Why are the cigarette companies still in business? - Page 2

pgzn · 07-04-2008, 12:11 PM

I don't think the tobacco companies profit nearly as much as another entity in the tobacco business which produces absolutely nothing of worth. The government. They're the only ones making money hand over fist, through legalized theft.

What's the profit on a pack of cigarettes, compared to the government's cut, taken at the point of a gun from everyone in the chain of supply and demand.

Of course cigarette companies deserve every penny of profit that they earn. The government doesn't deserve to loot or mooch any of it.

thegamerslink · 07-04-2008, 01:54 PM

I didn't miss the point SITA. Here it's a free market system, I mean is the product dangerous? To some or most the answer is probably yes. So the government makes them state it on every packaging they have to inform the consumer.

It's the consumer that keeps a company in business and that has and should have the power to dictate what that company does or whether it stays in business. It's not the governments place to mandate in such a situation but merely oversee and inform.

pgzn · 07-04-2008, 02:24 PM

Government informing of the dangers reminds me of a cult of Putin over in Russia. I don't remember the exact name of the group but they preach no alcohol, or cigarettes, or anything bad for you. And they love Putin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gncW1zqMFgs

StrongInTheArm · 07-05-2008, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegamerslink

I didn't miss the point SITA. Here it's a free market system, I mean is the product dangerous? To some or most the answer is probably yes. So the government makes them state it on every packaging they have to inform the consumer.

It's the consumer that keeps a company in business and that has and should have the power to dictate what that company does or whether it stays in business. It's not the governments place to mandate in such a situation but merely oversee and inform.

And what about the addictiveness of cigarettes, how free does that leave your average consumer?

indusLogic08 · 07-05-2008, 04:42 AM

well... there is many views on this situation !!
of course there is positive as well as negative side.... that's how this work.

as someone already gave the example of pickups n suv's.... that's perfectly explain the situation.

thegamerslink · 07-05-2008, 12:28 PM

There are many things that are addictive, they may or may not be as addictive. And some things are more addictive to some than to others. I don't know about other places but here in the U.S. because of several civil lawsuits against the Tobacco companies part of the settlement was that so much a year is spent on informative and preventative advertising and programs directed towards not only the consumer but the youth.

From the age of 4 or 5 anti Drug/Alcohol/Smoking messages and campaigns are part of the regular curriculum and up bringing. However Whether you drink once you are of age, or smoke once you are of age still remains a free choice.

pontarae · 07-08-2008, 05:31 PM

The latest statistics show a declining market in cigarettes in the US.

My theory about this is that it has ceased to be cool to smoke as there is a growing perception that only less educated, lower income people engage in the habit.

kimsonsolutions · 07-09-2008, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pontarae

The latest statistics show a declining market in cigarettes in the US.

My theory about this is that it has ceased to be cool to smoke as there is a growing perception that only less educated, lower income people engage in the habit.

did the price of cigarettes rise up lately in america ? cause it's what happened in europe and this lead to a lot poeple trying to quit smoking

StrongInTheArm · 07-09-2008, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimsonsolutions

did the price of cigarettes rise up lately in america ? cause it's what happened in europe and this lead to a lot poeple trying to quit smoking

Well I can't speak for the rest of Europe but in England, they introduced a smoking ban in public places such as pubs and restaurants a year ago. That combined with help to quit from the National Health Service has lead to over 400 thousand people giving up over that time period. This equates to the largest number quitting per year ever, apparently.

kimsonsolutions · 07-09-2008, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrongInTheArm

Well I can't speak for the rest of Europe but in England, they introduced a smoking ban in public places such as pubs and restaurants a year ago. That combined with help to quit from the National Health Service has lead to over 400 thousand people giving up over that time period. This equates to the largest number quitting per year ever, apparently.

they did the same in france but i'm not sure it is well respected

but i'm actually on London and you don't see a single personn smoking in bars !! it's crazy they're all out in group

StrongInTheArm · 07-09-2008, 10:20 AM

What!?! The British following the rules! You jest sir?

Its a little sad seeing people crowd around outside, huddled together in winter, keeping each other warm by the heat of a lit cigarette.

kimsonsolutions · 07-09-2008, 10:30 AM

breaking rules is french national sport so i do am impressed by you english guys respecting things ( but, well, there are jackass everywhere )

and yes it's pretty sad not to be abble not to smoke for an hour

what's the pleasure to smoke in such conditions ( and under the lovely british weather ...

)

ewomack · 07-09-2008, 11:40 AM

Smoking bans have become more common here in the land of baseball, apple pie, and... Chevrolet? I never understood that triad... Anyway, all smoking in bars was declared illegal not too long ago in my area.

But why are smoking manufacturers still in business? For one, in the US they have a solid line of defense in congress via lobbies (though I hear this has dissolved somewhat recently). Second, though numbers have declined enough people still smoke to make the industry viable. Third, there's a huge cultural stigma, in the US, with banning something that people once took for granted. The politicians that ban all smoking and shut down companies would get branded as "freedom limiters." Especially in smoker's rights groups, which do exist here and probably do elsewhere. So all three factors, and others, play a role. But in the end smoking likely persists because the money still talks.

Blender · 07-09-2008, 12:50 PM

are you offering to trade cigarettes for other goods?

thegamerslink · 07-09-2008, 04:09 PM

This really really needs to be said again apparently, you're talking about the tobacco companies now, and as ewomack said there is a severe unpopularity with banning of things. But when you make statements about those unpopularities you have to expand as to why are they so unpopular. So smoking is bad for you, drinking alcohol in excess or to some any at all is bad for you. Eating Big Macs is bad for you. Eating to much chocolate is bad for you, drinking soda pop is bad for you. And I could definitely keep going and get much broader in what is bad for you. A new study now states that the major push for people to stay out of the sun or to use massive amounts of sunblock while out is now something that will kill you in some cases as you need vitamin D from the sun. Not very many years ago the red die found in Cherries caused cancer. Ok, so what's my point? If you haven't figured it out already, the point is, if you allow a government to play parent and to tell you every thing you can and cannot do then you wake up one day and wonder why you're not allowed to wash with soap in the shower.

It's fine and dandy for a government or it's agencies to inform and educate it's citizens. That I think is a very good use for them. However that is where they should or actually must stop. If it doesn't then you are no longer free to think or act for yourself but are forced to submit to what others that you don't even know tell you you can or cannot do regardless of your individual needs or desires.

SEO Eclectic · 07-10-2008, 04:38 AM

Governments don't mind because of tax revenue. The medical profession doesn't mind because it provides them with patients. Corporations are for profit businesses and therefore the motive is clear. Though revenue from cigarette sales in the developed world has decreased, the major cigarette companies have made more profit gains in developing nations and continue to. As P Diddy once rapped.. it's all about the Benjamines baby!

Yosha

RNK Concepts · 07-30-2008, 01:47 PM

I say we ban chocolate for its ability to kill puppies ... And dolphins.

StrongInTheArm · 07-30-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RNK Concepts

I say we ban chocolate for its ability to kill puppies ... And dolphins.

What has chocolate got to do with this thread, or dolphins for that matter?

Gloria1 · 07-30-2008, 04:20 PM

cigarette companies are still operating because we are still smoking. maybe when we all see the dangerous effects of smoking and stop going in for more packets then the companies might have no other option than to close down. do you think Obama will ban these cigarette companies when he becomes President? i think no because Obama and many important personalities up there smoke.

Harveyj · 07-30-2008, 08:46 PM

You know what? I've seen a dissected lung of a pack a day smoker.
Honestly, it's just more meat and puss to me, so not particularly shocking. I KNOW that's happening inside me too.
Do I care?
Not really... I enjoy a good Cuban (they're legal here), and I enjoy my Marlboro's.
I also enjoy a fine Armagnac or Irish... I've seen what it's doing to my liver too... It's pretty nasty. Should we ban alcohol as well? Especially on the consideration it's responsible for more deaths than heroin? Hell no... We should legalise and regulate and tax the bejesus out of these things.
It means less money for organised crime, more money for programs to ward off the ill-effects of the drugs on both users and society at large, and guaranteed purity in drugs which will actually save a lot of lives.

In retrospect, a truly stupid thing is to legalise tobacco, which has absolutely no positive benefits (other than enjoyment), where as drugs that have a perfectly useful medicinal purpose are illegal outside of the emergency ward and ADHD medication (Ritalin is just speed, folks).