Topic: Civil Rights
Title: Are cigarette companies right this time?
Author: Bob Greene
Publication: CNN
Date: February 12 2012
Length: 900 words
In the federal court, five tobacco manufacturers are arguing against the government regarding the illustrations printed on the packages that are intended to drive people away from buying cigarettes. From the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009, the government is empowered to issue orders requiring warning illustrations to be printed on cigarette packages. The tobacco companies claim that the these orders violate their First Amendment Rights. They say that their freedom of speech, one of the most important rights to American citizens under the Constitution, is infringed upon. The government uses public health concerns as its most powerful point, while the tobacco companies argues that nothing outweighs the freedom of speech. Speaking on the distinction between text-only warnings and graphic warnings, the tobacco companies say while labels state facts, the required gruesome images are active advocates that are intended to keep people from buying the product.
This court decision will be critical because it might change the packaging of cigarettes all over the nation. Even though the harmful effects of cigarettes are well-known enough, the decision will more or less have an affect in the public's purchase of such products. Equally important is that it will set the precedent for future cases about whether a person or a company will need to publicize the effects of certain products even if it means going against the person's or the company's own interest.
I think that such illustrations should still be printed on cigarette packages to warn people of the effects of tobacco. Everyone has the freedom of speech, but when speech concerns public health, it comes with much more responsibility because it can influence the lives of other individuals. If the final ruling favors the tobacco companies, in the future they might create even more advertisements advocating the use of cigarettes, which can lead to detrimental effects to the public.
I found it interesting that the tobacco companies are arguing about the illustrations printed on the cigarette packages. I think that they should keep the illustrations. Even though the tobacco companies claim that it violates their freedom of speech, federal government should focus the freedom of speech more on health. They should also publicize the side effects of the products, so that people can consider more whether to buy or not.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I agree with the cigarette companies in regards to the law. Morally, I want to try and prevent people from smoking because not only does it damage themselves, but it damages the environment and the people around them. However, the government is overstepping its Constitutional rights by wanting to include graphic images on the products. They have already made it clear that smoking is dangerous, and it is printed on every label of every box of cigarettes. It is redundant and infringing to add such graphic images that are directly placed to keep customers from buying products. For the sake of the country's law, I hope that the cigarette companies win.
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