Follow the Money

It occurred to me that, since tobacco users are giving so much money to line the pockets of the tobacco company executives, they might want a glimpse of who these guys are. 

Check out this very short (just over 1 minute) video showing the CEOs of the 7 major American tobacco companies testifying before Congress in 1994.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQUNk5meJHs&NR=1

Now compare that with this quote, taken from a 1963 internal memo from Addison Yeaman, executive vice president of Brown & Williamson and the president of the Council for Tobacco Research:

“We are, then, in the business of selling nicotine, an addictive drug...”

Or this quote from a Philip Morris researcher in 1972:

“Without nicotine...there would be no smoking...”

I also found this quote, although I haven't done the research to confirm its veracity.  Allegedly told to the "Winston Man", a former tobacco advertising model who turned people's witness against his former employers.  When one tobacco exec was asked if he smoked, his reply was,

"I'm not that dumb!  Smoking is for the young, the poor, the blacks, and the stupid."

Now, how do you feel about making regular contributions to the lavish lifestyle of these folks?