[End The Hypocrisy]

>>>Tobacco companies signed up to the huge penalties and then immediately raised prices. <<<

If we could have a choice between having the tobacco industry still around, or all those lost family members of folks who couldn't kick the habit even when they tried, which would it be?

[RichGuy]

I would certainly opt for the family members. The point I was making was that individuals pay the cost and not the company the law tries to penalize. This means not only do we still have tobacco companies and smokers, we are penalizing the smoker and not the manufacturer.

If the product is that bad and addictive to boot, we should outlaw it and not fine the manufacturer since the essence of a free market system requires that cost of production be passed on to the consummer. Only government subsidized companies such as Amtrak can stay in business while having costs higher than revenues.

In the case of tobacco I don't believe it is all that harmful or addictive either one.