Joe Camel (cigarettes) seemed like he was a pretty cool guy. His cartoon like character was the image for the young teenage population. The Marlbro (cigarettes) cowboy seemed like he could do anything right, not to mention he could get any hot chick that he wanted. People in the ads for Kool cigarettes seemed like they were relaxed and had all the money in the world. Skoal chewing tobacco say "Always there in a pinch." This advertisement made it seem like if someone can't smoke because of sports then someone might as well chew. What might I be talking about? These are just some of the advertisements that make these tobacco products seem like they look irresistible. Usually no matter what magazine someone looks at today, there is always an advertisement for a tobacco product. Tobacco is a product that kills many Americans every year. In fact tobacco is the leading cause of death in America (www.tmvoice.com). With every year that goes by thousands of teenagers are brainwashed into using a tobacco product. Tobacco could be considered almost as bad as the illegal drugs in America, because they both get people addicted and killed. Tobacco companies try to get people started at an early age, it affects more than one person if tobacco smoke is around someone else. The government does not want to make tobacco illegal because it would be too much of a tax loss for the country. The way I see it, the government is no better than a murderer, because they don't outlaw tobacco. .
In June of 1998, Minnesota senator Paul Wellstone tried to help pass a law that would make tobacco illegal in America. This didn't pass through legislation and this is what he had to say, "I am deeply disappointed by this result. The anti-tobacco bill was an important piece of legislation that would've gone far toward protecting our children's health and cracking down on an industry, which preys on our children with their advertising and marketing.