Impact of Proposed Tobacco Settlement

Your June 23 story about the tobacco farmers’ fears of the proposed industry settlement disgusts me. The financial problems of the tobacco farmers are the least of my concerns. They willingly and for profit produce a product that kills hundreds of thousands of Americans every year and countless more throughout the world.

They are undeserving of sympathy from anyone and should consider themselves fortunate that their crop is not destroyed the same way that crops that eventually produce cocaine are destroyed in other countries, often with the assistance of our own government, which still seems to have difficulty discerning that there is little difference in the harmful effects of these two drugs.

FRED SCHOR

Los Angeles

When we the people (thanks to our elected official guardians and conservators) become putative stockholders in the tobacco industry, and get used to receiving dividends to the tune of $368 billion over the next 25 years and $15 billion per year thereafter, will future elected officials be so willing to control the marketing of this murderous drug? Not likely, since we too would be hooked then!

Wouldn’t fines, penalties and some jail time for perjurious tobacco pushers, i.e., top executives, be a more likely deterrent? Probably! Or am I just blowing smoke here?

GEORGE E. DALTON

San Pedro

So, the tobacco companies finally struck a deal, eh? I guess we’ll never live down our Puritan heritage. My business will always be your business too, it seems.

JAMES D. REAGAN

Norwalk

The proposed tobacco settlement is a tribute to junk science, mass punishments and avoidance of truth in advertising. Maybe 20% of long-term smokers suffer serious illnesses or death possibly related to smoking. Now it seems that the other 80% are expected to pay 50 cents to $1 a pack to the government for no Medicaid or other benefits.

Moreover, since government advertising does not have to conform to truth in advertising, the proposed warning on cigarette packs saying “Smoking can kill you” won’t have to tell the full truth by adding, “but it won’t kill over 80% of you after prolonged use.”

Who is fooling whom?

CARL OLSON

Woodland Hills

The tobacco companies can’t lose. Too many believers in stupidity.

MILTON W. KAGEN

Los Angeles

The $368.5-billion tobacco industry settlement will be a monumental travesty of justice without stiff prison sentences for the tobacco company CEOs who lied to Congress about their knowledge of the deadly effects of their products.

GARY HARRYMAN

Topanga