In part one it was shown how the Tobacco Industry victimized the smoking public.

To recap, we learned that the Tobacco Industries conducted massive scientific research of nicotine, and discovered:

1) Nicotine was an addictive drug.
2) Smoking caused cancer and many other health problems.
3) Tobacco products could be produced without harmful health affects.
4) Tobacco industry researched additives to make nicotine stronger.
5) Tobacco industries created enhanced nicotine stronger than cocaine or heroine.
6) Tobacco industries targeted children to ensure future sales and profits.

In part two it was shown how our government victimized the smoking public.

To recap, we learned that our politician’s pockets were lined with green, a whopping total of $30,000,000 from five major tobacco companies. Attorney General Janet Reno filed an illegal lawsuit against the tobacco industry using funds taken from the Veterans Administration Health Care Program. A program with limited funds for the care of all veterans. Additional funds were taken from various other veteran programs, members of the armed services, (many in our military branches already need the aid of food stamps due to being under paid, and live in appalling conditions) and civilian federal employees. (Most federal employees on the management level have not received a pay raise of more than 2% in the past six years, putting their wages way below the average cost of living increases.) Adding to the illegality of the lawsuit, and where the funding is coming from, the Justice Dept. has shown itself to be totally disrespectful of an intelligent public by stating, “There is no basis in federal law for the lawsuit the Justice Dept. has filed. However, the Department’s goal is not necessarily a court win, but an extorted settlement and political points for trying. This goal is better understood when realizing how culpable the government is in dealing with the Tobacco Industries. The government has been aware of the health hazards connected to the addiction of tobacco for many years, and used this addiction to line the government’s pockets with revenue taken from sales taxes. It also continued to subsidize the tobacco growers.

Forty-six states sued the Tobacco industries and won a settlement worth $206 billion. This award was to be used in supporting the cost of treating tobacco victims. Even though this lawsuit was pursued through the Home Rule Law (a law enacted to free the States of Federal government control) the government usurped this law and took control of this case. (Another illegal act by the Federal government.) The Whitehouse with full approval from congress overturned the settlement, and enacted “The Managers Amendment” This amendment in essence gave the Tobacco industries immunity from all illegal acts charged by the Federal courts. It also placed a cap on the amounts of money that may be awarded now and in the future. It abolishes class action suits, making it impossible for victims to sue.

The blatant disregard for the law by this administration diminishes the rights of all citizens, not just those who are victims of tobacco. It sets a dangerous precedent for all consumers. Which industries will be the next to line the government’s pockets to protect themselves from lawsuits due to dangerous or faulty products? Toy companies; tire companies, crib companies, or the food industry?

In August of 1995 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined nicotine is a drug, and cigarettes are nicotine delivery devices under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic act. Traditionally, the FDA has initiated enforcement actions in cases where the agency determines a product is a drug or a drug delivery device.

DRUG: Nicotine is a product that kills 430,000 U.S. citizens each year-more than alcohol, cocaine, heroin, homicide, suicide, car accidents, fire, and AIDS combined. It contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including carbon monoxide, Formaldehyde, cyanide, lead, nickel, arsenic, cadmium, methyl chloride, benzo (a) pyrene, chromium, hydrazine, ammonia, rohypnol (rape drug), and traces of radioactive polonium, to name just a few.

DEVICE: Cigarettes are devices, which enable nicotine to be absorbed through the lungs rapidly and efficiently. It reaches the brain more rapidly than intravenous injection.

The FDA was established to protect the public from any product that was considered dangerous or hazardous. There are many available new drugs, which would help a large number of the public in combating different diseases, which the FDA won’t allow on the U.S. market. Some of these drugs have been available for many years in Europe without any reports of serious side effects. Yet the FDA stands steadfast in disallowing their use, (without pro or con government intervention.) Yet, in the case of tobacco, the government moved with lightning speed to take jurisdiction away from the FDA.

Tobacco is lethal; cigarettes are proven devices for transmitting a lethal drug! These findings would give the FDA only one option, which would be to ban all tobacco products, and render nicotine an illegal drug.
With this in mind, it’s very clear why the government intervened. Money, money from the tobacco industries, money from taxes, money saved by the early deaths of tobacco consumers.

Are you a victim, oh yes! We all are victims, not just the smoking public the entire public! The laws that were broken, the precedents that have been set, put each and every one of us at risk. What law will the government trample next? Which unsafe item will be allowed on the market? What government ruling will rescind your civil rights to sue in a court of law? These are frightening questions, I wonder who has the answers.