Candy cigarettes were introduced in the early 1930's, but fell out of favor with an American public increasingly concerned about the health risks of tobacco starting in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Although banned in more than a dozen countries, the production and sale of candy cigarettes remains legal in the United States. The dwindling number of producers making these products did, however, try to rebrand their confections by dropping the “cigarette” term after two national attempts to ban candy cigarettes in 1970 and 1991 as well as State level campaigns that ended with a sole ban in North Dakota. The verified concern with candy cigarettes is that they both desensitize children to the use of tobacco and essentially train them to use cigarettes. Today, candy cigarettes are not a threat to the general population, because they are not widely available, but the new phenomenon of vaping poses any equal, if not greater, risk.
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The chief executive of Missouri-based Nostrum Laboratories has defended his decision to quadruple the price of an antibiotic used to treat bladder inflections by framing it as a moral decision. Nirmal Mulye described the $2,392 price tag for Nitrofurantoin as the product of “a moral requirement to make money when you can….” Men like Nirmal Mulye clearly do not understand the meaning of moral nor the meaning of ethical. Perhaps, if capitalism was a religious cult, economies did not exist to serve the needs of people, and all people were sociopaths, Mulye would be correct, but his thinking is twisted, short-sighted, self-serving, and, quite frankly, dangerous. Although one might argue business executives have an ethical obligation to employees and shareholders to ensure the sustainability of a business, Mulye was trying to deflect public outrage and rebrand price gouging as a common good. As shocking and inhumane as Muyle’s reasoning is, however, his statement is actually a rare moment of honesty from a titan of industry.
September 11, 2001 is a day remembered by all those who witnessed the horrific acts of terrorism, as a well as heroism, that transpired on that day 17 years ago. For generations, it serves as a national holiday in memory of those whose lives were lost and those whose lives were forever changed by the tragedy as well as the wars that followed. There is an almost poetic irony that Hurricane Florence was barreling down on he East Coast of the United States as Americans reflected on the destruction of such a culturally traumatic event. What makes it even more ironic is the impact 9/11 had on the responses to past hurricanes. The aftermaths of Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina represented a colossal challenge that the US government failed to meet. In the wake of 9/11, the US government hyper-focused on its ability to respond to terrorist threats, but it failed to prepare for large scale natural disasters. It is a lesson learned that may well have been forgotten.
President Donald Trump has reacted to the decision of the New York Times to publish a critical anonymous opinion piece written by someone from within his Administration as expected. He is furious. He wants the name and resignation of the person who wrote it. Not only that, he wants whoever is responsible in jail for treason. While his top lieutenants frantically work to soothe the President’s anger, and escape raged-fueled accusations, Trump has taken the highly unusual step of calling on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to launch a criminal investigation into what is simply a matter of public dissent from within his Administration. Those who refuse to comply with his orders are sure to face threats of termination and legal action. Trump will stop at nothing to root out the employee who dared betray and humiliate him. After spending nearly two years categorizing the Russian election hacking investigation as a witch-hunt in an attempt to defect accusations, President Trump is now on a witch-hunt of his own.
China is the best option for US importers according to the feedback received by the US government in regards to proposed tariffs against $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. Based on hearings conducted by the US Trade Representative and public comments, the overwhelming opinion of the import business community is that tariffs on Chinese goods will result in higher prices for US consumers and, potentially, force US companies out of business. Those who provided their input also feel China is their best option when it comes to ensuring the highest quality of outsourced products at the lowest cost. Often called the “word’s factory,” China was able to provide a massive workforce of cheap labor, which has allowed it to buildup an unrivalled industrial base. While the average consumer can testify to the shoddy workmanship of various Chinese-made goods, as well as modern goods in general, Chinese industry has spent years improving its production methods. As such, China is still likely the best option for importers at this time. The need to promote domestic production, therefore, creates a significant challenge.
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April 2020
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