Screwed to death

by China again.

Reason:  greed

Killing our pets, our people, who cares:

Researchers confirm heparin contaminant

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Researchers said they had identified a chemical contaminating the blood-thinner heparin from China, confirming U.S. Food and Drug Administration findings that it was oversulfated chondroitin sulfate.

 snip

The tainted heparin killed at least 81 patients and forced a widespread recall of the commonly used blood-thinner. It also caused a diplomatic squabble between U.S. and Chinese officials.

 snip

and just in case you're wondering why greed is the culprit:

Oversulfated chondroitin sulfate is derived from a popular supplement used to treat arthritis, among other things. It can resemble heparin's active ingredient but is much cheaper, leading some experts to suspect it was added deliberately.

When are we going to wake up and get the materials for our medicines, our military equipment, et. al. from places and manufactured in places that we can have some semblance of quality control.

We are being screwed to death, literally, by corporate greed.  

We Need Change
Yes We Can

http://news.yahoo.com/...

•  Answer

  When are we going to wake up and get the materials for our medicines, our military equipment, et. al. from places and manufactured in places that we can have some semblance of quality control.

  When we elect a Democrat for Prez and have an airtight majority in the House and Senate. Then, and only then, will the FDA and other Federal regulatory agencies stop being the political arm of the neocon-theocracy that worships mamon over citizens.

  by Lisa Lockwood on Wed Apr 23, 2008 at 01:09:38 PM PDT

•  Intellectually

  I know this but cynically, I keep remembering that Bushcrap got elected twice.

  I need a pair of ruby slippers.

  by pattisigh on Wed Apr 23, 2008 at 01:19:50 PM PDT

•  this is

  exactly why deregulation is insane. The market doesn't know the difference between medicine and poison, it just knows the difference between cheap and not-so-cheap, and will always go for cheap. The corporate fat cats controlling things, the point where human calculation about things like medicine-poison could enter in, don't give a shit as long as they get their dollars. Trust THEM to regulate themselves when it means trimming the amount of cash going into their offshore accounts? Pure insanity. Or the indication of a deathwish.

  by StudentThinker on Wed Apr 23, 2008 at 01:59:08 PM PDT