Hartmann: Does big tobacco have the RIGHT to lie?

Imagine there's an industry that sells a product that kills 1200 people every single day. And that's not because 1200 people misuse the product - but because the product ACTUALLY causes death when it's used as directed. Now imagine this industry has been given free reign to sell their product for decades - killing more people around the nation every decade than have died in all our wars from the Revolutionary War in 1776 to World War II to Vietnam and Afghanistan - combined. There's a lot of risk just in that. But then they doubled down - when Congress asked the CEOs of the corporations that make this industry to testify about just how destructive their product is - they lie right through their teeth. You see, corporate law has evolved over the years to the point where there's virtually no risk to CEOs or stockholders, even when their company or product kills people - and even when they lie about it. Of course! Corporations are people - and as people, they have the First Amendment right to free speech! Move to Amend.org - and supporting a constitutional amendment that once and for all says - corporations are NOT people. Let's let ACTUAL people decide what products are safe - and not Big Tobacco CEOs.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Thom Hartmann
• Big Picture
• theBigPictureRT
• RTAmerica
• RT America
• RTTV
• Tobacco
• smoking
• corporation
• FDA
• Supreme Court
• commerce
• safe products

[1mikeharr1]

Is Big Tobacco FRIEND or FOE?

The 46 Million USA Smokers (2012) can engage in self destruction, but what about SecondHand Smoke Victims -say, in Apartments near a Smoker's?

SHD in Apartments we now know contaminates the air others breathe, causing health hazards!

Non-Smokers, make the USA Multi-Housing Smoke Free -NOW!.

[stinkyhat14]

@chrishasaclue you just need to move to a communist or socialist country since you want government to make all the decisions for you

[chrishasaclue]

@stinkyhat14 Hahaha, oh why stop there. Why don't we blow our heads off with a 12 Gauge shotgun, actually why don't we blow somebody else's head off. Afterall it is a free country and the government should not be involved in our choices like you said right??? Dude your an Idiot. Go take a walk!

[DaveBassDotCom]

To the last guy - stinkyhat - you are confusing issues! This is not a question of whether the govt is interfering with "personal choice" - this is a question of the all important step BEFORE personal choice - correct information - and the government CERTAINLY does have the right to regulate truth in advertising. If you want to live in a nation that is NOT under the vision of Jefferson, Franklin, etc - move to Communist China. And keep smoking, idiot. We need one LESS of you. : )

[stinkyhat14]

America is a free country so if you want to smoke you smoke its the persons choice and the government should not be involved in any way

[TechnomancerMorhion]

"I believe nicotine isn't addictive."

Belief doesn't dictate reality.

[BuzzardlyThings]

@iriswaters I also think "news" should be held to a rigorous standard to balance "free speech" with "lies". Think Fox.

[BuzzardlyThings]

@ddnguyen278  Slavery helped to found America too.

[BuzzardlyThings]

Corporations are not people. Point blank. It is the fact that international corporations are ruling the world. All for them and none for real people. Real people may be a CEO or a janitor, but not the "inc."

[voyeurdug]

Boo hiss. Propaganda.