I am pleased to read in today's New York Times that American's big tobacco manufacturers have been ordered by a Florida court to pay such a huge amount in damages (Damages in Tobacco Case Are Largest Ever, 15 July 2000).

Well knowing the harmfulness of their products, yet continuing to spend billions of dollars promoting them, tobacco manufacturers are morally no better than those who make their money from hard, illegal drugs. They
should be considered the criminals that they really are. 

However, no matter how large the sum, merely fining the tobacco companies can hardly be considered justice. If they pay it at all, it will be their addicted customers (present and future victims of their pernicious advertising) who will foot the bill, while those responsible are getting away with murder - quite literally. They will continue to
draw their large salaries and pensions, when really they deserve to be in prison for the immeasurable, deliberate harm they have done.

It is interesting to note all those who continue to take sides with the tobacco industry, since it provides a classic example of how peoples' own pecuniary and commercial interests blind them even to the long-evident evil of cigarette advertising.

It prompts me to wonder whether a similar degree of blindness, indifference and criminal irresponsibility might not pervade other sections of the economy?