Addicted to Tobacco?

LA Times ^ | 6/18/03 | Tommy Payne

[LNewman]

By Tommy J. Payne, Tommy J. Payne is executive vice president for external relations for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc.

Surgeon General Richard Carmona uncorked a genie's bottle of political hypocrisy with his recent comment before Congress that he would support banning tobacco products.

Why didn't such a bold, sincerely delivered statement, coming from the nation's top physician, win him any measurable praise from the anti-smoking lobby and politicians who have long decried smoking? Leaving aside issues of individual freedom, adult responsibility, social engineering and political correctness, the answer may lie in that famous piece of advice: "Follow the money."

[LNewman]

I don't think much of the tobacco "windfall" went to health programs in California. I believe San Diego County was one of the very few that even made an effort. Orange County poured it into their bankruptcy bail out.

[tom paine 2]

The addictees are the politicians. They will never ban tobacco as long as they get that revenue stream.