OK.  What's up with Phillip Morris?  After years of denial and millions of dollars paid to attorneys and expert witnesses, a kinder and gentler Phillip Morris now admits that smoking causes cancer.  I have to ask myself, does the company finally have a conscience?  Or is this just another elaborate scheme to decrease lawsuits and lower judgments?  I suspect it is the latter.

I think the ironic part of it all is that their admission will probably open up the flood gates for even more litigation.  I am glad to hear the admission, but it's a little too late.  It reminds me of the story of a murderer who eluded authorities and even established a reputable lifestyle for years, only later to admit his guilt.  Did the admission exonerate him?  The answer is no.

Phillip Morris, you are still guilty as charged.  My advice is to break up the company into two or three separate entities and make the tobacco unit its own company.  I wouldn't discount using a different company name for the non-tobacco entities either.