Despite the changes to the tobacco industry, about 20% of Canadians are addicted to nicotine. Most are from the lower classes, who really can't afford the habit. Yes, we have reduced the usage from 50% to 20%, but that was more due to education and advertising laws than civil litigation. And yet there still is that 20% that doesn't seem to want to budge.

I go to pick up my son from school. There are about 20 cars where I park my car. Most are idling as these parents need the comfort of air conditioning while they wait. These same people are probably the same ones wailing about profits from the petroleum industry.

Yes, we should change laws and enforce these laws for a certain societal objective. But to litigate companies for influencing these laws and government action/inaction is not the solution. It puts the blame on the companies, not on individual choices.

If the companies are gaming democracy for profit, then we need a new democracy, right?

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