Let me start today with a couple of quotes...
From author Terry GoodKind ...
"We are free not to choose reason, but we are not free from the consequences..."
From a colleague...
"So what do you think about the BC Supreme Court allowing a law suit to proceed in which the BC government will sue tobacco producers for the health care costs incurred for caring for smoking-related illnesses over the past 50 years? Good thing no one is personally responsible for their own well-being – it’s someone else’s fault that they picked up the bad habit! I might be persuaded see that some of the older cases (i.e. 50 years ago), when people were unaware of the ill effects but the tobacco companies knew. But for the past 10 years they’ve put huge warnings on their packs – with disgusting photos as well! Of course they were forced to do it, but now that the warnings are there you can’t say people are unaware of the consequences of picking up that first cigarette.Pretty soon the alcohol producers will be responsible for liver disease and need to pay for those health care related expenses.So when will the government have to pay up to cover the rehab costs for chronic gamblers?"
My own comments...
After a discussion with a similarly minded friend, I will concede the point of extra efforts in spiking cigarettes to increase addiction, wild and flashy advertising campaigns etc., however, I still have to make a conscious decision to smoke, or not. We all know the consequences of smoking, especially considering the warnings and pictures on every pack. Ultimately, I make the decision, and any fall out from that point on is the direct result of that decision and is therefore my own responsibility to bear.
To follow the logic of suing Imperial Tobacco, can we also say that if I push you off the roof top, I am not accountable; you are, for being there!
Willy
2 comments:
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Come and check it out if you get time :-)
My question is can the tobacco industry counter sue on the basis that they were partnered with the government. When you consider the taxes levied against cigarettes that were supposedly to offset the health impact, I don't know who got the bigger piece of the smoking dollar. As a non smoker I figure it’s the government trying to make up for the decline in tax collected due to fewer people smoking but since they can’t impact the product(like making it more addictive) they will sue their business partner.
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