I think the folks who are so up in arms abought second-hand smoke that they have to control others should have to give the same consideration to those of us who are worried about second-hand auto exhaust.
It’s actually possible that some of those tobacco executives really believed that their product wasn’t that dangerous. The human capacity for self-deception, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, is pretty astounding. Examples abound, such as the 30+% of the US populace who still persist in supporting a certain person despite all the evidence of his incompetence, dishonesty, and general malignancy (to use an appropriate metaphor). Certainly a lot of smokers in the same generation as these executives refused to believe their habit was harmful. While my maternal grandfather quit cold turkey in his late 70s after getting emphysema (though unfortunately he still got lung cancer), my paternal grandfather wouldn’t quit entirely even when he had serious heart disease from all his smoking. My mother says he even claimed the doctor told him it was okay if he smoked once in a while (needless to say, she doubted that the doctor had said any such thing). And with the tobacco executives, self-interest gave them an additional reason to continue with the self-deception. But none of that excuses their continued foisting of their deadly product on the public.
BE THIS GUY over 4 years ago
Bourbon and tobacco are both popular in the same part of the country.
jvo over 4 years ago
Drunk with power :(
kaffekup over 4 years ago
Documents released later showed that, yes, they knew about it all along. And lived with the profits just fine.
fuzzbucket Premium Member over 4 years ago
They just figured they didn’t light those cigarettes, and anybody stupid enough to smoke them is too stupid to live anyway.
summerdog over 4 years ago
Is there a way to tell how many tobacco lords smoke their own product?
Frankfreak over 4 years ago
Munitions manufacturers, sleep okay. There was the gunpowder or dynamite lady that kept building onto her house…
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Sigh. Nazi’s slept too.
TexTech over 4 years ago
So Buttsy is a lawyer as well as a shill for the tobacco industry?
Kabana_Bhoy over 4 years ago
You’d be surprised what corporate jets & retreats will do for your life…let’s not forget those damned golden umbrellas too.
Troglodyte over 4 years ago
Mr. Butts is on fire today… but then, he is every day!
eclectic1 over 4 years ago
I think the folks who are so up in arms abought second-hand smoke that they have to control others should have to give the same consideration to those of us who are worried about second-hand auto exhaust.
finnygirl Premium Member over 4 years ago
Jeremy, with his clueless face and naive “helpful” comments, just cracks me up!!
evsxrk over 4 years ago
It’s actually possible that some of those tobacco executives really believed that their product wasn’t that dangerous. The human capacity for self-deception, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, is pretty astounding. Examples abound, such as the 30+% of the US populace who still persist in supporting a certain person despite all the evidence of his incompetence, dishonesty, and general malignancy (to use an appropriate metaphor). Certainly a lot of smokers in the same generation as these executives refused to believe their habit was harmful. While my maternal grandfather quit cold turkey in his late 70s after getting emphysema (though unfortunately he still got lung cancer), my paternal grandfather wouldn’t quit entirely even when he had serious heart disease from all his smoking. My mother says he even claimed the doctor told him it was okay if he smoked once in a while (needless to say, she doubted that the doctor had said any such thing). And with the tobacco executives, self-interest gave them an additional reason to continue with the self-deception. But none of that excuses their continued foisting of their deadly product on the public.