– A simple truth is that corporations are profit seeking entities whose behavior is driven by their need to satisfy their stock holders. They may talk compassion and social consciousness but, usually, it is just PR. In general, large corporations, especially multi-nationals, have one simple goal – profit. When they become as powerful as governments and/or when they operate within political systems which revere Capitalism and disdain Socialism, then they become dangerous to all of us.
– This story is especially chilling because the same folks who have been sacrificing people’s health for the sake of their tobacco profits have reportedly joined forces with the likes of Exxon-Mobil to continue to sow confusion about Global Climate Change so that the profits can continue to roll in unimpeded by long term considerations of what it is all going to mean to future generations.
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Science Daily A reanalysis of nicotine yield from major brand name cigarettes sold in Massachusetts from 1997 to 2005 has confirmed that manufacturers have steadily increased the levels of this agent in cigarettes. This independent analysis, based on data submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) by the manufacturers, found that increases in smoke nicotine yield per cigarette averaged 1.6 percent each year, or about 11 percent over a seven-year period (1998-2005). Nicotine is the primary addictive agent in cigarettes.
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“Our findings call into serious question whether the tobacco industry has changed at all in its pursuit of addicting smokers since signing the Master Settlement Agreement of 1998 with the State Attorneys General. Our analysis shows that the companies have been subtly increasing the drug nicotine year by year in their cigarettes, without any warning to consumers, since the settlement. Scrutiny by the Attorneys General is imperative. Proposed federal legislation has been filed by Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Ma.) that would address this abuse and bring the tobacco industry under the rules that regulate other manufacturers of drugs.”
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