Ethics Reflection: “Thank You for Smoking”
In the film “Thank You for Smoking,”
the main character Nick Naylor is a lobbyist for Big Tobacco. He defends his
choice of profession by saying, “Everyone has a mortgage.” Most Americans are
beholden to an economic system that demands a consistent income, even if it
means doing morally questionable work. American society rewards profit over
ethical behavior. Most people would consider economic security the motivation
for making ethical compromises, especially when those compromises are legally
protected and offer a higher standard of living. If a product is legal and
consumers voluntarily decide to purchase it, the onus is on the buyer.
Corporations should not be obligated to protect people from their own
decisions. When consumers are provided with information about the known risks
associated with using a product, adults should be free to use those products.
The responsibility lies with the individual, not with those who represent the
industry.
Lobbying for Big Tobacco is protected
by the First Amendment right to petition the government. Since cigarettes are
legal, the Supreme Court has consistently upheld the Constitution by allowing
the production and sale of the product even though cigarettes are known to be
harmful. Big Tobacco, regardless of how harmful its products are, still
deserves representation under the law. Globally, Big Tobacco is an industry
worth almost $1 trillion a year. According to Tobacco Insider,
Phillip Mossis International reports earnings of $38- $40 billion per year.
Companies spend millions of dollars a year lobbying. Senior lobbyists earn
mid-six-figure salaries and often include former members of Congress. These
individuals are valuable assets because they come with built-in powerful
connections who have money and influence. The role of a lobbyist is to
represent their client honestly and with transparency, which should not be at
odds with an individual’s moral compass.
Today, the public is aware that smoking
is harmful, and the reality is that some people will continue smoking. Health
organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the American Lung
Association, along with public policy, deserve significant credit for changing
the culture. By the 1950’s, the medical community at large, identified smoking
as a leading cause of lung cancer. Yet, the public was not aware of the dangers
until the Surgeon General released the groundbreaking 1964 study, Smoking
and Health, directly attributing cigarette smoking to lung cancer and heart
disease. At that time, over 40% of Americans were smokers. After the release of
this study, people could no longer deny that smoking was dangerous. According
to the report from the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) released in March 2026, cigarette
smoking among American adults had reached an all-time low, with approximately 1
in 10 Americans reporting regular use. According
to ABC News, the same report found that 7% of
adults in the US use e-cigarettes or vapes. Vaping is generally associated with
a younger demographic, 18 to 44 years old, and many of those who vape have
never smoked cigarettes.
Cigarette and Electronic Cigarette Use Among Adults by Urbanization Level: United States, 2024
Smoking
rate among US adults drops to record low as vape use rises: CDC - ABC News
According to philosopher
John Stuart Mill’s “harm principle,” the government
should have authority to restrict behavior only to prevent harm to others
because regulating vices is better than banning them, as it allows people to
make personal choices. Democratic societies should allow adults to make choices
about their own health and, at the same time, create regulations to protect
others who do not wish to be exposed to the harmful effects of those choices.
Regulations are in place to protect nonsmokers from exposure to secondhand
smoke. According to Statista,
federal and state governments collected $9.38 billion in tax revenue in 2024.
At the federal level, a portion of the funds support the Children's Health
Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides health insurance for children in
low-income families.
Why
Cigarettes Should Not Be Banned: Key Arguments - ScienceInsights
Tax
revenue from tobacco U.S. 2024| Statista
All things considered, personal
autonomy allows adults to make their own decisions. In America, people can
choose to work for a company whose products may cause harm. People should be
able to decide for themselves if getting a paycheck is more important than the
ethical dilemmas associated with the products the company endorses. Successful
lobbyists earn lucrative salaries, which many people would gladly accept
regardless of the moral implications that may come with it. Corporations should have the legal right to
advertise their products, and counter organizations should also be able to
provide information about the dangers of those products. The advertising of
vices should be regulated to ensure that the information provided is truthful
and legal on both sides of the argument. When money generated by taxing vices
can be used to benefit the public good, everyone benefits. For Nick Naylor, the
job was not about the product itself, but the rush he got from outsmarting
righteous people at their own game. He was a master of spin control, which led
to his rise to the top of his field. Similarly, the newspaper reporter chose to
advance her interest in getting the best story by any means necessary rather
than reflect on the ethical considerations of her decisions. At the end of the
day, no one is immune to making questionable choices when motivated by power
and money.
