Critics Fault North Carolina for Sending Tobacco Cash Up in Smoke

Fox News ^ | 8 July 2002 | Jonathan Serrie

[SheLion]

Wade Hampton, a throat cancer survivor who blames 31 years of two-pack-a-day smoking for his disease, said North Carolina's tobacco settlement has amounted to little more than a publicity stunt and a smoke screen to maintain the status quo.

Wade is a big boy. He knew the health risks. He should have QUIT! Now he's crying foul??? Give me a break!

[SheLion]

One guy said:

Wisconsin is doing other states one better: They sold their future shares for a one-time lump sum payment, and they're planning to use every penny of it on a one-time budget saving plan. The whole freakin' thing! Is that delicious or what?

[SouthernFreebird]

As a North Carolinian I can't help but smile....lol

[Great Dane]

But critics say funding tobacco production with settlement money makes no sense.

Kind of ironic, aint it...... :-}

[InvisibleChurch]

This settlement is merely a live version of the movie "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World"

[Guillermo]

NC isn't the only state not spending their cigarette money on anti-tobacco campaigns or health care.

The REAL story of the tobacco extortion is which states ARE spending the money in the manner they said they would.

[SheLion]

LOL! That's a good one. I like that! :)

And so true!

[Just another Joe]

The REAL story of the tobacco extortion is which states ARE spending the money in the manner they said they would.

And which states would THAT be.
Maybe 4 to 8% of them. (I know, I'm probably giving them too much credit.)

[Sunshine Sister]

This one is even funnier. One state (sorry I can't remember which one) took their settlement money and bought stock in tobacco companies to fund thier retirement system. How ironic is that?

[SheLion]

Wisconsin?

:)

[Bonaparte]

" And which states would THAT be."

California, for one. How much of their settlement share is spent this way, I don't know. But they're incessantly running radio spots that cite the phony "secondary smoke" nonsense, completely discredited "research" that the state promotes as "fact."

[Constitution Day]

NC Ping!

I'm not really a smoker (unless you count the occasional cigar)
However, as the grandson of tobacco farmers, this whole thing really ticks me off!!

CD

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[SheLion]

I LOVE North Carolina! Add me to your ping list!

[Constitution Day]

I will!

Thanks for posting that, BTW.
I grew up working in the summers for my grandfather, and the thought of NC losing tobacco farming for good is just unthinkable.

CD

[mykdsmom]

North Carolina, for instance, was awarded $4.6 billion in the multi-state settlement, and politicians promised the money would be used for health care, smoking prevention and steering farmers to alternative crops.

What I find amusing about this is that there are still sheeple in this country that actually believe the government when they make a promise.

MKM

[SheLion]

Tobacco Cash May Go to Wisc. Budget

[SheLion]

What I find amusing about this is that there are still sheeple in this country that actually believe the government when they make a promise.

Oh sure! Believe the Government. Don't they know what's good for us????

[Sunshine Sister]

Could be, I just don't remember. I saw the article posted at the lounge a couple of weeks ago.

[billbears]

I was watching the government channel the other day and the Cary Town Council meeting was on (okay I know I was bored!! You don't have to tell me). There was a young lady on there that apparently had land willed from her great grandmother. Something about a grandfather clause has protected the land for a couple of years but apparently no more. Some of it used to be tobacco land, but guess which 'growing' Town Council thinks they can use it better than the property owner? The government has tried killing the industry from one end and the carpetbaggers are trying to kill it by building on all the land around here

CD, I'm with you. I remember the days gone by when you drove through Eastern NC and saw tobacco, not housing developments. As much as I am against internal improvements or government handouts, if the good state of NC can do anything to help protect these companies from the general government, I say keep giving. This state, while somewhat weaned from tobacco, would be dealt a serious blow if attacks on the industry are allowed to continue unabated. I chose to smoke (quit about 1 year) and I choose to dip snuff (have since I was about 9). I know the drawbacks, I know the dangers, but danged if I'm going to sue anyone for my choices. I personally don't think there should be one more tobacco settlement. If you don't know the dangers by now, you're living in a cave. If you so choose to use tobacco products (like myself) quit whining if you get sick. It's no one's fault but our own

[Phantom Lord]

I grew up working in the summers for my grandfather, and the thought of NC losing tobacco farming for good is just unthinkable.

Why?