The reason the federal government takes these issues to heart is not only to provide better opportunity for people to afford the medications they need everyday, but, also to protect those that find in desperation they need to look elsewhere and outside the country for drugs. In providing the power to the FDA to monitor the import of less expensive medications it would insure the best prices to people while also protecting them from medications that they can find a way to personally import. People needed protection as well as better prices.
It's a darn shame Wall Street runs the country rather than the people of the USA. Not only that, but, it would have a global effect on countries that wanted to import. They would have to raise their standards in order to do so and therefore would increase the standards to their citizens. In supplying the USA with better quality as per specification, the general overall supply to their people would be far better as the manufacturing improved. It was great legislation with a lot more potential then just saving money for Americans. It would have raised the standard of medications globally in order for other countries to compete.
Literally, the newspaper ran a campaign this past weekend to defeat the Dorgan-Snow Amendment that would provide for SAFER drug supply to the USA both domestic and international. There is no other newsprint any less noted in their anger over the determination of the people of the USA to have their autonomy back. This directly affects the elderly and their ability to afford medications. Amazing
The vote was 49 - 40 with 11 Senators not even voting. It was astounding to see what a New York Times Corporate Campaign can do. I find it completely out of line to attempt to torpedo the good intentions of legislation that would make medication costs lower to the people of this country. They literally terrified the people to write their Senators and reverse their decisions. Among the Democrats that participated in the destruction of good policy that would have expanded the FDA's power and influence in protecting the people of the USA was Kerry. Obama never showed up for the vote, I'm sure he'll make it up to everyone when he's president, but, Senator Clinton did vote to uphold the Dorgan-Snow Amendment and was among the 40 that voted the objection down. She wanted Seniors to have the advantage of imported medications with strict supervision from the FDA.
It's incredible to realize the power and influence these drug companies have as a strangle hold over this country. It's going to take a concerted effort to defeat the Pharmaceutical Lobby. We still aren't there. This action has made the country less safe !
The American Public literally has to get the Republicans out of office if they want policy that reflects the best interest of the people.
On the other hand, the rest of the world void of Neocons maintain their sanity. Wolfowitz isn't going to get away with it and AMAZINGLY, his aide resigns. Where have we heard that one before?
Wolfowitz aide quits World Bank amid controversy (click here)
By Lesley Wroughton May 7, 2007
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A close aide to World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz resigned on Monday, saying turmoil at the bank over its current leadership has made it difficult for him to do his job.
The departure of Kevin Kellems was a blow in a critical week for Wolfowitz, a key architect of the Iraq war who is now under fire for his handling of a lucrative promotion and pay raise for his companion, Shaha Riza, a Middle East expert at the bank.
Twilight of the neocons (click here)
World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz wants the world to believe that he is the blameless victim of a "smear campaign" orchestrated by his political enemies. But in light of the resignation from the bank, reported today by the Wall Street Journal, of one of his top aides, Kevin Kellems, one could come to another conclusion. The neocon chickens are coming home to roost.
Kellems has a long and undistinguished history as a flack, first for Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar, then for Wolfowitz at the Pentagon, then as spokesman for Vice President Dick Cheney, and until yesterday, at the World Bank, where his job title was director of strategy of the World Bank's External Affairs Department.
As flack for Cheney, Kellems was responsible for doing his best to push the line that the U.S. was justified in invading Iraq because Saddam Hussein was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction and supporting al-Qaida -- two of the most damaging falsehoods ever promulgated by the U.S. government.
My favorite line from Kellems, in a speech delivered in April 2003 at the Public Relations Student Society of America Midwest Regional Partners Conference: "The United States did not seek this conflict."
Imagine you are a World Bank staffer, and in the wake of Wolfowitz's appointment as president, in come people like Kevin Kellems, grabbing $250,000 plum jobs, and immediately setting to work pushing the Bush administration's partisan agenda. At the time of their arrival, the worldview of these conquering heroes was triumphant, and they surely thought they could do whatever it is they wanted.
Now their worldview is in tatters. Their war is an unmitigated disaster. Their president is a cancer on the Republican Party. They are under assault from all sides. And they are beginning, as Kevin Kellems' resignation proves, to drop like flies. No smear campaigns necessary. Just the truth.
-- Andrew Leonard
