Friday, July 20, 2001 | 4:49 a.m.
An Associated Press report out of Geneva reported on an economic tradeoff study conducted by the tobacco giant Philip Morris. P.M.'s conclusion, based on this study, was that the financial impact to a government from its smoking population was a net zero. Early deaths from smoking had offset the cost of medical care for those afflicted with diseases from smoking.
This type of study and the resulting response is typical of big business' attitude toward its responsibility to people. The only thing that counts in today's society is the bottom line. Tradeoff studies are routinely performed where on one scale is placed the cost of safety or safety improvements and on the other the cost of injuries and lawsuits. This is just another example of corporate thinking and the bottom line, corporate greed.
To answer the question of what the rest of the world thinks of America, read the book "The Ugly American."
RAYMOND HARBERT
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