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The Case for Giving Eli Lilly the Corporate Death Penalty

By Bruce E. Levine, AlterNet. Posted March 3, 2009.


At this point, the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly is basically a public menace.

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Eli Lilly & Company's rap sheet as a public menace is so long that for Lilly watchers to overcome the "banality-of-Lilly-sleaziness" phenomenon, the drug company must break some type of record measuring egregiousness. Lilly obliged earlier this year, receiving the largest criminal fine ever imposed on a corporation.

If Americans are ever going to revoke the publicly granted charters of reckless, giant corporations -- well within our rights -- we might want to get the ball rolling with Lilly, whose recent actions appalled even the mainstream media. And with Lilly's chums, the Bush family, out of power, now might be the right time.

On January 15, 2009, Lilly pled guilty to charges that it had illegally marketed its blockbuster drug Zyprexa for unapproved uses to children and the elderly, two populations especially vulnerable to its dangerous side effect. Lilly plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge and agreed to pay $1.42 billion, which included $615 million to end the criminal investigation and approximately $800 million to settle the civil case.

One of the eight whistle-blowers in this case, former Lilly sales representative Robert Rudolph, says the settlement will not completely change Lilly's business practices, and he wants jail time for executives. "You have to remember, with Zyprexa," said Rudolph, "people lost their lives."

Rudolph is not exaggerating. Zyprexa, marketed as an "atypical" antipsychotic drug, has been promoted as having less dangerous adverse effects than "typical" antipsychotic drugs such as Thorazine and Haldol. However, on February 25, 2009, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that the rate of sudden cardiac death in patients taking either typical or atypical antipsychotic drugs is double the death rate of a control group of patients not taking these drugs.

Zyprexa -- though not nearly as well known as Lilly's previous blockbuster Prozac -- is today one of the biggest-selling drugs in the world. Zyprexa has grossed more than $39 billion since its approval in 1996, with $4.8 billion of that in 2007 (and it was projected to equal or surpass that gross in 2008 when earnings are reported).

Lilly has had other Zyprexa scandals, but in this current one, Lilly executives matched Charles Dickens scoundrels. Zyprexa is approved by the Food and Drug and Administration (FDA) for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but Lilly illegally marketed it for sleep difficulties, aggression, and other unapproved uses. Lilly sales reps aggressively pushed Zyprexa as a wonderful drug to chill out disruptive children and the elderly who were not schizophrenic or bipolar. The lawsuit against Lilly stated, "In truth, this was Lilly's thinly veiled marketing of Zyprexa as an effective chemical restraint for demanding, vulnerable and needy patients."

Doctors can prescribe drugs for unapproved uses (called "off-label prescribing"), but drug companies are not allowed to market drugs for unapproved uses. Many drug companies break this rule, but Lilly broke it with gusto. The company made hundreds of millions of dollars by trying to convince health care providers that Zyprexa was safe for unapproved uses," said Laurie Magid, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania where the case was prosecuted. Magid said that Lilly was responsible for "putting thousands and thousands of patients at risk."

One marketing effort consisted of the Lilly sales force urging geriatricians to use Zyprexa to sedate unruly nursing home and assisted-living facilities patients. Lilly sales reps distributed a study claiming that elderly patients taking Zyprexa required fewer skilled nursing staff hours than were necessary for patients taking competing medications. Magid stated that Lilly sales reps were "trained to use the slogan five at five, meaning five milligrams at 5 o'clock at night will keep these elderly patients quiet." Illegally marketing Zyprexa for elderly patients was especially troubling for prosecutors because Zyprexa increases the risks of heart failure and life-threatening infections such as pneumonia in older patients.


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See more stories tagged with: eli lilly, pharmaceutical companies, prozac, zyprexa, thimerosal

Bruce E. Levine, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and author of Surviving America’s Depression Epidemic: How to Find Morale, Energy, and Community in a World Gone Crazy (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2007).His Web site is www.brucelevine.net

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People should be outraged
Posted by: Gregsdiary on Mar 3, 2009 10:24 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The profit-motive in healthcare is morally wrong. Given what this article describes, people should be morally outraged.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» NATIONALIZE the drug-companies!!! Posted by: QQOblivion
» There's a middle ground Posted by: LMNOP
» RE: People should be outraged Posted by: Livemike
Eli Lilly ZYPREXA LIES!
Posted by: DanielHaszard on Mar 3, 2009 11:12 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Zyprexa claims being stonewalled

Where is the (now up to) $4.6 billion Eli Lilly Zyprexa settlement going as many victim claimants haven't been paid yet? It's the largest pharma-fraud-whistleblower case in US history.

There must be millions out there harmed by this drug.

Daniel Haszard http://www.zyprexa-victims.com

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Fascism Took This Right Away Long Ago
Posted by: Jeffersonista on Mar 5, 2009 5:14 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
While the founding fathers revolted against crazy king george AND corporate monsters like the East India Company, they wrote it into our precepts that corporations should not have the same rights as individuals and could have thier charter revoked at any time. Thanks to Abe Lincoln, the first corporate puppet president, that was written out, and instead corporations were given more rights than the individual.

Try reading some history other than the corporate sponsored whitewash found in public schools.

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But what about the children?
Posted by: tornadorider2002 on Mar 6, 2009 2:11 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Yes, neo-con corporate fascists are really big on using children as an excuse not to allow something. Find a kid smoking a joint, and put him in a rehab center, then hit him hard with atypical antipsychotics. That's how we treat our kids these days.

I work in a local mental health / mental retardation clinic. I am at the intake level, where I see kids come in by the boatload, doped to the gills on an amazingly high amount of psychotropic medication. I am amazed that these children can function at all.

The "newer generation" psychotropics like Zyprexa cause these kids to gain enormous amounts of weight. These children have a vacant stare, are overly-compliant, and as big as elephants, which mean that they're too doped to run outside and play. They sit at home after school, raiding the pantry and fridge, because as one child told me, "I just want sweets all the time. My medicine makes me sooo hungry and sleepy."

The social rejection from them being so overweight has it's own pain for these children, but they are made to take these drugs by parents who are tired of hassling with a stubborn kid.

The schools are to blame for a certain number of these children being put on psychotropics, because when the kids are a little too active or mouthy for the teacher to handle, the school complains to the parents, and occasionally the parents are told that, if they don't get their kid medicated and calmed down, they are not welcome back at school.

The psychiatrists are good drug-pushers who send the parents away with a plethora of prescriptions for the most god-awful medications. I have seen children on four psychotropics at once....strong stuff like geodon, risperdol, invega, and seroquel. Throw in some adderal or strattera for good measure, as they can't seem to concentrate. Jeesh.

This is not to say that some people aren't helped by some of these, but the vast majority are way over-medicated to make them compliant and easy to deal with.

There will be a whole generation of children with diabetes and permanent damage from these medications. The way they gain weight is astounding (most gain 30 pounds in a few months). The gynecomastia observed in boys (man boobs) DOES NOT go away when the drug is stopped. They have to have surgery to correct it. How many medicaid patients have the ability to pay for cosmetic surgery?

What evil bastards Big Pharma are. God forgive us for what we are collectively doing to our babies.

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» gimmie shelter Posted by: gimmie shelter
» Generation Z Posted by: Karina
» RE: Generation Z Posted by: kungfuma
» RE: Generation Z Posted by: Karina
Yep, We should bring back the Cporporate Death Penalty ...
Posted by: mmckinl on Mar 7, 2009 1:06 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
And Eli~ Lilly would just be the start ...

We have let the corporate form of legality take over our society. It didn't used to be this way. Corporations were highly restricted in form and function before the Industrialization of America. Their charters could be revoked at a moments notice.

Thanks to personhood and the general propaganda that has been heaped upon the American public they know not of the real history of corporations.

It is time to put corporations back in their box. They need to serve a civil function first and foremost. They should be banned from political contributions and only allowed to lobby, not contribute to candidates, parties or issues.

Both the Democratic and Republican conventions were underwritten by corporations to curry favor in Washington DC and around the country. The Republicans even threatened corporations that wouldn't give! Outlawing contributions from corporations would put an end to much that is wrong.

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Don Quixot
Posted by: Don Quixote on Mar 7, 2009 2:07 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The story may be told many ways, including this one: “Once upon a time there was a company called Eli Lilly & Co. who sold $39 billion of a product called Zyprexa knowing it could kill people, deceived and/or bribed the DEA (an actual department of the Pharma-maffia, probably created by them under cover) and doctors, then invested less than $1.5 billion to silence the judicial system, 0,6 billion to silence investigators and only $0.8 billion to pay the relatives of dead or damaged victims and silence public opinion.
In China, in ancient times, people paid the doctor when they were healthy and stopped paying when they were sick, as they could no longer work and therefore pay. This was a reasonable system based on health. The interest of the doctor was to keep clients healthy. Now we have exactly the opposite, a system based on sickness. Our “health” systems and institutions should be called “sickness” systems and institutions. The more sick people, the more profit for the “health” industry. Fantastic.

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Eli Lilly was once one of the finest
Posted by: weathered on Mar 7, 2009 2:50 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
companies in America.

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» RE: WTF Posted by: walldodger1969
» RE: li Lilly was Posted by: bornxeyed
everyone should read
Posted by: sloopie2 on Mar 7, 2009 4:49 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Selling Sickness by Ray Moynihan and Alan Cassels. They do an excellent job of exposing big pharma's malevolent plan to make all of us patients.

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» Excellent Book Posted by: Gravitas
Want to bring down Lilly and others? Divest yourselves first
Posted by: blondesprite on Mar 7, 2009 5:02 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Check out your own 401ks and investment portfolios.
When we stop investing and injecting tax payer $$$ in these companies, by way of Wall Street banks and research grants, corporate death will happen.
Their funding must dry up first. Otherwise, they will remain owners of the FDA, the USDA, other govt. agencies, our elected offcials and too big to fail.

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Eli Lilly is not alone - what about Merck?
Posted by: wagner on Mar 7, 2009 5:02 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What about this story: “Once upon a time there was a company called Merck & Co., Inc. that used to be the envy of the pharmaceutical research anywhere. Then came along the creators and marketers of Vioxx. Vioxx, too, killed and damaged many people. Its creators knew about the dangers, but they decided to suppress vital information in favor of personal gain. The same kind of criminals control all major pharmaceutical companies, hence their behavior became the standard of the industry. It is time to scrutinize the integrity and competence of the pharmaceutical companies' executives and managers at all levels.

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Logos Are Modern Day Family Crests
Posted by: Purple Girl on Mar 7, 2009 5:08 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
what difference is there between the Merry ol' England we ran out when the elite can flow unhindered from the Private Profiteering sector into Public Policy, even have the opportunity to remain with one foot in each?How can we truely have a Free Market Economy when it is not What You Know But Who You Know that determines your ability for success in either realm?
Pres Obama's attempt to end this, although not perfect, is admirable and competely keeping with the American Ideal of reducing outside influence on Public policy by private institutions.
As for the Mercury found in childrens vaccines, No further evidence is needed.Mercury is a well known Toxic agent,That's why there has been Regulations imposed on it's levels in Seafood! The Judge who just rejected the claim by Families of Autistic children should be under investigation for corruption and complicity.The Precedence has already been set-A Ruling against Mercury laden vaccines was a No Brainer.
Additionally for Seniors in Long term care, Snowing them with medications is a violation of their patient rights , thus anyone pushing meds to zonk these citizens is committing a crime against their civil rights. Facility and staff convenience does Not out weigh the rights of the individual to be free of physical or psychotropic restraints.

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Until they run out of money, forget it.
Posted by: jwverez on Mar 7, 2009 5:34 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It's only when the company runs out of money that it'll finally be given the guillotine.

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One can only imagine...
Posted by: ShrubtheWarcriminal on Mar 7, 2009 5:38 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...the outrage IF marijuana had even 1.0% of the consequences that the LEGAL drugs have.

The direction this country is going is that if corporate Amerikkka makes it, it is good...nature bad.

Get used to it people, for these guys and the government your have, deaths are a small price for to pay for corporate greed.

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Why it won't happen
Posted by: kegbot1 on Mar 7, 2009 5:40 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
First, when corporations can buy legislatures at wholesale prices, you will never be able to influence those legislators to bite the hand that feeds them. Throw them out of office? OK, but then there are so many wonderful corporate boards to sit on or lobbying opportunities - which means they are beholden to corporations for the rest of their lives.

Second - revoke a charter? Lilly will simply, figuratively, hold a knife to the throats of all of their employees and say: you kill me, you kill ALL of them you evil socialists.

Won't. Happen.

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RE: Jail
Posted by: Gypsi on Mar 7, 2009 6:24 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Let's let everyone in prison for pot out to make room for the real drug dealers. Then let's prosecute the real drug dealers.

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Don't click on that link (IDENTITY THEFT!)
Posted by: GuitarBill on Mar 7, 2009 7:52 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This scumbag is not trying to protect your privacy; he's trying to steal your identity.

If you click on his "Privacy Center" hyperlink, the server the link points to will install a keylogger on your computer, which is used to steal your credit card number, SSN, etc.

Please, report the comment to Alternet's staff.

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RE: Hey Mr. Privacy Center - HOW MANY FREAKIN' NAMES DO YOU HAVE HERE??!
Posted by: Gisele on Mar 7, 2009 8:57 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
eom

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Breaking news: Baxter Inc. contaminates vaccines with avian flu virus
Posted by: JAND on Mar 7, 2009 6:19 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
As reported on life gen and kept under cover,

Baxter Pharmaceuticals "accidentally" contaminated vaccines with the avian flu virus (impossible for this to happen unless intentional) and shipped to 18 countries. Wonder how long this will be kept from us:

http://www.lifegen.de/newsip
/shownews.php4?getnews=
2009-02-25-5123&pc=s02

Also here:

http://www.naturalnews.com/025760.html

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» RE: WTF! Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» RE: WTF! Posted by: bornxeyed
MORE JAIL TIME FOR BIG PHRMA CEOS
Posted by: drricklippin on Mar 7, 2009 6:37 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If not the death penalty at least jail time for some Big PhRMA CEOs is in order

Fines and lawsuits are just not enough justice.

Dr. Rick Lippin
Southampton,Pa

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Eli Lilly only the first
Posted by: sausage on Mar 7, 2009 6:39 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
In handing out the corporate death penalty, Eli Lilly should only be the first of many.

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» Blackwater next? Posted by: sliver
Not Just Pharmaceuticals.
Posted by: SpiderWoman on Mar 7, 2009 6:43 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It's all sorts of corporations that need to have their licenses to operate pulled, and those at the helm who are responsible should be prosecuted.

Bananas Are Dying, Killed By Corporate Monoculture delineates how Chiquita is killing bananas and gets into - a bit - about its history of destroying people and land.

But, our government is owned by these companies. As a result, we have pseudo-research, like the recently hyped erasing bad memories pill and an FDA that acts for the benefit of corporations, not the people.

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Lilly and Insulin
Posted by: FAITHCARR on Mar 7, 2009 6:47 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I'd still like to know how Lilly held on the the patent/copyright to Insulin. A 50 year old medication...

Just sayin, no generic available.... Killing me slowly...

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Settle in for a Long Wait
Posted by: Liberty G on Mar 7, 2009 7:03 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Big Pharma has so much political and economic power that they won't be reined in until the deadliness of their drugs has gotten so obvious and so many people are sickening and dying, and the costs have gotten so totally impossible to pay...

Don't hold your breath for that to happen.

The only hopeful thing - as more and more folks are stuck with health conditions they haven't the means to deal with through "conventional" (allopathic/drug/high tech) treatment, they will be turning to natural alternatives in droves. Big Pharma is trying and will continue trying to squelch this competition - but it won't be possible. If need be, people can learn to grown herbs and make up their own natural remedies at home.

It would be nice if I can live to see this.

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» RE: Settle in for a Long Wait Posted by: SpiderWoman
In the news
Posted by: QQOblivion on Mar 7, 2009 7:13 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It isn't just E-LIE-Lilly. In the news: AstraZeneca is accused of not revealing the risks it knew of regarding the risks of diabetes and weight-gain associated with the use of Seroquel.

I am on generic Paxil for OCD. The medicine works, but I have gained a massive amount of weight since I started taking the medicine. I want to get off the generic Paxil and get on another antidepressant with fewer weight-gain issues. But it turns out that Paxil has serious withdrawal side-effects, and getting off of it may be quite unpleasant for me. But, surprise surprise, the drug company that originally made Paxil, GlaxoSmithKline, lied when it said that Paxil is not addictive. As a matter of fact, Paxil (generic name: paroxetine) has some of the worst withdrawal side-effects of any antidepressant medication.

These companies are killing and ruining REAL people's lives!

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» RE: In the news Posted by: Shey
» Wean Posted by: Karina
» RE: In the news Posted by: YogiBear
» Check out EFT Posted by: 2dogarage
doc revolt...
Posted by: ellie on Mar 7, 2009 7:27 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
don't know about you guys, but my primary doc is in full revolt against new poisons... he's gone back to prescribing old as dirt meds only if totally 100% necessary... they work better too!!!

he's on this wonderful kick of sending folks to a registered dietitian, prescribing long rambling walks in sunshine, and amazingly referring folks for acupuncture... funny thing is that his practice is getting to be too much for one doc to handle... you should hear him if you get him started about drug companies and insurance carriers!!!

he's been tossing out drug reps by limiting their contact time to 15 min total a week for the entire crowd and then they just get as close as Brunhilda, his receptionist, and she signs their contact sheets for him... you should see them with their black suits and gimme bags piling up... Lilly is the worst of them all!!!

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» RE: doc revolt... Posted by: rinthy
» RE: doc revolt... Posted by: Shey
gimmie shelter
Posted by: gimmie shelter on Mar 7, 2009 7:47 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Does anyone know if any of the States Attorneys General have additional power that could be brought to bear considering that fraud and deaths occurred directly from actions of this drug company. If so lets write to them from each of our own states and find out if any will take the bait to go after them. Just a thought.
I guess the other question is when is murder not murder, when it is done in the name of profits for a corporation.

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Weight Gain a Symptom, Not Cause
Posted by: Gravitas on Mar 7, 2009 8:25 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I found this to be an outstanding article, but there was one huge point that needs to be called out. Weight gain does NOT CAUSE diabetes. It is the underlying metabolic changes caused by the drugs that causes diabetes and weight gain is a symptom. It is extremely important we realize this. Because of our current flawed paradigm that says fat is the culprit instead of merely a symptom, we singularly focus on people losing weight instead of eliminating the real cause. It is like trying to cure measles by erasing spots.

This has huge political implications, especially as we try to implement national health care. We can't just increase prevention and expect diet and exercise to change things when these drugs are being pushed like candy and are changing peoples metabolism. Unfairly the patients who gain weight get stigmatized, then turn to risky, costly procedures like weight loss surgery that has huge side effects they aren't told about.

To save both our health and our pocketbooks, we need to realize the problem is PHARMA; its poisonous pills and its unchecked greed.

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a new Age of Robber Barons is upon us (all over us)
Posted by: editnetwork on Mar 7, 2009 8:42 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A friend just wrote me: "A few years ago Laura sent a note worrying that the american financial system would collapse under the then-prevailing system of seemingly permanent land inflation.

"I thought, at the time, that the banking system could not afford and therefore would not allow real estate inflation to get completely out of hand, that regulatory systems and senior management would have as deep an understanding of the system as Laura did and act to prevent the failure.

"I was wrong. Laura was right."

I replied: I've just finished The Tyranny of Oil by Antonia Juhasz. I couldn't get into her previous book, but (especially on the heels of Endgame by Derrick Jensen) this one riveted me to the point of waking nightmares and raging letters to the editor.

It spotlights the core of our systemic problems: untrammeled and unapologetic greed, willful shortsightedness, and naked power to get one's own way (to elect and then corrupt those who will come through).

I'm taken all the way back to Thom Hartmann's Unequal Protection: Collectively, we have got to do something about today's Robber Barons, or there won't be much left anywhere to plunder, let alone sustain (human) life at any scale. I'm also taken back to single-term limits for our reps, at every level, enforced as a default option at the ballot box: When in doubt, vote 'em out.

Finally, as for 20/20 hindsight, in case you missed Jon Stewart on Wednesday, here's his take on "If only we'd followed CNBC's sage advice all along the way (yeah, right)." Do forward this video far and wide; one must needs laugh amidst the tears.

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» Unfortunately... Posted by: bobtr900
pnutbuttercup
Posted by: msbuttercup on Mar 7, 2009 8:53 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
How come no one ever holds greedy, lazy doctors accountable for helping big pharms prescribe this crap to kids? Doctors *could* make a difference but so many choose not to. It's shameful. When I go into a doctor's office that has big pharm paraphernalia (pens, free samples, etc.) I walk out.

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» RE: pnutbuttercup Posted by: Shey
Seeing as .....
Posted by: tvaspen on Mar 7, 2009 8:54 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
.....former board members have included the likes of George H.W.Bush I seriously doubt anything will come of this, they're mob protected.

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» RE: Seeing as ..... Posted by: Teris
» RE: Seeing as ..... Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» RE: Seeing as ..... Posted by: Shey
You would not BELIEVE how much power the medical establishment wields :.(
Posted by: stellabloo on Mar 7, 2009 9:00 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
In my own case, my 12 yr old was being manipulated by my ex into believing that he had suffered an abusive childhood under my care and that even the sight of me could be dangerous. No shit.

Shortly thereafter my ex pulled his son out of school (at 12 and I still had custody)- telling the kid he couldn't go to school because he had been expelled! Even with such bizarre behaviour, I still battled social services for months (pregnant with my youngest and puking the whole time)before they decided that a pyschiatric assessment was in order.

Although my son obviously had to look to his dad for confirmation in answering such questions as "and you are 12 years old?", the immediate diagnosis was trauma resulting from early childhood abandonment, as a consequence of our original joint custody agreement!

My previously normal son was then referred to the adolescent pyschiatric unit. After completely disregarding every report card ever issued e.g. "he is a bright, outgoing kid who could achieve more if he tried" the shrinks decided that he was really ADD, he needed ritalin and that the anger was due to the fact that I hadn't realized he was a special needs kid. Period.

At this point my long-suffering lawyer told me I had take it to the political level - every right that I had as the custodial parent had been violated and there was nothing left to accomplish with another court order. I was not allowed to see my own child and the hospital even threatened me with a TEAM of lawyers!

Fortunately my local government representative intervened, I was allowed to talk to my own child in private (I had to fight over a YEAR for that privelege) and he came around within a couple of weeks (!). In fact my son decided after a few months that he didn't like the ritalin, it made him feel "weird" and he stopped using it.

At which point his own doctor warned him AGAINST going off ritalin and expressed concern that he might be experimenting with pot; my son should be on prozac instead, as well as ritalin!
I should add that ritalin is a chemical analogue of cocaine and has been linked to heart disease. This for my otherwise healthy kid who had gained 40 lbs living with his father :.(

Yes, I am well aware of the dangerous side-effects of antidepressants. We lost a local kid just last fall - unhappy home situation, a bandaid solution of antidepressant medication and 2 weeks later, senseless and violent suicide. How many such random and senseless acts have been precipitated by abusive over-prescription of these mind-altering drugs?

There's a reason why doctors used to be called "leeches" :.(

Efforts to Overturn SSRI Black Box warning before it has even been implemented

FDA Orders Antidepressant Suicide Warnings Over Psychiatric Association Resistance

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» SSRI suicide misconceptions Posted by: inverse_agonist
» understood Posted by: inverse_agonist
» RE: SSRI suicide misconceptions Posted by: Longdream
people should not work for these companies
Posted by: deborama on Mar 7, 2009 10:07 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I live in central New Jersey, home to many, many giant pharmaceutical firms. Whenever I complain about the job market (I've been underemployed forever), people ask why I don't work for one of the pharmas. Because they're evil, that's why. It amazes me that people can work for companies like this without compunction. I could never do it.

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The overall problem is the Corp. control of the food source
Posted by: topview on Mar 7, 2009 10:52 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
With all the additives and chemicals in the food source that Corporate Farming produces, it is no wonder this country is known as the sickest society on this planet.

The soils for farming are depleted of necessary minerals for our cellular system to function as nature intended.
The mood altering chemicals that are added in the food is the cause of the mental decline of the population in the USA.
MSG, Aspartame, Sucralose, High fructose corn syrup,(Contains Mercury) and the lack of trace minerals that our brains require to function normally.

We have to take back the process of our food from Monsanto and their chemical poisons, and Genetically modified food crops. They are modified to except (Round Up) and that is ingested by the consumers of their crops
Most of these chemicals disrupt the neurons in the brain and with the lack of trace minerals the brain can not function properly, and then adding these psychotropic drugs is adding to the decline of mental disaster.

If everyone just stop buying these processed and packaged foods we could make a change to Organic foods more simple, and force the FDA to stop their attacks on organic farmers, for the sake of those criminal Corporations, and do their job to protect the public against all those chemical additives in the food.

I have placed many articles on these problems on my blog. Go read about them
Here

Read about the Hidden source of MSG in packaged foods. MSG, has caused my wife to have seizures for 35 years, till we figured out what was causing them, and stopped eating anything that is processed or packaged.

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» I own a clinic. Posted by: wolfgangmo
what Pharmacutical spends money on
Posted by: expatyank on Mar 7, 2009 10:56 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Many of the posters do not get it... If a team of people develope a drug that would cure -- say -- aids. Remember, I said cure! You can be assured that one of the major Pharmas would approach the team with a huge amount of money to aquire the right to this drug. You can also be assured that they would run their own safety tests and find a problem. This problem would require years of further testing and development. Why would a large pharma want a drug that "CURED" a world wide killer that makes them huge money when a $200.00 pill would be the end of the killer. Do the math people... one time $200.00 or $10,000.00 per year for many years.. Pharmas do not want a cure for anything. They spend all the R&D on maintenance drugs NOT cures..

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» Cancer and AIDS Posted by: 2dogarage
» RE: Cancer and AIDS Posted by: 24&somuchmore
Pharma lies.
Posted by: folkie on Mar 7, 2009 11:02 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Big pharmaceutical companies claim that they are entitled to profits because they invest in research and development and produce useful drugs.

False.

We the public pay for the research and development, and they get the patents and the profits. In essence, we pay twice for the same drug, once to develop it and again to buy it.

Any useful drugs they might still produce should be available as generics. Any new drugs developed with taxpayer money by means of federal grants to university researchers, should be in the public domain and ALL testing should be done by independent laboratories and the results publicly available. Neither the drugs we pay to develop nor their devastating effects on us should be trade secrets.

I'm reminded of the young Navy wife who once told me that she thought that "everyone should have access to health care" but that she was "opposed to socialized medicine."

Without socialized medicine, it is not possible for everyone to have access to health care.

Obama's health care team should start off by watching Michael Moore's documentary film, "Sicko."

They should see the tears in the eyes of an American who can't afford necessary expensive medication here but finds the same drug sold for pennies elsewhere.

It still comes down to whether we prioritize profits or people. Either obscene corporate profits will be sacrificed to the needs of the American people, or the health and lives of the American people will continue to be sacrificed to the idol of corporate profits.

What's it gonna be, Mr. President?

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Check out www.celdf.org (or try .com if .org does not work)
Posted by: djnoll on Mar 7, 2009 11:46 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This organization is another one associated with the founder of POCLAD. They have on their website templates and petitions to get communities to strip corporate personhood from companies within the jurisdiction of the community. Use them to shut down polluters, poisoners, and child abusers within your communities, and start the ball rolling. This is especially true of places like Lily, Pfizer, Monsanto, Merck, etc. Shut down their manufacturing facilities with protests and court actions and city council votes. Make people aware and get the word out in your communities. It is time to take back our country and make our voices heard nationwide!

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THANK YOU!!!
Posted by: gildersleeve on Mar 7, 2009 12:01 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Finally someone talking sense!
the corporate media echo chamber is destroying this country, in mind, body and soul.
synthetic chemical-based medicine is not only a scam and hoax it probably will destroy this planet and/or enslave/brain-wash everyone to dance to the corporate mantra:
PROFITS before PEOPLE.
drugs do not heal; they mask symptoms.
I AM OUTRAGED.
what we call health care is really "disease" care, the managing and control of people via barbaric patented chemicals pushed by giant multi-national corporate drug-dealers. I could fix the health of this nation in two minutes.

1) remove the profit motive, and cut out the middle man. zap, no more insurance companies.

2) SINGLE PAYER HEALTH SYSTEM: you still have all your freedom of choice, but there is only one form and one bill at the end of the day.
this is what the majority of people in this country have wanted for 30 years but the insurance/pharma/disease care industry has stopped it from happening, and their lackeys in the corporate media have every incentive to keep the status quo alive.

3) MASSIVE propagandha/information campaign about consumption of green leafy vegetables, fresh water, superfoods, i.e. spirulina/chlorella/et al., supplementation of vitamin D, and vigorous exercise, especially geared toward young children, and soon to be mothers. zing, i just cut cancer rates by 80% and made our young children in schools 10 times more competitive in the global marketplace.

the sad thing is that we could achieve all of this for about 10% of the cost of what the Obama administration is proposing. The problem is that these solutions are cheap, readily available, and you can't really make money off of them therefore they lack the "political will"...translation: the majority of the population wants it, but the entrenched moneyed interests do not. Not only would we be healthier but the economy would be fixed because we would actually have the brain power (via nutrition) to choose the right solutions.

nutrition is the only answer. when you want to get serious about taking responsibility of your own health and well-being instead of leaving it up to doctors and corporations that have no interest in healing you but only making a profit go to www.naturalnews.com.
educate thyself
heal thyself

let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.

peace,
derek

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» RE: THANK YOU!!! Posted by: HANGTRAITORS
» RE: THANK YOU!!! Posted by: gildersleeve
» RE: THANK YOU!!! Posted by: Shey
We have not hear ONE WORD about negotiating drug prices downward for medicare. . .
Posted by: bootskid on Mar 7, 2009 12:45 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Perhaps, the administration has in mind to tackle that issue together with-everything-else under the heading of "Healthcare Reform."

This was certainly a hot topic a couple of years ago, something 'Dumbass Dubya' wouldn't touch of course. . . "Free Markets ya know!"

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» RE: "Healthcare Reform." Posted by: Sister_Lauren
gimmie shelter
Posted by: gimmie shelter on Mar 7, 2009 1:40 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
We as a people need a better government not the crap we have now and it does not matter what party they steal for. Just stop buying their products if you can and try any alternatives that are out there. We can turn this ship if we work together.

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» RE: gimmie shelter Posted by: Shey
» RE: gimmie shelter Posted by: gimmie shelter
» RE: gimmie shelter Posted by: gimmie shelter
And these are...
Posted by: bobtr900 on Mar 7, 2009 11:41 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...the Pro-life and Family Values people that are doing this, wow!!!!!!!

That never fails to amaze me, and on a daily basis. They go all crazy and worry about the fetus, and all the while they are killing the living. But I guess they get forgiveness and all is okay because they worry about/fight for the life of the fetus. Will this insanity never end!!!!!

The Catholic Church, my religion, is absolutely crazy to support these people, and yet, it does, and does so staunchly, stalwartly and endlessly, since the days of St. Reagan. That's why there are so many authoritarian Repub Catholics on the SCOTUS. Catholics are, very often authoritarian personality types, having been reared in the Catholic Church school system. In the entire history of the SCOTUS there have only been 12 Catholics on the SCOTUS out of 110 total justices. That includes the five who are on thee now, all at the same time. Bush and the Rethugs know that Catholics will very often support authority figures in their judicial rulings. These include authorities/authority figures like Eli Lilly, the prez, veep, and other lawful figures, etc.

The Pope is out of his mind, supporting these Repub killers for corporate profits. No wonder the Church is losing parishoners every day, especially as the elders, like my parents, die off and the young just drift away. They drift away when they see what is going on.

No wonder nuns and priests are leaving in record numbers. No wonder the Church can't find priests to even man the parishes and have to close them and combine them. The parish where my parents(in their 90's) attend Sunday Mass has 1/2 of a priest, sharing him with another parish some twenty miles away.

When the priest asked me why I did not attend Mass I told him I was not a Republican and did not agree with killing Iraqis for oil company profits. He got a pained look on his face, said nothing more, but continued to verbally chastise my parents for speaking a bit too loudly in church. They have hearing problems.

Oh well. Life goes on and the Church falls further by the wayside, and it wonders why. But you can't tell these priests anything. The Pope talks to God and God talks to the Pope and the Pope tells the priests exactly what to do and think, and that's all they care about, think about or know. And the Bishops are even worse. And the further you go up the ladder the worse they are. The Cardinals and the Pope are totally out of touch.

Cheeesh.

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What's New Pussycat?
Posted by: 2dogarage on Mar 7, 2009 3:09 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The pharmaceutical companies have been involved in the wholesale deterioration of the health of the populace for a long, long time.

Chemotherapy and radiation as treatments for cancer belong to the Dark Ages.

Medicating toddlers and old people to the point of addiction is an abhorrent crime.

Why, oh why do we have to have permission to diagnose and treat our own conditions?

And yet the BigPharma cabal remains strong.

Cast off these agents of biological destruction at your earliest convenience!They DO NOT have your best interests at heart!

Marketing dangerous drugs to the public are all they know.

Wake the fuck up everyone, the AMA is your enemy!

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Most or all Pharmaceuticals should be shut down
Posted by: dayahka on Mar 7, 2009 4:16 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Where you have a model of medicine that conceives of the patient as a machine and the doctor as a mechanic and drugs as tools plus a model of economics based on greed, profit, and no regulation or social concern, there you have the entire US-led pharmaceutical industry, and industry that should be shut down, closed, and most of its management levels put in jail; some should even be executed--or forced to take their own drugs. What you describe about Lilly could be repeated a thousand times for most, if not all, pharmaceuticals. But we also have the pushers, the doctors, who seek not to heal or prevent, but to intrude and profit from real or imagined illnesses or inconveniences. The entire medical profession should also be subject to prosecution and incarceration.

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Steps to take, in healthcare and beyond
Posted by: andyc on Mar 7, 2009 4:16 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
1. Get yourselves a comprehensive, single-payer, not-for-profit healthcare system for prescription and delivery of all care except nonessential/elective. That way, medication and treatment decisions are detached from the profit motive of Big Pharma.

2. Rewrite the prime directives of Corporate Law generally. While companies are required to maximise profites and shareholder dividends to the exclusion of all else, they are legally compelled to behave in a toxic fashion. Those things matter, but only after they have satisfied prescribed minimum requirements of care to their employees, customers, and neighbors. Which need enlarging on where they are at the moment.

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Indict Leftists responsible for the DDT ban on charges of murder.
Posted by: EagleX on Mar 7, 2009 4:25 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If we are discussing negligence, lets talk about the negligent homicide of tens of millions of innocents in Africa.

Note that the Leftwing ban on DDT resulted in the death of tens of millions of innocent Africans.

Most of these deaths were innocent young people.

The Left's hypocritical and callous brand of self-aggrandizing "humanitarianism" is responsible for the murder of these innocents.

Identify the culprits and bring them before a grand jury for questioning.

Leftist ideologues who actively contributed to legislation that banned life saving DDT must be brought to justice!!!

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» Stupid much? n/t Posted by: kimberlydeann
» EagleX, if you really cared: Posted by: stellabloo
A "corporate death penalty" is a joke for an already dead thing
Posted by: PaulK on Mar 7, 2009 4:39 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Dracula walks around with a stake in his heart. "What? This? I'll have it sawed off at the skin line later tonight." Maybe we need to redefine the meaning of a "corporate death penalty".

First, change the bankruptcy laws. If a company is too big to fail then it's too big to play by the normal rules. All huge companies, whether they are banks, insurers or General Motors, must have reserves against bankruptcy or they can't do business. A large company without reserves suffers the same fate as a bank without reserves. It's sold off.

Now, companies can lose big when they get sued. Making a huge Vegas-style gamble at taxpayer's expense won't work anymore. Companies can also be sold off before they are completely bankrupt.

Second, amend the "limited liability" laws. If you help to commit manslaughter, your debt to the people of the US does not stop at the amount that you invested in a company. If you're a crook, the government can come after you for your personal house and your 401k. If the crime is bad enough, jail is needed. This would apply to crooked executives and also to major stockholders.

Corporations wanted to be people, just like real people and Pinocchio. OK, when they have a nose problem, put some teeth in the law for these "people".

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gimmie shelter
Posted by: gimmie shelter on Mar 7, 2009 5:53 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
When the AMA first began to take power there were over 400 medical schools but because the AMA required all teaching facilities to stop instructing in Eastern Medicines or risk not being accredited, so we were left with fewer than 80. They had no room for herbal remedies that were around for thousands of years but they did have room for sharing in the profits from the emerging drug companies. My numbers may be off but you get the picture.
Is there any place in our society that will actually do or has done the right thing and not just the profitable thing. Every where I look I see criminals in a positions of power.

We need to change the way things get done in this country if our children are to have a fraction of what we had during our life time which include our rights as citizens. Maybe it's cheaper to test drugs on us than on monkeys not to mention that if we survive we can explain how it made us feel, then if all works out OK the rich and powerful can start to take them. But only then.

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» RE: gimmie shelter Posted by: gimmie shelter
abusedbypenguins
Posted by: abusedbypenguins on Mar 7, 2009 6:46 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
In 10 days the Irish will be celebrating St. Pats Day. The day all of the snakes were driven out of Ireland. Those nasty, poisonous snakes had a hard time swimming but they made it to New York where they became bankers, stock brokers and corporate ceo's. Anybody feel bad about snuffing out nasty, poisonous snakes? I didn't think so.

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"I Hope...
Posted by: jvaljon1 on Mar 7, 2009 9:44 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...we shall Crush in its birth the Aristocracy of our Moneyed Corporations, which Dare already to Challenge our Government to a Trial of Strength, and bid Defiance to the Laws of our Country."


---Thomas Jefferson, President (1801-1809) of The United States Of America

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Lilly strongarmed Canada in 02
Posted by: batteredup on Mar 7, 2009 9:59 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If you recall the incident around 5-6 years ago when seniors were going to Canada by the busloads for cheaper meds. Corporate whoreman Bush told them to stop because the pharmaceuticals in Canada didn't meet our purity standards; but the seniors kept going. Then E-Lie Lilly munster threatened Canada with higher prices if they continued to sell to Americans crossing the border, because we pay a higher price for the same meds the Canadians get, even though the dope is produced here. Eli is based in Indianapolis, or was 20 years ago when I lived there. Shortly thereafter gw bushit made the 'promise" in his state of the union speech - and those were his words, promise - to push through the new Medicare part A,B,C,D and whatever donut hole nonsense to screw seniors with, reducing coverage and necessitating added supplemental insurance. A couple years back I listened to the health insurance man's sales pitch to my 82-year old stepmom on what coverage plans she needed to compliment her barely useful Medicare and it was so complicated my head swam. It's nothing short of cruel what seniors have to go through to get the health care they (and all of us) so deserve.
This country really does blow in so many ways.

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WorstPills.org
Posted by: Perry Logan on Mar 8, 2009 3:50 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Check out this 2005 interview with Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, on Democracy Now:
Wolfe interview.

Under Bush II, the FDA went totally down the tubes, just like every other branch of the government. The FDA once served the public interest to at least a slight extent.

But, after eight years of Repubs, the FDA is as dangerous as the drug companies themselves.

Dr. Wolfe recommends you avoid virtually all newly-approved drugs, for the simple reason that the FDA isn't checking them out and they might kill you. Under the aegis of Public Citizen, he has a website which gives you the information the FDA has stopped giving you:
WorstPills.org.

So it turns out greed doesn't work very well at all. Getting the FDA back to doing its job is just another item on President Obama's long list.


Avant-garde clip called The Great Republican Depression

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Thoreau
Posted by: kafka, f on Mar 8, 2009 7:03 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Quid pro quo, KPMG, tax shelters, audits of DOJ and unemployment. U-6 unemployment is 15% yet KPMG remains employed by many of its clients including the DOJ. Word on the street is KPMG’s revenues are down at least $300 million which seems low given the number of failed financial institutions KPMG audits whose financial statements were riddled with tax fraud (at least according to Mike Hamersley) and accounting fraud (which apparently only the markets could figure out, right Citi). When are the massive layoffs at KPMG going to start as apparently accounting fraud is out of vogue? Word on the street is KPMG not only audits a disproportionate amount of Insurance companies engaging in accounting fraud and tax fraud but KPMG’s own purported Bermudian fraudulent Captive insurance company, Park, was engaging in accounting and massive tax fraud. How can this be? KPMG as part of its deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ was given the audit of the DOJ, perhaps, a quid pro quo for KPMG agreeing to throw several of its tax partners under the bus and destroying theirs’ and their families lives, pay a large fine, be monitored by a fellow who used to work for the government as head of the SEC, Breeden (millions in fees earned by a former government official (more quid pro quo)); a deal struck by Flynn, Loonan, Bennett, Taft and Holmes. Which partners will KPMG throw under the bus next to help in avoiding indictment by the DOJ for the massive $100s of Billions in accounting fraud KPMG assisted their financial clients in purveying against the public and the markets. Is it possible the KPMG partners believe that since KPMG audits the DOJ the massive accounting fraud they purveyed will be allowed? Are the DOJ accounting statements riddled with fraud like most of KPMG’s clients? If I were a KPMG partner I would not count on it judging by what the U.S. Government did to Sadam once a good friend of the U.S., is the same type of devastation and destruction coming to KPMG? Word on the street is KPMG through its captive insurance company, Park, not only defrauded its partners (and the KPMG Board of Directors) by kiting current legal claims into insurance liabilities with the help of none other than AIG but committed massive tax fraud itself with the approval of KPMG’s internal legal counsel Loonan and Taft . In fact, the world renowned whistleblower Mike Hamersley testified to the Senate and DOJ, that the type of “tax structuring” KPMG’s captive insurance company entered into (and many of KPMG’s clients) was in fact, tax fraud. And believe me, Hamersley claims he knows tax fraud when he sees it since while at KPMG he purveyed much of this type of tax fraud for his clients, the very same tax fraud he decried to the Senate and DOJ about while destroying the lives of many families, the emails are there for the world to see yet no one looks, why? Does KPMG believe it and its partners are immune from prosecution for continued and massive accounting and tax fraud because of the “deal” it struck to audit the DOJ? If the U.S. government’s behavior in the past towards its presumed friends, KPMG should not count on it and if you are a partner at KPMG that purveyed accounting and tax fraud (at least according to Hamersley), you can only expect to be thrown under the bus for a life of ass raping just like KPMG, Flynn, Loonan, Bennett, Taft and Holmes did to its tax partners (over rather trivial sums compared to the massive financial fraud presently destroying this country). Of course there may be hope since Hamersley a tax fraudster by his own definition has a high level government job destroying lives over the very same type of tax fraud he used to commit not withstanding the fact the government knows he committed tax fraud (based on Hamersley’s own emails), Quid pro quo?

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Once again...
Posted by: bobtr900 on Mar 8, 2009 9:16 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...It's all about greed, the Republican Party and as usual, the endlessly greedy Bush family of never ending crime and absolutely no character or human values.

And equally astonishing is the fact that the Religious Right is always supporting the Bush family and other people just like them. The Pope, my religion, ought to have his head examined for being aligned with these criminals and depraved corrupters of our society and which has now spread throughout the world society.

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Let's Get Practical and Realistic
Posted by: iris89 on Mar 8, 2009 1:45 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
WRONG, obviously the writer against the E.I. Lilly Co. did not seriously think through what he was recommending.

FIRST, As a practical matter the dissolution of a large company, let alone a multi-national one world create almost unimaginable problems. This was clearly shown with the case of Enron Corp. whose problems have not all been sorted out until today.

SECOND, One must consider the jobs of thousands of workers that could be put in jeopardy.

THIRD, One must consider the stock and bond holders, and in addition the overall economic impact on the economy – both local and national.

FOURTH, Such an attempt would result in legal battles that might not even be resolved in this century.

FIFTH, such a company would undoubtedly just re-incorporate in another jurisdiction such as the Bahamas or the channel islands resulting in a major tax loss to both the present local jurisdiction and the national.

SIXTH, Most of its subsidiaries, especially international, are set up as separate corporations with the ‘mother’ corporation basically being a holding corporation. This is the case with one company I recently investigated – General Electric (USA).

SEVENTH, All this would be only causing problems for the innocent – workers, bond holders, and stockholders; not the guilty individuals who are the ones who should be punished. Best, holding managers individually responsible for their actions – criminally.

Also, their actions – the managers – only caused a few deaths, not thousands. As a practical matter, entities willfully causing thousands of deaths would be quite a different matter. I have written an article on such an entity that should be dissolved in the interest of world peace – the payback would be millions of lives saved and/or improved.

Here is, in brief, what my article is about and where it can be read in its entirety:

Wars should be eliminated and at present one religion is responsible for over 90% of the violence on earth as pointed out by an Australian newspaper as follows:

"Did you know that 90-95% of the conflicts in the world today are Muslims fighting non-muslims or each other? " [source - The Weekend Australian, November 26-27, 2005 AD]"

I am getting very tired of hearing Palestinians and other Ishmaelite crying crocodile tears and always trying to put the blame for what they do on others such as their conspiracy weavers tried to do about who did 9/11/2001 attack on the World Trade Center, etc. Screaming against what they call wrongful occupations when they are guilty of occupying Byzantine territory, Palestine which belongs to the Israelites [see Numbers the 34 th. Chapter in any Bible for proof of this, and their outright greed as they have over 98% of the Middle East, but still greedly want the less than 2% belonging to their sister tribe Israel] - its time we get real and put an end to this so the world can stop experiencing continuous Ishmaelite induced strife such as shooting rockets at Israel.

Solution, dissolve this false religion and rid the earth of at least 90% of the violence. But of course the politicians will not do what is needed since as Jeremiah 10:23 says, "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Authorized King James Bible; AV). To read detailed information, go to the following article:

[go to] When Should A Religion Be Dissolved In The Interest Of World Peace?

Which can be found at,

http://religioustruths.proboards59.com/

An Educational Referral Forum under the sub-heading, ' ISLAM THE SOURCE OF MOST VIOLENCE

Along with many other useful articles.

I challenge anyone to prove me in error on any facts.

Iris89

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» Challenge Accepted Posted by: 2dogarage
» RE: Challenge Accepted Posted by: iris89
» Part Two Posted by: iris89
» RE: Don't tell me.... Posted by: Longdream
» RE: Don't tell me.... Posted by: iris89
» RE: Don't tell me.... Posted by: Longdream
» RE: Don't tell me.... Posted by: iris89
» RE: Don't tell me.... Posted by: Longdream
» RE: Don't tell me.... Posted by: iris89
gimmie shelter
Posted by: gimmie shelter on Mar 8, 2009 5:32 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Irish 89 while your argument may be very intelligent your conclusion that they should survive at all cost is flawed. Let them go under from their own indifferent and miscalculating greed. Our society should have no place for the murder of innocents simply because they employ people. When they are eliminated another more human friendly company will come along to replace them and all will be well again for at least a while. You really need a reality check along with those in the financial sector, but keep working on it, you should be smart enough to rise above the talking points.

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bill
Posted by: mycuz on Mar 9, 2009 8:16 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Where is information about the FDA's complicity in all this off label use? Check out neurontin and off label use

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Just Say No!
Posted by: MaggieS on Mar 9, 2009 11:47 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Remember that campaign that showed up all over the TV, bus ads and everywhere else you looked?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that all those ads disappeared around the time Big Pharma was first allowed to market directly to the public.

Instead of the movie of the week, we now have the disease of the week.

Now, it's "JUST SAY YES!"

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Seems like the devils weed is the only safe medication left.
Posted by: Johnism on Mar 9, 2009 2:41 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I used to work for a health care company that sold Medicare Supplements. I was appalled when seniors signing up for coverage would bring out shoeboxes full of medications from big phama. Most told me that they only needed a few of the medications for their issue, but each pill caused a bad side effect that needed an additional pill to balance it out. The majority of seniors averaged about 6-8 prescriptions. I would say about 10% were on 10-15 different scripts with a few on 20 or more.

How can you ever be truly healthy when you are taking a daily pill buffet???

I’ve never understood why the argument for legalizing marijuana is never framed by comparing marijuana to legal drugs? Legal drugs kill people everyday. Where is the commercial for legalizing marijuana and comparing it to legal drugs on the market?

Prozac side effects: Insomnia, weakness, and loss of appetite are among the most common side effects reported with Prozac. Some of the side effects that are rare (seen in less than 1 percent of patients) include canker sores, high cholesterol, and acne. If you develop any serious problems, such as suicidal thoughts or behavior, hallucinations, or panic attacks, notify your healthcare provider immediately. **These are real side effects found from a medical website

Marijuana side effects: Users may have dry (cotton) mouth, and increased appetite. In some cases users may become paranoid (but only because it is illegal and afraid the po-po is outside). In some rare cases users have complained of habitual tardiness (because they are driving 10 miles below the speed limit.) Users reported increased mood due to movies being a lot funnier than they actually are.

Perscription drugs kill and Big Pharma knows but doesn’t care. Big Pharma is drug dealer with impunity sending out its Pharma Reps (Drug Pushers).

We need to change the argument and start comparing a natural drug that grows from the earth to these prescription pills made the same way as Cocain or Meth, in a lab by people looking to get rich.

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gimmie shelter
Posted by: gimmie shelter on Mar 9, 2009 3:09 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I originally wrote this in response to what someone had said but I think now it should be out front for all to read.

Listen they are not worried about the idea that pot makes things clear in the minds of those who smoke it........now pay attention.........the problem is that if pot were legal just about everyone in the country would be able to grow it and not have to spend money on some of their drugs. And if allowed to grow Pot it would be used for more than just replacing expensive pharmaceutic drugs it would also replace to a certain extent expensive booze. They just want to force you have to buy from them and not be able to do anything for yourselves which is what you could do if on the other hand pot were legal.

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If you really want to kill Big Pharma...
Posted by: Livemike on Mar 9, 2009 11:53 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
kill the FDA and all requirements for testing. Simply make it a rule you have to have insurance against negligence claims if you sell a drug. That way if you harm someone you pay, and people who actually have the power to find out the facts (and the motive) will be in charge of monitoring. If your drug is risky or risky in a particular use the insurance companies will have to charge you more to insure it. Since the barrier to entry will be lower there will be more consumer choice and drugs will get to the public faster, saving lives. Since Big Pharma really make their money on excluding others from the market they'll die.

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Kill Big Pharma
Posted by: MaggieS on Mar 10, 2009 10:03 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Making them pay doesn't work. What are a few million dollars in lawsuits & payoffs in light of multi-billion dollar profits? You know that when they release a drug, they've got that particular expense all figured into the budget. It's a slap on the wrist, business as usual.

No, the only real way to put them out of business is to stop production.

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gimmie shelter
Posted by: gimmie shelter on Mar 10, 2009 12:46 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I don't smoke pot but with all the mess going on in our country caused by criminals with unbelievable greed, I'm thinking of starting.

I just do not know if I could possibly smoke enough to make myself forget what all these bastards with their greed and indifference have done to our once great nation and it's people.

From toy manufactures(with lead), pet food manufactures(with melamine), peanuts and salads(with salmonella), Wall Street(with credit default swaps), Drug Corporations(which kill rather than heal), FDA(federal drug asswipes), Big Media(speaking a lot but telling us nothing), and the list goes on and on...

Does anyone but me feel like it is open season on our environment, on our nation's animals and on the less privileged citizens(which is 95 percent of us), and not necessarily in that order.

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gimmie shelter
Posted by: gimmie shelter on Mar 10, 2009 1:10 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Question: When should we buy Lilly stocks, and for that matter any stocks?

Answer: When stocks are cheaper to buy then wall paper from Home Depot and only if they are in the size and color you need.

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» RE: gimmie shelter Posted by: Longdream
» Pharmaceutical stocks Posted by: MaggieS
The War on Drugs?
Posted by: Mahjee on Mar 10, 2009 4:54 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The most successful Dealers always the best protection.

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Down with Satans pharmacist
Posted by: sugartank96 on Mar 12, 2009 12:31 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I was lucky enough to have two seizures after trying to get off of cymbalta (unfortunatly not the cool i look like "Elaine" dancing ones; i would of had some one video tape that!), when i have never had any history of them. I was also never depressed either (was on for managing fibromyalgia pain an off market use) and while going through the withdrawl i swear i cried for two days striaght and had have extreame depressive thoughts and even feeling of paranoia. I'm on day 14 of discontunation of this sh*tty drug and still dont feel any where near %100.

I do not condone terrorism, but i would be lying if i said i havent thought about blowing up Eli Lilly corp with in the last two weeks!

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» RE: Down with Satans pharmacist Posted by: gimmie shelter
» RE: Down with Satans pharmacist Posted by: Longdream
Dr. Lloyd Ross
Posted by: Dr. Lloyd Ross on Mar 13, 2009 6:18 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Great article Bruce. When Jim Gottstein broke the story of the Zyprexa coverup, I sent letters to every State attorney gerneral in the nation asking them to do two things: (1) to charge the CEO with criminally negligent homicide; and (2) to charge the company, Eli Lilly with Medicade fraud. Unfortunately, none of the attorney generals acted on the criminal charges but 23 states did sue the company for medicade fraud. I agree with you that the pharmaceutical company duplicity and fraud will only stop when one of their CEOs winds up in jail, hopefully sharing a cell with a dude named Bubba.

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Elli Lilly Crimes against humanity?
Posted by: sandy55 on Mar 19, 2009 4:35 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I first read this article on a support site for antidepressant withdrawal. paxilprogress.org

http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/showthread.php?t=40948

As one person going thru horrible withdrawal from effexor I know for a fact drug companies lie about their drugs and so do many others on this forum.

Elli Lilly produced the first antidepressant and there are books to read about if for any interested the porzac backlash comes to mind. This drug opened the door for so much sufferring and many other antidepressants. Which are also know for severe reactions which cause homicide suicide self mutilations has been a huge part of many mass murders including several school shooting. Here too there have been court cases deeming prozac responsible which also opened the door for a peek into the coruption of how big pharma works.
Money is the bottom line they got it and can buy anything they want politicians the fda our kids lives and even ours.

The bottom line for me is this don't take their pills.

I know they will get me some day when I am old and in a home unless they are stopped now but I doubt they will be so until I get to that age I am not taking any more pills and telling everyone that will listen to not trust them as they have proved countless times they are not worthy of trust.

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PULL THEIR CHARTERS!
Posted by: Koondog on Mar 22, 2009 10:44 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This could be the new populist battle cry of the American people. And judging from this article,
it should be. How about starting with AIG?

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