court awarded it.

---

I have a hard time with Bush's brand of Christianity....Anyone who sells out the little guy in return for big rewards for his self stinks....We are being systematically sold out by Washingon through unfair trade laws, etc.

Take for example our laws concerning illegal immigration...To a large extent they are winked at so "big business" can make big profits. In like manner American jobs are outsourced for the same reasons.

Washington is selling out those who vote them into office....We vote them in and then Corporate America takes over. Pretty soon religious accommodation will go by the wayside if Big Business gets their way....After all it too is in the way of big money.

[Dr. Shane]

President Bush's protection of the tobacco industry is likely to have more to do with him being from the south than him being conservative or Republican. Ann Richards, former Democrat governor of Texas, has worked as a paid lobbiest for tobacco companies and many prominant Democrats from the south have supported tobacco-friendly legislation. So it is not a partisan issue.

Another issue is the ethical one I raised. Many politicians, Christian or not, have a problem punishing an industry for doing exactly what the government liscensed them to do. I am not referring to taxation. Taxing tobacco companies so much that it discourages people from buying their products is fine. Taking them to court and sueing them for doing what they were lisenced to do raises ethical questions.

One problem is that much of their product is sold overseas. That makes taxation more challenging. Brother Neil mentioned how much tobacco companies spend on advertising. I would be interested to know if that includes international campaigns or only domestic. I have seen cigarette commercials on TV when in other countries.

As I stated before, I would like to see it illegal. Ground used to grow tobacco can grow other, more useful, crops (perhaps less profitable). Most smokers in the US want to quit so it isn't likely that much of a black market would develope. Tobacco is a great burden on our healthcare system.