The simple, ugly truth is this: We have to do this ourselves because the politicians
never will.
Some have tried, only to run into the political brick
wall that tobacco companies have carefully built to
protect themselves and their deadly products.
Armed with an army of the best lobbyists in the business
and an unlimited political war chest, Big Tobacco has
defeated 14 straight attempts to increase cigarette taxes in California.
14-0 – that’s the kind of record that gets NFL teams to the Super
Bowl
and puts major-league pitchers in the All-Star game.
How did they do it?
Money, and lots of it. They spent
$66 million on a deceptive campaign to defeat the last
ballot measure to raise cigarette taxes.
But political advertising is just one of the weapons
cigarette makers have at their disposal. Contributions
to politicians are another.
Big Tobacco also carefully cultivated front groups
and surrogates
who will side with them against any tax increase – from business leaders to ethnic and public safety
organizations.
It’s all part of the political smokescreen meant to divert
attention from the real issue – cigarettes and the terrible toll they take on public
health.
