Subject: RE: Another reason I hate smokers.... i don't disagree with you about personal accountability, but the tobacco companies misled the public about the product that they were selling. and, being that it is an addictive product, once many smokers knew the health risks, they were already hooked. when my grandfather started smoking in the 20s, it was thought to be GOOD for you! now, starting to smoke NOW - that's different. there is endless proof of the health risks - warnings on every pack.
anyway, the justice department and almost every judge who has ever heard a tobacco case would disagree with your assessment that the industry bears no responsibility:
"The Justice Department is suing the tobacco industry for $280 billion for allegedly conspiring to mislead the public about the dangers of smoking. The biggest civil racketeering case in U.S. history"
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3928531
more here:
http://www.tobacco.org/News/settlementresources.html
and i LOVE this quote:
Q: Could you please explain the recent historic tobacco settlement?
A: Sure. Basically, the tobacco industry has admitted that it is killing people by the millions, and has agreed that from now on it will do this under the strict supervision of the federal government.
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