• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Philip Morris told to pay 8 mln in smoker's death

5) In Omaha, a man is suing the company that produces eggs for the state of Nebraska, because he ate 50 of them in an egg eating contest and got sick.


I like the one here better where a guy sued God for making terroristic threats.

State Sen. Ernie Chambers Sues God - Omaha News Story - KETV Omaha
The lawsuit accuses God "of making and continuing to make terroristic threats of grave harm to innumerable persons, including constituents of Plaintiff who Plaintiff has the duty to represent." It says God has caused "fearsome floods, egregious earthquakes, horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes, pestilential plagues, ferocious famines, devastating droughts, genocidal wars, birth defects and the like."

The suit also says God has caused "calamitous catastrophes resulting in the wide-spread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth’s inhabitants including innocent babes, infants, children, the aged and infirm without mercy or distinction."

:rofl
 
Well what the hell else do you expect to be done with a cigarette except smoke the goddamned thing?
url
 
You probably have a case if you took up smoking 50 years ago or more back when the tobacco companies had doctor testimonials on how healthy their products were and so on.

However, anyone that took up smoking from about 1965 onward know the consequences of doing so.
 
You probably have a case if you took up smoking 50 years ago or more back when the tobacco companies had doctor testimonials on how healthy their products were and so on.

However, anyone that took up smoking from about 1965 onward know the consequences of doing so.

I would give it till the mid 70's when the disclosure really started in earnest.
 
I would give it till the mid 70's when the disclosure really started in earnest.

Thats probably true. The thing is, the tobacco companies are not saints and do have some liability here. Look in any magazine from the 1940s or 50s, you will see full page ads like:

"4 out of 5 doctors recommend Kool Menthols for ailments such as Hard Cough, Congestion, Sinus issues, and lack of energy. Trust the experts, and have a menthol".

Even today, they run ads specifically targeting children in developing countries. Hell in China they are everywhere. "Marlboro Reds are Ultraman's Favorite Cigarette".
 
I would give it till the mid 70's when the disclosure really started in earnest.

In 1964 the Surgeon General of the U.S. (the chief doctor for the country) wrote a report about the dangers of cigarette smoking. He said that the nicotine and tar in cigarettes cause lung cancer. In 1965 the Congress of the U.S. passed the Cigarette Labelling and Advertising Act. It said that every cigarette pack must have a warning label on its side stating "Cigarettes may be hazardous to your health."

Link :mrgreen:
 
People start smoking when they are teens. They don't get it at that age.

They become adults who are hooked on cigarettes. It's almost impossible to quit.

Phillip Morris is no more immune from criticism than smokers should be castigated for smoking. They didn't know better as teens!

Honestly, either the government should outlaw cigarettes or they should start paying half the jury awards against Phillip Morris. They are just as culpable for allowing it to go on.

Quitting was the best thing I ever did in my life.
 
Philip Morris scientist formulating a new cigarette.

JerryLewis1-788783.jpg
 
People start smoking when they are teens. They don't get it at that age.

They become adults who are hooked on cigarettes. It's almost impossible to quit.

Phillip Morris is no more immune from criticism than smokers should be castigated for smoking. They didn't know better as teens!

Honestly, either the government should outlaw cigarettes or they should start paying half the jury awards against Phillip Morris. They are just as culpable for allowing it to go on.

Quitting was the best thing I ever did in my life.

So its not really almost impossible to quit, is it?
 
So its not really almost impossible to quit, is it?

It's difficult. And for some people, it is impossible without costly intervention by a medical professional.

Addiction is one of the most stigmatized and least understood illnesses.
 
It's difficult. And for some people, it is impossible without costly intervention by a medical professional.

Addiction is one of the most stigmatized and least understood illnesses.
I think Rush Limbaugh would agree.
 
How in the WORLD is it ever the suppliers fault for the way the buyer uses an item? Is it the gun manufacturer's fault if someone buys a gun and kills someone?
False analogy. Someone else used the product on someone else with full awareness of the possible results.

Is it Little Debbie's fault if someone eats themselves into obesity with their lunchcakes?
False analogy. Someone used a product that has no addictive substance in it. The company didn't lie and hide the dangers of it's product. Someone used a product with full awareness of the possible results.

Is it Doritoes' fault if someone's cholesterol is too high?
False analogy. Someone used a product that has no addictive substance in it. The company didn't lie and hide the dangers of it's product. Someone used a product with full awareness of the possible results.

How about the pharmaceutical companies' fault for selling addictive drugs?
Yes, especially if they lied about and or hid the dangers of the product.

Oh, what about coffee manufacturers? They sell an addictive drug that most of the fricken country is addicted to. Is it THEIR fault that people continue to drink more and more coffee and raise their blood pressure and cause damage to their hearts?
Semi-relevant analogy except that coffee manufacturers didn't lie about or hide the dangers of their product.

**** no it's not. It's NOT the supplier's fault for what the buyer chooses to do with what they buy. Not ever. And in no way should we have this extremely dangerous precedent in our court system.

It's a travesty of "justice" and is only going to set the stage for more of them. More idiots who refuse to accept responsibility for their actions. More pathetic fools who think that something is always someone elses fault and someone else should pay for their own stupidity.

I cannot BELIEVE that people actually support that ****.
How about people who got heart problems from NSADs like Vioxx?
How about people injured in a Pinto that blew up?
How about people who got Mesothelioma from asbestos?
Are these people also "idiots who refuse to accept responsibility for their actions."? No one forced them to drive a pinto or take Vioxx or work with asbestos...

As someone with an addiction who DID just "toss it away like a plastic fork", I have no sympathy for someone who continues smoking when they know the risks.
So, how come you aren't the President of the USA? Or a Billionaire like Bill Gates? Obviously you believe everyone is the same and if you could do it so can everyone else. So are you just too lazy? I guess you believe all those people without jobs should just get off their asses and get to work because you have a job right? Aren't you being a little bit like a rightwinger in your argument? Where's your empathy for the plight of your neighbor? Just because you were able to quit doesn't mean the guy next door has the same fortitude or will power as you. Is that his fault and should he be punished for it, especially when he was lied to about the effects of smoking?

You mean like alcohol, caffeine, prescription drugs, chocolate, fast food, fatty junk food, so on and so forth?
No, like one of the most addictive substances known to man, who's dangers weren't just hidden from the consumer but were lied about.
 
Last edited:
This is asinine on so many levels. That's coming from a smoker, to boot. I know what I am getting myself into and I sure as hell will not blame anyone else for problems I bring on myself.
 
False analogy. Someone else used the product on someone else with full awareness of the possible results.
As does anyone who smokes.

False analogy. Someone used a product that has no addictive substance in it. The company didn't lie and hide the dangers of it's product. Someone used a product with full awareness of the possible results.
As does anyone who smokes.

False analogy. Someone used a product that has no addictive substance in it. The company didn't lie and hide the dangers of it's product. Someone used a product with full awareness of the possible results.
As does anyone who smokes.

Yes, especially if they lied about and or hid the dangers of the product.
The dangers of smoking have been well known since at least '65.

Semi-relevant analogy except that coffee manufacturers didn't lie about or hide the dangers of their product.
The dangers of smoking have been well known since at least '65.

How about people who got heart problems from NSADs like Vioxx?
Don't even get me started on Vioxx. It pisses me off to no ****ing end that they took my medication off the shelves. If I could wring the person's neck who did it, I would.

How about people injured in a Pinto that blew up?
How about people who got Mesothelioma from asbestos?
Are these people also "idiots who refuse to accept responsibility for their actions."? No one forced them to drive a pinto or take Vioxx or work with asbestos...
How about people that smoke and completely aware of the risks? Like, anyone who has been smoking since 1965.

So, how come you aren't the President of the USA? Or a Billionaire like Bill Gates? Obviously you believe everyone is the same and if you could do it so can everyone else. So are you just too lazy?
Let's see:
Don't want to be
Don't have the skills to
WAY too ****ing lazy

I guess you believe all those people without jobs should just get off their asses and get to work because you have a job right?
Actually, I'm currently unemployed. But yes, most of the people unemployed could be employed if they really wished to be.

Aren't you being a little bit like a rightwinger in your argument? Where's your empathy for the plight of your neighbor?
I have no empathy for people who harm themselves and then whine that it's someone else's fault.

Just because you were able to quit doesn't mean the guy next door has the same fortitude or will power as you. Is that his fault and should he be punished for it, especially when he was lied to about the effects of smoking?
Of course it's his fault he doesn't quit smoking. It's NO ONE'S fault but the person smoking. Is it anyone else's fault that he lacks the willpower to quit? Nope. No one but his own.

Lied to about the effects of smoking? When? Warning labels have been present for the last 45 years. There is no excuse for ignorance on the topic. NONE.

No, like one of the most addictive substances known to man, who's dangers weren't just hidden from the consumer but were lied about.
Not since 1965.
 
So its not really almost impossible to quit, is it?

No kidding. All the many thousands of people who quit and geee... it's just damn near impossible to do! I wonder how so many fricken people beat those impossible odds?
 
No kidding. All the many thousands of people who quit and geee... it's just damn near impossible to do! I wonder how so many fricken people beat those impossible odds?

This lawsuit wasn't about all those people. It was about this one person.
 
This lawsuit wasn't about all those people. It was about this one person.

oh please. :roll:

It's not anywhere NEAR impossible to do. FOR ANYONE. Hard, yes. Impossible? Not even close.

No person will get sympathy from me for lacking the willpower to stop killing themselves. Neither will I ever in a million years agree that someone (or their families) should be PAID because they lack the willpower to stop killing themselves.

Poor Mr. Smith. We should pay him millions of dollars because he's so weak he can't stop killing himself. Gimme a break.
 
oh please. :roll:

It's not anywhere NEAR impossible to do. FOR ANYONE. Hard, yes. Impossible? Not even close.

No person will get sympathy from me for lacking the willpower to stop killing themselves. Neither will I ever in a million years agree that someone (or their families) should be PAID because they lack the willpower to stop killing themselves.

Poor Mr. Smith. We should pay him millions of dollars because he's so weak he can't stop killing himself. Gimme a break.

You're flat wrong. But I understand where you are coming from..."libertarian, personal responsibility, the rest of the world is weak, blah blah blah, beat you up and stuff."
 
Last edited:
No kidding. All the many thousands of people who quit and geee... it's just damn near impossible to do! I wonder how so many fricken people beat those impossible odds?
God! Talk about nitpicking a simple expression! "People have quit smoking before so it can't be "almost impossible."

GOOD GRIEF!!

I think you both know what I meant! It's DAMN hard to do and obviously some people just can't do it!
 
You're flat wrong. But I understand where you are coming from..."libertarian, personal responsibility, the rest of the world is weak, blah blah blah, beat you up and stuff."

No, I'm not flat wrong. It's not impossible to quit. For anyone.


God! Talk about nitpicking a simple expression! "People have quit smoking before so it can't be "almost impossible."

GOOD GRIEF!!

I think you both know what I meant! It's DAMN hard to do and obviously some people just can't do it!
Everyone CAN do it. People choose not to.

I never said it wasn't hard, but "hard" and "impossible" are really far apart on the scale. It's NOT impossible, but it IS hard. It's easier for some than others, for sure, but it's not impossible for anyone.
 
No, I'm not flat wrong. It's not impossible to quit. For anyone.

I know, I know. Kick those smoker's asses for not being libertarian enough. Ron Paul can help them too. Blah blah blah.
 
I know, I know. Kick those smoker's asses for not being libertarian enough. Ron Paul can help them too. Blah blah blah.

Indeed. Smack them for being whiney crybabies. Or, just let them kill themselves. /shrug
 
Back
Top Bottom