Rand Paul: “tobacco industry leaders are under attack by nearly everyone. A tobacco-friendly tax provision that was hidden in the…”

“tobacco industry leaders are under attack by nearly everyone. A tobacco-friendly tax provision that was hidden in the settlement was quickly removed by the Senate and the House once the public became aware of it. But without a tax benefit or higher cigarette prices, or both, there is no way the industry can afford the astronomical $368.5 billion settlement they have agreed to pay over the next 25 years. The industry makes only $8.4 billion annual pretax profit. The tobacco companies deserve every bit of grief they are receiving, but for reasons other than commonly assumed. It is true they profit from selling a dangerous product, but so do automobile, airplane, and gun manufacturers as well as food producers, drug companies, and coffee farmers. When we boil it down, any product used incorrectly or excessively is dangerous. Even oxygen used incorrectly can be dangerous. And most people know tobacco is dangerous without the benefit of the nanny-state inspectors and the bureaucrats' warning label. Tobacco company executives symbolize much of what is wrong with corporate America and our corrupt system of special interests, favoritism, and interventionism. For decades, Big Tobacco lobbied for and gladly accepted subsidies and trade benefits, while anyone with a grain of common sense knew smoking was a bad habit that adversely affected some people's health. It is no secret that young people could easily become addicted to nicotine.”