I never smoked until about a year ago. I knew the full possibility of my descision at the time, and I continue to realize that yes, smoking could cause cancer in my lungs. Could.

So what if it is bad for me? I rather enjoy it, and that's what it's all about. Smoking is all about one's personal freedom.

What about second hand smoke? Well, smokers have recently in this country been delegated from equality to being forced outside to enjoy their freedom. I would daresay that the non-smokers and the smokers are quite uneven in the country and something needs to be done about that.

So, light 'em up. It's your freedom.

I am saying that if tobacco is as 'deadly' as the government claims, than they would close it down. Needless to say, the tobacco industries still are around.

marine16- are u sayin tobacco DOESNT harm ppl?? i think its only partially the companies fault...they issued it out n they know its addictive..but its also the ppl's fault for doing it..and its companies..becuz they issue dit out n got ppl into it. i think co.'s lyk truth and stuff are actually REALLY helping becuz i see one of those commercials alomst everytime i watch tv...this'll help ppl see smokin isnt the thing to do. even if they present it in a dumb manner. (sometymes)

I believe tobacco companies are the ones to blame except...they aren't doing EVERYTHING. yes, they are producing a deadly product and that should be stopped, if a human killing people is stopped, and forced to pay consequences, why shouldn't an industry producing a product that kills?if a human killing people is stopped, and forced to pay consequences, why shouldn't an industry producing a product that kills be stopped? but i think the costumers are also the ones to blame, maybe if they DIDNT SMOKE...many people wouldnt be dying becuase of tabacco related problems. The industry shoiuld be put to an end, because it its harming people...the industry shouldn't have started in the first place, but if you think about it now...if we DID ban the industry... people would begin to smuggle, and that COULD make matters worse...yes i kno i am contradicting myself.

Hi Folks. I am 21 years old and I smoke. I started smoking when I was 15. At the time, I was influenced by friends, and didn't really know of all the risks of smoking and what was actually in cigarettes. Now that I'm older, wiser, and work in a hospital where I see the effects of smoking everyday (cancer, bronchitis, emphysema, etc.), I wish I could quit....but I can't. I'm addicted.

I give props to agencies such as Truth (even though they have some stupid commercials...) for trying to get the message out to kids and even people my age. Even though rallies such as these can greatly reduce the amount of teenage and young adult smokers, there is still something to remember, fellow NoiseMakers. The choice to smoke is ultimately the choice of the individual. There is tons of information out there on the risks of smoking. We see it on TV, hear it on the radio, read it on the internet, and, if your in my position, see it everyday. Not having enough information to know the risks is not an acceptable excuse anymore. We made our choice to smoke, and if we're too weak to quit or too stubborn to not revel in the facts that are shoved in our faces everyday, then it's our own **** fault.

The tobbacco industry shouldnt be shut down, but the warnings are somewhat sensible considering the amount of idiots out there. However, along wit tobbaco, drugs should be legalized. This would end the black market for drugs and give more power to the govt and FDA to inspect drugs etc, for purity. Those of you who say this wont work, keep in mind that before the 20's, almost all drugs were legal, from cannabis to cocaine gumdrops to Bayer heroin.
Many drugs are less damaging and addictive than tobacco, even heroin is less addictive. Legalizintg drugs is the only sensible way to shut down the black market of drug traficking.

If the government actually shut down the Tobacco Industries, Tobacco will not go away. It will move to the Black Market and will actually become more dangerous. Why? Because people will mix tobacco will other stuff to make a bigger profit. And also, tobacco will be use to fund illegal activity. I think the government have taken a good stand on Tobacco, educate people about it's risks. It's your choice to use tobacco and government shouldn't be your parents.
--Kelly

you can't blame the tobacco industry for your own mistakes. When a person first lights up, they should take into account what could happen if they keep smoking. If they're not aware of what might happen, then someone should let them know. There's too many people out there who have had complications with living due to smoking. There's absolutely no excuse for someone to say that they aren't aware of the consequences. The tobacco industry is a business, just like McDonald's. People go in and eat at McDonald's every day, and people who go there every day and eat a big mac or whatever are going to have a higher risk of having a heart attack than those who eat right and exercise every day. Is that to say that we should be suing the McDonald's franchise for puttin such high-calorie and high-fat foods on the market?

Hey, if you think tobacco is such a deadly product, then just don't use it. Marine16 is right. The government would not allow a product as "deadly" as you say, as tobacco on the market. That's why marijuana, heroine, and cocaine are illegal drugs when tobacco is not. Sure, it might be addictive, but so is alcohol, soda's, and to an extent, chocolate. But none of these are illegal. Tobacco is merely a business, and a very successful one at that. And if you feel that it is deadly, then just don't use it. If you think it will cause you cancer, then don't use. If you know someone that is smoking or chewing then you can try and stop them, but if they won't, then they are doomed to whatever end they might meet. Once the government can prove that tobacco is a deadly product and they take it off the market, then your claims will be valid. Until then, you should stop attacking a very successful business.

As I have said before, all you people are offerning is opinions and 'facts' that contain several loopeholes. The government can't prove that tobacco kills people, all they have is correlations and 'fact's that contain several loopeholes.

You're right, Beheard721, a company does have the right to market whatever product they want. But no one has the right to market a product that is made to ruin people's health and lead them to their inneveitable death. That is a fact that can not be argued, so how can you argue that 'tobacco is deadly'.

I don't understand your comparison of tylenol to cigarettes, marine. I'm not sure if someone here has mentioned this already, but they are REALLY different.

Tylenol is a medicine marketed to stop pain and fevers. The makers of Tylenol and all its employers work hard to make a drug that will help people, because it has no other value.

Cigarettes aren't made to physically treat people. They're like candy - they're made for pleasure. The makers of cigarettes want to make their products addictive and want them their customers to feel good -- not to restore their health.

But getting rid of cigarettes, definitely deadly (how could u not say they're not killing people directly? look at the stats), would result in thousands of people losing their jobs. And tobacco companies have a right to market any product they want. So maybe I'm agreeing with you that the gov't can't shut down companies, it's unconstitutional, but the comparison between Tylenol and cigarettes is irrational. And surgeon general warnings are the best the gov't can do to gradually slow down this 3 century old tobacco market and prevent more deaths.

That's my little spiel. Thanks for reading!
p.s. has anyone seen the insider? great movie!

Liltrumpet girl, I don't think you are understanding what I am saying. I am saying that the government can not prove that tobacco is deadly.

I will give you the benefit of the doubt, liltrumpetgirl, and say sure, in some claims they say it is harmful. But why do some other claims say it may be harmful?

Face it there are too many loopholes in your arguement.

I do not mean sunlight or low forms, more like uranium byproducts

You say that I have not proven ciggerettes are harmful.
may cause cancer or death is harmful enough for me. if you dont think increased risks of death and cancer are harmful then i dont know what would be. It is like exposing yourself to straight up radiation without preotection and saying its not harmful because it only increases your rick of cancer or totaly mutating your genes.

It seems to be that none of you can answer Marine16's questions. Is this because he has the facts and you have nothing but your own pitiful thoughts? Yes it most definetly is, the tabacoo industry is too powerful for the government to stop and they make enough money that the government will not even try. If people choose to smoke or use tobacoo products and get cancer so be it.

Actually, liltrumpetgirl, I never said tobacco isn't harmless. I have stated time and time again, which no one seems to be able to disprove, that the government can not prove tobacco is deadly. Sure one warning might say Tobacco Causes Lung Cncer' but others say 'Tobacco May Cause Lung Cancer' and all the government makes Phillip Morris is 'Our Products May Cause Cancer'. Why is that? It is because they can't actually prove it. It seems everyone is beeting around my facts the the government can't prove tobacco is deadly with trivial 'arguements'. Why is that?

It is sad that you people have let your hatred for tobacco companies blind you in this arguement.

I heard something that Philip Morris is gonna get a name change to "Altria Group." for more info on this go here:
[URL=http://www.philipmorriscanthide.com][/URL]

marine settles with personal attacks once again. I am not a communist and do not share comunist ideaologies. Furthermore, I think you are confused with liberal ideaologies. Lliberals are for human and civil rights of the people and that transposes into letting people do what they want and have the right to do which is about as opposite of communism as you can get. Conservatives however mostly beleive in religion (dominantly christianity) and a stronger government controll which is a lot closer to communism. The fact that we are both coexistant makes a democracy for if everyon bleived in the same hting it wouldnt matter
Smoking does kill. I saw an ad that had the surgeon generals warning "tobacco causes cancer and kills people" there goes your only argument. I havent said anything about alchohol hear because its not the topic. I do not agree with people drinking and driving or negligance caused by drunkardness. In moderation it is healthy and it can be kept in a certain place. Ciggerette smoke, even contained in your home, can harm peopel with second hadn smoke. if a mother/father smokes their children get hurt. It should be illegal to expose peopel to second hand smoke. THe tobacco companies should be sued for targetting teens in ads and that has already been changed for the most part but there are still thousands of addicted teenagers. I do not think people should be sueing the companies for using ciggerettes and getting cancer because they know the risks. You were having many replies because you falsly stated that tobacco isnt harmless. The reason it cannot be stopped is bcause as americans we have the right to endanger our lives by many things. THe problem is you cant hurt others by what you want to do to yourself.

Heaven021, I commend you for your amazing efforts to continue the debate on this sensitive subject and I totally agree with your statements.

However, I think we should save our energy for A DIFFERENT debate. Marine16 is obviously not going to change his mind. We have given him legitimate information which he chooses to ignore.

We have tried our best to fight ignorance, and have definitely NOT failed. I just think that our energy would be better spent on another NOISEboard, and perhaps spreading our info about the tobacco companies elsewhere.

See ya around Heaven021!

-Linnea

I just wanted to point out one other thing though. Second hand smoke will harm someone's health, even if they smoke just one cigarette, whilst someone can drink alcohol responsibly without any consequence to another person. Thus, deaths related to alcohol abuse can be prevented with moderation. Meanwhile, moderation in cigarette smoking will not help.

I also resent you're speaking so casually of a thousand somewhat lives, even if that number were to be far less. One of those lives could be you.