Below is a sampling of responses received by CSP Daily News. Click here to read the original editorial by Mitch Morrison.
I have worked in the convenience-store business for some 30 years, [and] this is the most ridiculous government program I have ever witnessed. The c-store that I am currently employed at has an image of being your neighborhood store. I agree that this will hurt our business and make it uncomfortable for not just our nonsmokers but for all of our customers.
--Kitsaa Stevens, Eagle Energy Inc.
Millions of people smoke billions of cigarettes each year, making the United States government tens of billions of dollars. Yet the government still feels the need to tell us that smoking is bad for out health.
I would like the government to know that most of the products that are out in the retail industry for consumers to buy are bad for us.... I can't begin to fathom how many obese Americans die each year from drinking too much pop and eating too many fast-food burgers, candy bars, bags of chips and snack cakes.
What about alcohol? It's addictive, causes disease that can lead to death and leads to many deaths on our roads each year. Eliminating vehicles would get rid of a great many deadly accidents that occur on our roadways each year. What about planes? If we don't have those, they can't crash.
Man, now that I'm going I can think of so many deadly things in our society that the government might want to get rid of, but... oh wait. We have to have these things that bring in taxes to pay for this oversized beast we call a government don't we?
...This product, like many deadly products out there, creates jobs for tens of millions of Americans across our country. It creates tens of billions of dollars in taxes and gives the people who use it something that they desire.
So unless the government is going to get rid of basically every tobacco, alcohol, bad food, dangerous product out there, maybe they can focus on other things, like making sure bombs aren't getting on our planes, illegal immigrants aren't crossing our borders, criminals are locked up in jail and wasteful spending is eliminated. I know this is harder than saying cigarettes are bad, but we already know that, just like we know pretty much every other retail product out there can be deadly as well.
--Sam Annis III
Thank you for your logical, rational and refreshing evaluation of the proposed FDA guidelines. I share many of the concerns you have, especially regarding effectiveness. Many countries have tried this tactic before and very few have seen a long-term decline in smoking rates.
I can vouch first hand that when studying abroad in Australia, I was horrified when I saw my first pack of cigarettes, as well as signs that clearly read "Smoking Kills." However, being the immature (and American) college students that we were, it took about one month for us to laugh when we saw a new picture. Toward the end of our stay (around 4-5 months), we hardly noticed the graphics anymore. We spoke with some smokers, and they too were desensitized. One explained that it is similar to all consumer behavior; they look at what they want.
When shopping for cigarettes, whether it is 100% of the pack or 50%, they look for their brand. When shopping for potato chips, you look for your brand (color, design, etc.) and not every little detail on the bag.
...If we, "the great unwashed," need this much guidance from our nanny state on tobacco products, then shouldn't we have pictures of disgusting obese people, clogged veins and thunder thighs on candy, chips and fast food? And what about mangled bodies and handicapped individuals plastered on the sides of our vehicles? Where does it stop?
--Dan P
I've been surfing through the proposed images and am quite shocked by many of them. Some are so gruesome and over the top that I think they (dare I even say this) are actually funny in a disturbing way. For very dark humor, you just can't beat the picture of the dead guy with stitches going up his chest, or the guy in the coffin. These things would be the talk of the town if they are used and will become collectibles for kids.
It is interesting to see the vast differences between some the graphics. In the "cigarettes cause fatal lung disease" category, you have the dead body with the toe tag but also the one with the doctor pointing to an X-ray. In the "smoking can kill you" category, you have the guy with stitches on his chest but also the one at the bottom showing the outline of a lighter with an arrow pointing to a tombstone. Weird stuff.
It's all so over the top.
--Anonymous Supplier
I absolutely agree 100% with your assessment of the ridiculous FDA proposal. It is absurd. What's next, a picture of an obese person on candy bar wrappers or Big Macs? A car wreck on each can of beer? We're all aware of the dangers of smoking and don't need our collective noses rubbed in it.
--Terry Loeffler, Henry's Foods
I am not a smoker and never have been. I do get sick and tired of the government trying to tell us exactly what to do. Pictures should not be put on packs. I think they are calling the American people stupid. If I read the warnings and hear the warnings and still smoke, it is my choice. To try to get a point across by using pictures says, If you can't read, look at this.' Enough is enough!
Every living person is going to die some day; let them choose how to live. Can anyone positively say that a person who died of cancer would not have got it if they had not smoked. There are many forms [of cancer]; they may have developed another form but bottom line they were going to die anyway.
Let me live my life the way I want. If I choose to smoke, it is my choice. As a non-smoker, I make choices every day, and if a friend smokes, that is their right. I say nothing, just like they say nothing to me about smoking. That is the way it should be.
--Terri Burden, McLane Co.
Unfortunately, I am a smoker and plan on being one until the dear Lord calls me home. They can put my smokes in whatever package they want. I have already started a nice collection of cigarette cases to put the smokes in and throw the packs away.
Perhaps this is the government's way of creating jobs! Imagine the artist and graphics companies that will now gain employment. Imagine the increased sales and business cigarette case manufacturers will have.
Please, this is all so stupid. I smoke now and will continue to. I can easily find ways to carry my smokes besides in their ridiculous graphic packs.
--Steve Ording, White Castle Food Products
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