Lack of info or lack of interest?

Posted in the Kansas City Star was the dispute of the Landmark tobacco case. Within the article, the Department of Justice accuses the tobacco companies who “defrauded and misled the American public for almost 50 years about the health risks of cigarette smoking.” As a smoker myself, I must ask the rest of you if you missed the big “Warning” on the package of your cigarettes when you went to light up.
Every since I can remember, I have always been told that smoking is bad, it’s addictive, and you can die. Even though I was aware of this, I still lit up. Yet, I was not alone in doing so. There are millions of us in this world. I admit that those who began smoking several years ago before they knew that smoking was addictive could have an argument. However, it is common sense that smoking is a bad habit that is harmful to your body. Although some may not have known the extent of the harmful affects, those of us who do now, have no excuse. I feel that we were not lied to. I think that all of us were aware of the affects that smoking could have on us. Yet, we continue to choose to harm our bodies. This argument, in my opinion, will only work for those who truly were unaware of the affects of smoking. Yet, it is hard to believe that anyone could be so naïve. I just feel that all of us understand the consequences as smokers. Therefore, I don’t see how the Department of Justice can accuse the tobacco companies of “misleading the American public.”