Do you agree that tobacco companies are responsible for the death of millions of people? Can you describe some of the crimes committed by tobacco companies and their executives?
2006-11-27 09:35:27 · 12 answers · asked by AmB19 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Thank you..........
2006-11-27 10:03:04 · update #1
No. Consumers are the ones that buy the product. Tobacco companies do not force anyone to smoke. If you want to say something about second hand smoke, I live in a state where smoking in public is banned. Anyways, it's the person smoking who is at fault.
2006-11-27 09:38:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Morally yes. Legally no.
People smoke because it's enjoyable, relatively inexpensive compared to some vices, and it's legal. Everyone makes their own choices in life. There is a reason people choose not to smoke - because everyone knows it's unhealthy. If a cigarette company never advertised again, it probably wouldn't have much effect on the number of smokers because a lot of people are more influenced by peers and social norms than advertising. The only crime that has been committed is an ethical one and that is profitting at the expense of others' health. I just can't figure out why cigarettes haven't been made illegal yet......and I smoke! Hmmm, could it be the financial relationship between gov't and tobacco companies!?!?
2006-11-27 17:55:50 · answer #2 · answered by Sandy Sandals 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe of misleading but responsible for the death of millions? Not at all. If you are going to pursue that line of reasoning then you might as well go after all of the car companies, the alcohol companies, and many many others. At a certain point consumers must accept a great deal of resonsibility and not try to pass the buck. Who really wins in these tobacco lawsuits? Seems like the lawyers do.
2006-11-27 17:46:13 · answer #3 · answered by ndmagicman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is easy to call them crimes now. Tobacco is a legal, regulated, and taxed product approved and embraced by the government. We would be in a world of hurt if we lost the tax revenue generated by smoking.
I say that anyone who doe not know that smoking kills is living in la la land. The responsibility mostly lies with the smoker. That does not mean the tobacco people are heros. They are just running a business under the rules set forth the people through the congress.
2006-11-27 17:44:51 · answer #4 · answered by united9198 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think they were for a time responsible. They hid the information that cigarettes cause lung cancer.
They are no longer guilty of anything - everyone knows that there is a cause and effect, and there is a warning on every packet.
They do not, legally, make a defective product. It is exactly what they say it is, and everyone knows it is addictive and deadly.
People who smoke now have no-one else to blame but themselves.
2006-11-27 17:57:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lying about bad health effects and adding addictive substances is bad BUT many other food industries can be sued on the same theory/precedence, like baked or canned goods containing added sweetners causing diabetes and making people fat. How about the benzoate preservative revelation, that interacting with other ingrediants in soda forms the documented carcinogen BENZENE now at the center of the petroleum industry lawsuits? It comes down to was someone FORCING people to consume these goods???? No. Stupidity=Darwinism, survival of the smart, extinction of the stupid.
2006-11-27 17:41:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The consumer is responsible. No one put a gun to their head and said buy these. People need to take reponsiblity for their life choices.
No one is perfect. We are all going to die - accidents happen - but it is a life choice for some.
Logic dictates :
If you are fat stay out of the donut shop
If you can't breath or have read the warning label - don't smoke.
2006-11-27 17:46:49 · answer #7 · answered by Akkita 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is very irresponsible to blame the provider and not the user - particularly when the provider does not force it's product's use. It's like blaming McDonald's for American's being fat...damn them for having such yummy french fries!
2006-11-27 17:41:47 · answer #8 · answered by smellyfoot ™ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
AND----FAST FOOD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE HEART ATTACKS---HEART PROBLEMS ARE STILL THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH
BEFORE THE INCOME TAX THE GOVERNMENT GOT 90% OF ITS MONIES FROM TOBACCO AND LIQUEUR TAXES
THEREFORE THE GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE
2006-11-27 18:11:41 · answer #9 · answered by Jerome D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no...person's choice to use tobacco; we are warned from childhood the addiction and harmful effects...(a smoker myself)
2006-11-27 17:39:14 · answer #10 · answered by phyllis_neel 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋