A discussion of how
this century has gotten off to such a bad start.
In other words: A discussion of The Bush Administration
- Thursday, August 12, 2004 -
We've seen terrorist warnings being used for political ends Now terrorist warnings are being used to reward big Pharma companies for all their work on behalf of Bush and the GOP
WASHINGTON (AP) - ``Cues from chatter'' gathered around the world are raising concerns that terrorists might try to attack the domestic food and drug supply, particularly illegally imported prescription drugs, acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Lester M. Crawford says.
Ohhh sounds serious!
``While we must assume that such a threat exists generally, we have no specific information now about any al-Qaida threats to our food or drug supply,'' said Brian Roehrkasse, spokesman for the Homeland Security Department.
Crawford said the possibility of such an attack was the most serious of his concerns about the increase in states and municipalities trying to import drugs from Canada to save money.
Oh it isn't serious, its just more baloney about how the Canadian Allegra (or Celebrex or Zocor or....) will some how destroy America's pharma industry, the economy, and the future well being of America but American Allegra (or whatever) will bring good health, prosperity, long life, raises, and shiny cars to Americans.
Free trade is sacred to the GOP unless it might mean actual competition to a campaign contributor and then special sanctions are required. In the case of prescription drugs the competition is itself. You buy Canadian Celebrex the same company (though maybe a different division or a different company via a licensing agreement) makes some money, it just will be less... and big Pharma wants it all. You buy a Canadian drug you are also not only getting the same drug, you are probably getting the drug made in the exact same manufacturing plant, just place in a different box.
But the federal government has made it illegal to buy the cheaper foreign drugs, they say it is because of safety concerns, but that's bogus. They want to make sure big Pharma gets big money. Heck they've even made it so this new big giveaway to pharma the Medicare prescription plan can't even negotiate with the Pharma companies to get reduced rates (isn't that the whole advantage of bulk buys... the Veterans administration does it).
So making it illegal wasn't enough... now they are trying to SCARE you out of buying Canadian drugs. Ridiculous.
This is a "team" blog. We are a bunch of
Americans, whose rising distress
in our leader's decisions brought us together to make this site.
As Bush said, he's a "uniter." Many of us have never even met.
That's the internet for you.
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the
president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is
not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the
American people."
- Teddy Roosevelt
"Government has a final responsibility for the well-being of
its citizenship. If private cooperative endeavor fails to provide work
for willing hands and relief for the unfortunate, those suffering
hardship from no fault of their own have a right to call upon the
Government for aid; and a government worthy of its name must make
fitting response."
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt
"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions, but laws must and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."
- Thomas Jefferson
"The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home."
"All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain
degree."
- James Madison
"I believe in human dignity as the source of national purpose, in human liberty as the source of national action, in the human heart as the source of national compassion, and in the human mind as the source of our invention and our ideas. It is, I believe, the faith in our fellow citizens as individuals and as people that lies at the heart of the liberal faith. For liberalism is not so much a party creed or set of fixed platform promises as it is an attitude of mind and heart, a faith in man's ability through the experiences of his reason and judgment to increase for himself and his fellow men the amount of justice and freedom and brotherhood which all human life deserves." - John F. Kennedy
"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are [a] few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
More Sites we often
like:
more coming...
"There's nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what's right with America." - Bill Clinton.
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you don't have to of course, but if you do that's great.