A View from Tobacco Land (the Carolinas)

[Bub-n-J]

About a year ago, Phillip Morris announced they would be shutting down their manufacturing facility in Concord, NC. Around 500 people will be forced to move to Richmond to keep their jobs and another 500 or so will lose theirs.

Now we have the technology to pick up where tobacco left off. It's a pity it's not a US company applying for the patents but it doesn't necessarily mean all the jobs have to be in China either.

What about creating assembly plants here that put the pieces together and package them? Those are jobs!

What about companies like Johnson Creek manufacturing the liquid? Those are jobs!

This should be a win-win situation for people serious about the health of our economy and our citizens. How can I afford to make those purchases which stimulate our economy when I'm shouldering a $10-a-day addiction? How much will I be contributing to our country's growth when I've died from that addiction?

Mad about AIG executive bonuses? What about Phillip Morris CEO getting $36.9 million in compensation for 2008? Wall Street may be full of thieves but the tobacco industry is legal murder.

 

[kcrlshell]

I have had similar thoughts, Bub-n-J. I suppose this FDA thing will drive the whole business into a "black market" situation. The auto industry is finally being forced to start making electrics and hybrids, after years, decades even, of knowing the technology existed - and ignoring it. I think it would be superb if the tobacco giants would view the e-cig as an investment opportunity and a sliver of hope of retaining their profits in an ever shrinking smoking economy. They have the resource to do the research, improve the product reliability and push for FDA approval. Why, oh why do they view e-cigs as the enemy? They should put on their Borg gear and, instead, choose to assimilate.

 

[Vicks Vap-oh-Yeah]

We are the personal vaporizers of Borg, you will be (pause for dramatic inhalation and exhalation on their finger ecig) assimilated.

And now, to comment:

Because we represent change......and if there's anything we human beings are bipolar on it's change... we love it and we hate it.... we embrace it and we resist it...

Rather then change their operations, invest $$$ in r&d, they would embrace the tried-n-true business practices, even though it's killing their consumer base.

They'd rather spend those $$$ in destroying the competition, rather than assimiliation.

 

[Bulldog44]

We are the personal vaporizers of Borg, you will be (pause for dramatic inhalation and exhalation on their finger ecig) assimilated.

And now, to comment:

Because we represent change......and if there's anything we human beings are bipolar on it's change... we love it and we hate it.... we embrace it and we resist it...

Rather then change their operations, invest $$$ in r&d, they would embrace the tried-n-true business practices, even though it's killing their consumer base.

They'd rather spend those $$$ in destroying the competition, rather than assimiliation.

Excellent analysis and I concur wholeheartedly.

 

[kcrlshell]

"I am DSE901 of Borg"

Hee hee, yes I know, my husband is the poster boy for stasis and all things status quo. It's just a cryin' shame.