187 days to go

       The U.S. government wants to see all the correspondence concerning a faulty car part from a major auto company.  The government claims the company has not been truthful with the American people.  Did the company know something was wrong before the cars were put on the road?  Did someone know there was something wrong and do nothing before 35 people died?  The American people want answers.

      While we are waiting for the answers from the auto makers, could we get some answers from the drug companies as well?  How many drug companies have chosen to say nothing about  the deaths caused by their products?  How long  have the drug companies known their products cause problems?  Which researchers knew there was a problem and said nothing or, if they did question authority, why was nothing done to correct the problems?

      The above examples are just the tip of a very large iceberg.  As the FDA explains it, the government expects the drug companies to be honest with them and inform the FDA about any problems before they become major concerns.  With so much money, tax dollars and employment at stake, will a couple of deaths really trouble these powerful companies?

     Personally, I think the government would be crazy to fine any of the companies into the next century.  Congress is going to convene several committees which will find that someone knew something but that someone was  silenced or paid off to say nothing.  With so much at stake, a couple of deaths will be  considered the cost of doing business.  Someone's head will roll and they will be fired.  That someone will go into hiding for a year and come out with a new book about corruption in the business world. 

      Congress can threaten big companies all they want.  But in the end, each and every congressman knows what the economy would be without the big companies.  And without the big companies, there would be no political contributions.

    So guess who loses?