Whats the biggest myth we should know about the tobacco industry?
I think people are still not aware of how concerted the pattern of deception has been by that industry. They set out over a forty-year period to systematically suppress research about safer cigarettes and engaged in a very concerted conspiracy to deceive people about the nature of nicotine, its addiction, and how they make their product. How do you explain that the overwhelming majority of Americans support the death penalty-something you strongly oppose? I think it’s symbolic of a desire for appropriate punishment and retribution. My answer to that is, “You’re absolutely right.” That’s why life in prison without parole in Massachusetts is the appropriate punishment for somebody who commits these terrible crimes. They should never see the light of day. On the other side, we do make mistakes and the death penalty is applied discriminatorily. You’re an outspoken critic of casino gambling, which seems to have new life today in Massachusetts. Why? It’s not a moral position for me, it’s one
