Comments on: An Interview With Dr. Shepard, Co-Fabricator of the Helena Study http://www.davehitt.com/blog2/2008/05/03/an-interview-with-dr-shepard-co-fabricator-of-the-helena-study/ Rapid Rants from The Hittman Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:11:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Harley http://www.davehitt.com/blog2/2008/05/03/an-interview-with-dr-shepard-co-fabricator-of-the-helena-study/#comment-1268 Harley Mon, 05 May 2008 16:36:14 +0000 http://www.davehitt.com/blog2/2008/05/03/an-interview-with-dr-sargent-co-fabricator-of-the-helena-study/#comment-1268 I've always noticed the doublethink that Shepard presents in his arguments about the addictiveness of nicotine: 1) Nicotine is more addictive than heroin and cocaine combined. It's innocent users are powerless and are being exploited by the ruthless tobacco companies who know that they have absolutely no choice. 2) Tax hikes and making smoking more inconvenient will drastically reduce smoking. They can quit quite easily. I think it is pretty easy to see what they are doing. It's a way to hate and gouge both the tobacco companies and smokers at the exact same time. If they were to stick with one of their statements about the addictiveness of nicotine, it would cut their options in half; either smokers are innocent and powerless victims being taken advantage of by ruthless corporations or they can quit smoking pretty easily and are just being dicks about continuing to smoke. This is especially important to people like John Banzhaf who can use both arguments for their own financial gain. I’ve always noticed the doublethink that Shepard presents in his arguments about the addictiveness of nicotine:

1) Nicotine is more addictive than heroin and cocaine combined. It’s innocent users are powerless and are being exploited by the ruthless tobacco companies who know that they have absolutely no choice.

2) Tax hikes and making smoking more inconvenient will drastically reduce smoking. They can quit quite easily.

I think it is pretty easy to see what they are doing. It’s a way to hate and gouge both the tobacco companies and smokers at the exact same time. If they were to stick with one of their statements about the addictiveness of nicotine, it would cut their options in half; either smokers are innocent and powerless victims being taken advantage of by ruthless corporations or they can quit smoking pretty easily and are just being dicks about continuing to smoke.

This is especially important to people like John Banzhaf who can use both arguments for their own financial gain.

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