..or else they are going to sue for compensation from global tobacco giants on the international stage

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6194972.stm

interesting.  

if it goes through then the big tobacco giants will suddenly be open to the same treatment from other countries as well -->  and there's no limit to how high that could go (cost-wise).

if they have to start compensating entire countries for smoking-related deaths (instead of just US citizens, and even then, only one at a time) then, very quickly, this will get to a point where its not worth it for them to operate anymore.  and we'll start to see see large companies declaring bankruptcy and shutting down their operations just to escape litigation/liability. it might finally mean the end of their "industry".

good riddance.  

The Marboro Man is dead, time to kill off the rest of the tobacco industry.

Here here. That's one industry whose death I won't shed a tear for.

Quote (Captain Seavey @ Nov. 30 2006, 9:00 am)

Here here. That's one industry whose death I won't shed a tear for.

I could not agree more there

now if we could only get the oil companies (and of course, the Saudis...) to fix the hole in the ozone layer...

the ozone hole is from 'above-ground' nuclear weapons testing.

Here goes one of the greatest economic powerhouses and employers that we have. Not to mention some of the most filanthropic industries around. We villanize big tobacco for what? Selling a product that people want to buy. Simple as that. Blame smokers, not cigarettes.

This non-smoker will proudly stand up for the tobacco companies. The witch hunts against them are shameful, and go against the good principles of free enterprise.

Quote (Corran Horn @ Nov. 29 2006, 4:58 pm)

now if we could only get the oil companies (and of course, the Saudis...) to fix the hole in the ozone layer...

Would you care to explain ANY connection between oil and ozone?

Chlorofluorocarbons do not come from oil.

Quote (LightningBoy @ Nov. 29 2006, 10:09 pm)

Here goes one of the greatest economic powerhouses and employers that we have. Not to mention some of the most filanthropic industries around. We villanize big tobacco for what? Selling a product that people want to buy. Simple as that. Blame smokers, not cigarettes. This non-smoker will proudly stand up for the tobacco companies. The witch hunts against them are shameful, and go against the good principles of free enterprise.

What about the non-smokers that are affected by smokers? Do they just get screwed because of a product people want to buy? In this case I'm blaming cigarettes, because if they didn't exist their wouldn't be second hand smoke.

Quote (LightningBoy @ Nov. 29 2006, 8:09 pm)

Here goes one of the greatest economic powerhouses and employers that we have. Not to mention some of the most filanthropic industries around. We villanize big tobacco for what? Selling a product that people want to buy. Simple as that. Blame smokers, not cigarettes. This non-smoker will proudly stand up for the tobacco companies. The witch hunts against them are shameful, and go against the good principles of free enterprise.

tobacco itself should be illegal.  

then the greatest economic powerhouse in the world will be left searching for a new product, and they can use their immense lobbying power to legalize marijuana as a non-toxic alternative to fill the same cigarettes.  before you know it, they'll be using their existing production/distribution machine to employ just as many people (or more) with a different product.  

anyway they won't just "disappear".  

that "economic powerhouse" still has sharholders to answer to and they WILL find something to do with their capital.
(maybe they'll use their immense capital to develop africa, or find a cure for aids, or something.. worthwhile)

just because they stop selling cigarettes doesn't mean they'll drop off the face of the earth economy.