The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Is Part of the
Stealth Tobacco Industry
Thomas Donohue: Merchant of Death
Of course tobacco farmers and tobacco companies like Philip Morris and R. J. Reynolds are part of the Tobacco Industry. But many other companies make billions of dollars from tobacco. They are part of the Tobacco Industry as well. These companies are the Stealth Tobacco Industry, because these companies don't show up on the radar screen. But they make billions of dollars from tobacco and Tobacco Legislation definitely would detract from their income.
Major retailers like Walmart make millions of dollars selling cigarettes. Drug retailers like Walgreen Drugs sell cigarettes, but Walgreen Drugs doesn't want to be considered part of the Tobacco Industry. The same can be said about Publix Supermarkets, Albertson's and other supermarket chains. Texaco Service Stations and other oil retailers sell cigarettes.
Rolling Stone magazine advertises cigarettes to America's youth, and in doing so, makes billions of dollars for themselves and the rest of the Tobacco Industry. Kelloggs and Procter & Gamble participate in joint marketing efforts with the Tobacco Industry and allows the Tobacco Industry to gain a level of acceptance in our culture.
NASCAR prominently puts Winston cigarettes in the public spotlight. Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis make millions of dollars by displaying tobacco products in a positive manner in movies appealing to our children. Bill Cosby and Arnold Schwarzenegger allow photographs of their using tobacco products to be prominently displayed on the cover of national pro-tobacco magazines.
This is the Stealth Tobacco Industry. They quietly make billions of dollars from tobacco without any public relations consequences. The taxes proposed in the Tobacco Legislation will undoubtedly cut tobacco consumption, especially in children.
Between 70% and 80% of tobacco addicts want to quit smoking. Their addiction is stronger than their will to quit. Quitting smoking is especially difficult for smokers who began smoking as children. As their little bodies grew into being an adult, the tobacco craving became more embedded into their central nervous system. That is precisely the reason that the Tobacco Industry targets children in their tobacco advertising. Addicting children is much more profitable than addicting adults.
How can the Stealth Tobacco Industry fight Tobacco Legislation? That is where the U. S. Chamber of Commerce comes in. Walmart does not have to dirty their hands and utter one word against this legislation. They simply let the U. S. Chamber do the fighting for them.
The U. S. Chamber of Commerce puts forward a totally absurd argument forward and provides cover for the Stealth Tobacco Industry. This way Walgreen's continues to make money, Bill Cosby continues to make money, the U. S. Chamber of Commerce continues to make money, and everybody is happy!
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