I heard the author Mark Schapiro on npr today.
Really amazing stuff.
Like that when the EU was debating whether to upgrade their standards of protection US chemical lobbies went to Belgium and lobbied against it!

And Lenny Lopate asked, What about the FDA?

And Schapiro said, the FDA was there too, lobbying against against them raising their standards of protection.

The UE raised their standards anyway, and now, things from China that cannot get into the EU, come to the US.

Makes one proud to be American.

listen here:
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/episodes/2007/11/14

excerpt from the book:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071105/schapiro


ellen

I laugh when I hear conservatives and libertarians going on about the "nanny state" and all its regulations. I also laugh when I hear people say that XYZ product wouldn't be on the market if it wasn't safe.

I laugh a lot. I get the sense sometimes that you do too, Ellen.

Joe Scarborough on MSNBC got me thinking one day. I actually like a lot of what he says re: the prez, and the war, and politicians -he's very cyncial. And then he says - still, I'm a conservative cause I'm for small government.

And I wonder if he is in favor of the toys that kill. I heard some commissioner of something say that when Reagan took office there were 1000 inspectors of whatever regulatory agency it is, and now there are 400. And think about how the number of imports has multiplied since that time!

And they pontificate about how to protect our children. And blame China. But let's keep government small.

When there was a big noise about MRSA (which by the way has been around at least 20 years, they're just noticing it), somebody says, 'They should monitor the hospitals around the country for MRSA'. Well who do they think will do this monitoring?
That is the function of the federal government supposedly, to protect the health of the people.

ah well..see what you've done now..you've got me started.

ellen

I know this is teetering on the "P" word (political), but since it's kinda, sorta been inferred already.....

....Ya'd think since it was Reagan, (courtesy of Nixon's initiation) who facilitated the increase in free trade w/China, that the number of FDA, FTC and CPA inspectors would have increased instead of the opposite. Ya'd think some bright, young administration neo-con would have foreseen or forecasted the deluge of el cheapo, el crappo and potentially el toxico imports flooding the country - via lowered U.S. manufacturing costs courtesy of Chinese sweat-shop labor and the expense of U.S. jobs. Naw. That'd be too logical or too 'concerned for the health and welfare of American citizens'. Naw. Silly me.

Smaller government = Bigger profits = Screwed Consumers. Nothing really novel there. Corporate barons change; political faces change, new toxins and dangers arise, and the potential for even more blood-profits increases. The only thing that doesn't change is the same, beleaguered, poor-schmoe, profitable, guinea pig-consumer..and their kids and their pets.

See....now you've got me started.

"

quote:

See....now you've got me started. Wink

See....now you've got me started. Wink"

well, my friends, if we could only get the rest of the sleepers started!

Eh. Why would I be inclined to think there would be more inspectors with increased trade?

Impeding the flood of cheap goods wouldn't be to the advantage of corporate profits.

Corporations do a pretty good job of calculating their financial risk. They look at the bottom line, and usually find it's more cost-effective to unleash ten thousand inferior products and risk a few dozen recalls.

Auto manufacturers do the same thing. If the possible payout in lawsuits resulting from accidents due to a defective part is cheaper than installing the part, they'll opt for the lawsuits.

Corporations that are gross polluters would rather keep dumping their sludge and paying the fines than spend the money to correct their problems and comply with the law. It's cheaper to pay the fines, that is, when the government actually bothers to enforce the law.

It's cheaper still to make campaign contributions or bribes instead of paying fines.

It's also cheaper to pay PR people who can undo the damage done to the company reputation through these practices than it is to be good corporate citizens.

Speaking about donations to corporations, I heard a different interview with the same Mark Schapiro (glad he's getting a lot of exposure), in which he was again talking about the difference between Europe and US regulations and safety. He was asked how to account for the difference. He speculated that because in Europe, as in all industrialized countries except our very own, health care is paid for by the government, that the government has a vested interest in keeping its citizens healthy.

He also said in Europe corporations cannot donate to political campaigns. (I think I recall this part correctly). If true, what an amazing difference that would make in explaining the strong role of the industries here in barring regulation vis-a-vis in Europe.

And then to carry it one step further, here, they have no incentive to keep us healthy, better if we get sick and have to use the products of the pharmacological industry.

Geez, they make it every which way.


ellen

quote:

Originally posted by ellenr:
Joe Scarborough on MSNBC got me thinking one day. I actually like a lot of what he says re: the prez, and the war, and politicians -he's very cyncial. And then he says - still, I'm a conservative cause I'm for small government.

I am sorry, but anyone who wants to change anything cannot correctly call themselves a Conservative. The definition of a conservative is someone who wants to conserve things the way they ARE (as in right now). In truth, their are no true conservatives in government. And anyone who tells you they are a conservative and then says they want to change things, is LYING! They are either lying about being a conservative, or they are lying about wanting to change things.

I realize the forums are not supposed to get political, and I apologize if this wonders into that realm, but I think that people out there are being lied to by those who claim to be conservatives.

I admit I am a liberal, and that I am for less government.