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« Back to Opinion & Analysis
Corporate and Government Collusion
Editorial for the Houston Community Newspaper, Inc.
Steven F. Hotze, M.D.
April 24, 2008
A free society depends upon the ability of individuals to pursue worthy goals without oppression or restriction from government or large corporate interests. Unfortunately, these entities often work hand in hand to maximize their influence, power and income to the detriment of Americans.
Most people think of corporations as being independent of government and in most cases this is true. Hundreds of thousands of small businesses are incorporated for tax and liability reasons. Millions of others exist as partnerships or sole proprietors. These small businesses are the backbone of our economy and create 90% of all new jobs.
It may seem like large corporations represent the pinnacle of success for capitalists. Nothing could be further from the truth. Multinational corporations only believe in free enterprise as long as they have a monopoly or are at least part of an oligarchy which can control a segment of the economy. They want to squeeze out any and all competitors.
Take the pharmaceutical companies. They have more lobbyists in Washington than there are legislators. These lobbyists wine and dine the representatives and contribute to their campaigns in order to buy influence. Over a billion dollars are spent by the drug companies in the national and state legislatures to pass or defeat legislation in order to advance or protect their interests.
When the drug cartel wants legislation passed it has its corporate lobbyists draft the legislation and then gives the bill for introduction to its friends in the state legislature or national congress.
The most egregious example is legislation that limits product liability for corporations. The drug companies have begun a nationwide campaign to introduce legislation which would release them from liability for any adverse side effect caused by their medication if the drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Having the FDA oversee the drug companies is like having the fox guard the henhouse.
The FDA does not test or investigate drugs. It simply approves one treatment study paid for by the drug company that meets its specifications. It has been proven in numerous cases across the country that drug companies have manipulated or withheld unfavorable studies in order to gain approval. The FDA has an incentive to approve drugs because the drug companies pay the FDA a drug user prescription fee for the approval. This amounts to nearly $350,000,000, or one-quarter of the FDA’s annual budget. Who do you think the FDA is protecting?
The drug companies spend billions of dollars brainwashing the American public through the media on the benefits of taking their drugs. The largest advertisers in mainstream media are the pharmaceutical companies. Their executives serve on the boards of directors of the major media giants. What kind of truthful news about the adverse effects of drugs do you think you will get from the media?
The solution is to elect men and women for public office who will protect your interests, not those of the corporations or government.
About Conservative Republicans of Texas
Steven F. Hotze, M.D. is president of Conservative Republicans of Texas and founder of Hotze Health & Wellness Center in Houston, Texas.
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