PHARM PRICE SUPPORTS

The big pharmaceutical corporations poured more cash into political parties (mostly Republican) in the past election than any other group, including insurance, exporters, manufacturing, or finance. Yesterday, their "investments" paid off when the U.S. Senate voted to prevent the import of medication drugs from foreign nations.

The 49 senators who were persuaded to vote the way the pharmaceutical lobbyists asked them to claimed consumer safety as a reason. Are we to believe that the people in Japan or Canada have more trouble with their meds than Americans do? The FDA has a poor success rate. They have approved a long list of dangerous drugs and had to remove quite a few. Even now, they continue to pass on the dangerous, toxic mercury content of many products.

The millions of Americans hooked on drug medications - physically or mentally - deserve the benefits of price competition. They cannot afford to buy price-fixed products.

On a clear day, you can see influence buying and bribery.

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Thoughts While Jaywalking

* People I like the most tell me that Ron Paul won the debate last week, while the more pushy and aggressive acquaintances of mine claim that Paul was a disaster. Next time I'll watch for myself. Meanwhile, I'll believe those I like the most. Let's hear it for Ron Paul.

* I can recall Paul Harvey saying that after he retired he was going to tell us "What's really going on, the rest of the story." I keep waiting for the man to step down, so that I can hear his whole truth.

Meetings & Events

* The We-Were-Young-and-We-Were-Middle-Class support group meets each Tuesday night at 7 pm, on the grassy knoll in Ancestor Square.

Twenty-Years-From-Now News

* President Jeb Bush warned the nation that we must not cut and run from Cuba. He said, "If we don't fight them there, we'll have to fight them here - if we leave they'll follow us home."

* Veteran radio broadcaster Paul Harvey retired yesterday. When an old listener asked him what it was he said he always wanted to tell his audience, Harvey said he couldn't remember.

Quite Quotable

* Corporations are threatening our system by influencing our Congress."
- James Madison, before he became president.