[bjs1779]

Taxes are a separate issue.

Maybe, maybe not. Big tobacco is losing LOTS of money because people are finding ways to avoid the taxes and the cost of their liability settlements. By agreeing to letting the FDA regulate them, it's a cinch that little tobacco will be effectivly outlawed. That's the way the money trail looks to me anyway.

[mg39]

Little tobacco -- meaning the small cigarette companies? You're right, they're probably doomed. For that matter, the little tobacco farmer is too (like all small farmers). The buyout is a way to cushion the fall for these guys, because prices for unfinished tobacco will plummet once USDA gets out of the quota/marketing loan business.

And that's not even taking into account competition from African, Brazilian, Turkish, and Chinese tobacco producers.

I'll tell you what: if I was a cigarette smoker, I'd want the FDA to keep an eye on the quality of imported tobacco, as some of those foreign countries are pretty slipshod when it comes to things like regulating pesticide/herbicide use.

One way or another, the end is near for the small American tobacco farmer.