Posted on 07/08/2002 7:54:22 AM PDT by SheLion
Edited on 04/22/2004 12:34:06 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
While 46 states participated in the $246 billion tobacco settlement aimed at punishing the tobacco industry for its contribution to public health problems, several of those states have decided to dump the cash right back into the tobacco industry.
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. But since 1999, 75 percent of the cash has gone back into the production and marketing of North Carolina tobacco.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Wade is a big boy. He knew the health risks. He should have QUIT! Now he's crying foul??? Give me a break!
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?
Kind of ironic, aint it...... :-}
And so true!
And which states would THAT be.
Maybe 4 to 8% of them. (I know, I'm probably giving them too much credit.)
:)
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."
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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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
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
Oh sure! Believe the Government. Don't they know what's good for us????
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
Why?
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