google:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23015123/wid/11915773

I'd really like to know why in the heck we can't manufacture our own drugs? At least there is some quality control in American factories. We already end up paying the highest price in the world for perscription drugs, but it sure doesn't look like people are getting what they are paying for.

They are shipping in drugs and food now from all over the world, and there is absolutely none of the safeguards that should be in place in other countries. It's out of hand and out of control.

Holy Canolli Batman! Can we say, Lead Paint in Toys. This is just unbelievable. You think our Government would be on their toys about this especially in light of the mess with China. Guess enough people haven't started complaining yet.

"60 Minutes" some time back looked into this, and guess what? A lot of these cheap drugs we are importing, are actually coming from right here in the US. At least the ones being "re-imported" from Canadian pharmacies. Like the Japanese who have to pay a LOT of extra money to support the cheaper "rice-boxes" we import from them, we are having to pay for the exported drugs here.

Bill,
This is just another example of why I scoff, cringe, laugh hysterically and bite my tongue whenever I hear/read some myopic, naive citizen invoke the words:

"Well, gee whiz, it's been approved by the USDA or the EPA or FDA [or whatever], so it's got to be okay. Golly, the guv'ment would never let us eat/inject/slather on or insert anything that would be...uh..bad for us! That's just crazy talk! No, not my guv'ment! They only have our best interests at heart."

Bleech!

Well what are we going to do about it? I've written lots of letters to my congressman, and frankly, I don't honestly think it does much good.

It's not something you can just forget about because it stares you back in the face every time we go to the grocery store.

My guts churn over this stuff and I'm sick and tired of it.

How do we change things? Let's figure it out, because it is out of hand.

Gardenz, I'm sorry but... Ya lost me. I was talking about how a lot of the "cheap drugs" you can get from Canada, actually came from here in the US to start with. Where did the "safety" stuff come into that?

Katie, this will sound strange, but the only way to turn this around is for everyone who can to become voting shareholders in the affecting drug companies and start making your voices heard in the shareholders' meetings. this is exactly how the "Christian Right" is making themselves heard in corporate America (as well as several other groups).

I currently hold stock in Coca-cola and am starting to make a "nusance" of myself on issues of chemical ingredients, but I need more help there. I also hold a share of Sprint stock and am starting to raise enviromental issues with them.

Brief geo-political note:

It's not like we're importing drugs from Puerto Rico into the US. Puerto Rico is part of the US. It's like saying "tainted drugs were imported into America from New Jersey."

Wayne

Bill, I wasn't commenting on your comment. I was addressing Bill-In-Social, and commenting on the article he posted in his topic.

My fault for not qualifying which Bill I meant. I'm sorry.

I'm curious. Are territories of the United States actually subject to the same laws as the fifty states? Anybody know?

The article was about chips of paint found in the pharmecueticals. Granted, FDA may have looked the other way, even in the fifty states, but I seriously doubt if OASHA would have. OASHA would have seen that as a safety hazard to the workers, slapped the company with a fine and made the place clean up or (eventually) lock their doors until they do.

USDA and FDA have utterly deplorable standards, but OASHA? Those guys are usually like pit bulls.

OSHA covers all u.s. workers in the states and u.s. territories.
http://safety.blr.com/safety_information/OSHA_Standards.htm

Puerto Rico and other territories are subject to most US laws applying to the states, including interstate trade, commerce and public health.

Wayne

In other words, the whole dang lot of them who are supposedly responsible for the public safety are, in reality, falling down on the job?

Oh how marvelous! I'll sleep better now...

I wonder if it ever occurs to anybody in Washington DC to spend less money on war and more money taking care of the problems we've got right here. Is that to much to ask?

quote:

Originally posted by Ms. Eco Pie:
I wonder if it ever occurs to anybody in Washington DC to spend less money on war and more money taking care of the problems we've got right here.

Oh, it no doubt does. Only problem is the people in Wash DC to whom it usually occurs are taxi drivers, cleaning personell, waitresses, low and middle income office shlubs, weary patients crowding emergency rooms for primary care and the kids who can make the grades but can't afford college.

And they have about as much leverage as the proverbial snow ball's chance in hell.