Congressional Hearings on Tobacco

I’d rather have a sister in a whorehouse than a brother in the tobacco industry!

What arrogant, preposterous testimony those tobacco executives gave at the congressional hearing (April 15). Of course tobacco is addictive! More to some than others, of course, and without intoxicating behavior. But addictive.

If tobacco were invented today it would be outlawed immediately. Nevertheless, in deference to those already hooked, tobacco should not now be outlawed. But advertising tobacco should not be allowed. Not in print media, not on billboards, not on race cars, not in ballparks, not on belt buckles or hats or shirts, nowhere except the pack itself.

Because “providing tobacco to minors” laws are not enforced, tobacco vendors should be licensed, just as liquor vendors are, with the minimum age for purchase 21 years.

The industry needs to be heavily controlled.

PATRICK TOBIN

Laguna Hills

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* These top tobacco company executives claiming before Congress that tobacco is not addictive and does not cause disease remind me of someone swimming in that big river in northern Africa: they’re in denial.

ALAN BLIZZARD

Claremont

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* In regard to your editorial on tobacco hearings (April 15): I can’t believe that The Times was advocating regulating tobacco as a controlled substance. Where are we going to find room to lock up a whole new class of criminals? The drug war is a failure. Why does The Times want to add more victims to the problem?

Let’s take prohibition to its absurdity by outlawing alcohol, caffeine, chocolate and red meat. That way, we can have half the population locked up.

WAYNE TURNER

Hawthorne

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* In side-by-side, full-page paid advertisements (April 14), the tobacco companies tell us that cigarettes are OK and a concerned citizens group tells us “We are proud of Hillary Rodham Clinton” for her leadership and honesty. What’s next? Perhaps MTV can nominate Beavis and Butthead as citizens of the year.

W. C. WYNN JR.

Chino

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* Re “Farmers Reap Desolate Harvest on Tobacco Road,” April 3:

I really do feel sympathy for the tobacco farmers who are the innocent economic losers in the medical discoveries about the harm caused by their product. The same article could be written, however, about the innocent coca farmers of Bolivia, innocently cultivating the chief cash crop of their economic region.

The fact remains, in both cases, no matter how innocent and accidental their original involvement may have been, that they are merchants of death, producing products that kill or injure when used as directed. Our efforts must be focused toward helping them make the transition into other economic alternatives.

The solution, of course, is the development of alternative crops. They have made beginning efforts, but they have not gone far enough. All government subsidies for tobacco farmers must immediately be redirected toward assistance in converting to other options, including retraining for entirely new industries, if necessary.

DOUGLAS DUNN

Oceanside