[kendo65]

MD_Titus' remark is accurate. I never said profits are evil. Businesses need to make a profit. It's the elevation of profit over the public good that I'm uneasy with.

Your California cigarette tax is a good example. There are similar measures here in the UK on both cigarettes and alcohol. Personally I'm not sure that I agree with the concept of using taxes to try to change people's behaviour (even when it might be in their best interests). There was talk a while back about increasing taxes on aircraft flights in order to 'encourage' people into taking 'greener' forms of transport. I can't agree with that idea at all.

From what I hear about the California situation, the measure was originally proposed by the Cancer Society, the American Lung Association and the American Heart Foundation who say it would raise more than $750m for cancer research and stop 220,000 children from taking up smoking.

I also read that tobacco companies Philip Morris and RJ Reynolds have bankrolled the $47.7m campaign to oppose the measures - more than triple the yes campaign.

So, nothing about protecting profit margins there then...

You're right that we aren't going to agree - even, apparently, on whether I'm a socialist or not. My take on that one is that I'm probably better placed to judge. But, maybe you're using a different definition to mine.