Another is going to college – going in to debt to do it – and then not graduating. I’m all for enhancing your earning potential by going to college, but if you aren’t committed to finish, don’t go into debt in the first place. My sister is still paying for her lack of degree, 10 years later. She only needs 3 or 4 more classes, but says she can’t afford it. It makes no sense. She is actually worse off than if she had never gone.

However, there is a reason some of those lawsuits (big tobacco) win – there ARE predatory practices out there that companies use to garner customers. Tobacco/nicotine is addictive and it is wrong for tobacco companies to market to children in the hopes of addicting someone young when their judgement may not be fully formed, in hopes they’ll encourage a 30 year habit. Yes, we all know smoking is bad for you, unfortunately addiction does not usually work that way. If it did, smokers, alcoholics, drug addicts, shopaholics, overeaters, etc would be able to quit on a dime and, generally, that’s just not the case. There are chemical foundations of addiction as well as emotional causes.

I’m not saying addicts shouldn’t take personal responsibility – they should, it’s the only way they’ll quit, but they’re not the only ones who should take responsibility.