Proposed Tobacco Settlement
Re “Tobacco Deal: Legal Mugging by Government,” Column Right, July 15: Despite Richard McKenzie’s pathetic defense of the poor, picked-on tobacco industry, the facts are clear. Tobacco industry officials pumped up the nicotine level to ensure maximum addictiveness, marketed their deadly product to minors, covered up evidence that showed their product to be both addictive and deadly and then blatantly lied to Congress and the American people.
They should pay far more than this sham of a “settlement,” and those still around (the nonsmokers most likely) should go to jail.
ANDREW KIRN
Santa Monica
* Concerning the addictive nature of chocolate and potato chips vs. tobacco, I have to know: How many children have died from secondhand chocolate or potato chips?
ED COONCE
Encinitas
* Knowingly accepting a political contribution from a foreign source is inexcusable and should be dealt with severely. How many legislators who decry such actions will honestly and decently recuse themselves from acting on a tobacco industry deal if they have received large contributions from these companies?
HOWARD BENSEN
Woodland Hills
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