China’s execution of former head of SFDA
Alan E. Moses
July 10, 2007
What a novel idea. I guess that allowing people to be injured or killed by granting drug companies and those in the food industry free reign through bribery and false studies is dealt with a little differently in China. In the United States Zheng Xiaoyu would have landed a job in the pharmaceutical industry after his dismissal from government. Zheng headed the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) from 1998 to 2005.
The Chinese government has been dealing with many of the same issues as other countries throughout the world. Medicines that in fact kill or injure and foods that hit the market despite safety concerns are the norm. Zheng pretty much did business as usual in the U.S. but this obviously will not work in China. Our system has long run with gifts and monetary incentives to okay medicines for use. Studies are not independently checked and many have been found to be false.
We are dealing with this tragic practice as the numbers of those that suffer from chronic illnesses of unknown origin is the modern day equivalent to the plague. Millions suffer and yet nothing is done as most claims of drug or chemical causation is denied. Industry is allowed to regulate itself as government and industry ties are so strong. Many department heads bounce between government positions and industry jobs.
Politicians rely on industry power and money to gain political seats and influence. The doors swing both ways and the people suffer from this industry control. Zheng was only doing what many of his counterparts in the west have done for years. He paid the ultimate price as his execution gave notice to other Chinese administrators that although some capitalism is good the back door deals that are normal in the west will not be tolerated.
The Chinese Communist Party has learned how to bend but not allow itself to break. They are just beginning to learn what this venture into capitalism is all about. They have found that it takes time to understand and deal with all of the problems associated with this great economic boom. Corruption is wide spread and pollution is becoming an ever increasing problem. The billions of dollars pouring in blurred their vision for a moment and they have just begun to open their eyes to the pitfalls.
One issue realized is that China is beginning to see health problems not seen before as chronic illness is becoming more common. This should give Americans a clue as to the causes of our own illnesses. As the use of chemicals, pharmaceutical drugs and pollution increases in China so do reports of cancers and the many chronic illnesses that we deal with. The explosion causes the mountain to crumble and this is the perfect example as to modern life becoming unhealthy for all human beings.
The question remains is whether the Chinese put the breaks on and start to adjust economic policy to relieve their peoples health woes. This execution may be the starting point as they begin to look at the true costs of economic expansion. I certainly don’t recommend executing anyone however allowing people to die from bad drugs and chemicals that can kill or injure is a crime.
If you have a car accident and are at fault and someone dies you are charged with manslaughter or murder. But in the United States if you produce a drug or use a chemical that causes death or injury the worst case scenario is that you are sued. You can continue to run your business or continue in your government position as it may take a life time before action is taken. This seems to allow the criminal to continue his/her crime spree. Chances are that government will intercede on your behave and protect you from those killed or injured. Only if you are a corporation that is deemed vital to the economy however.
As is widely known “money is the root of all evil” yet money runs our nation and maybe we need to look at why? Is the health of almost half of your population worth the price? Do the children that suffer from anything from ASD too Leukemia even cross your mind? Can we be truthful and start to clean this problem up? Your greatness is only evident in how we treat our weakest links. We claim to be above the animals yet some of them will protect their youngest and weakest at their own peril.
Time has come to look at these developing nations as they are showing us the down side of moving too quickly without understanding the end results. We failed to pay attention while we were striving to achieve prosperity ourselves. But now we have a second chance to really see the mistakes made as with all of our history it is only understood when you look back upon it. It has begun to repeat itself and so we have no excuses anymore. The answers are being played out right in front of our own eyes.
The Chinese government has been dealing with many of the same issues as other countries throughout the world. Medicines that in fact kill or injure and foods that hit the market despite safety concerns are the norm. Zheng pretty much did business as usual in the U.S. but this obviously will not work in China. Our system has long run with gifts and monetary incentives to okay medicines for use. Studies are not independently checked and many have been found to be false.
We are dealing with this tragic practice as the numbers of those that suffer from chronic illnesses of unknown origin is the modern day equivalent to the plague. Millions suffer and yet nothing is done as most claims of drug or chemical causation is denied. Industry is allowed to regulate itself as government and industry ties are so strong. Many department heads bounce between government positions and industry jobs.
Politicians rely on industry power and money to gain political seats and influence. The doors swing both ways and the people suffer from this industry control. Zheng was only doing what many of his counterparts in the west have done for years. He paid the ultimate price as his execution gave notice to other Chinese administrators that although some capitalism is good the back door deals that are normal in the west will not be tolerated.
The Chinese Communist Party has learned how to bend but not allow itself to break. They are just beginning to learn what this venture into capitalism is all about. They have found that it takes time to understand and deal with all of the problems associated with this great economic boom. Corruption is wide spread and pollution is becoming an ever increasing problem. The billions of dollars pouring in blurred their vision for a moment and they have just begun to open their eyes to the pitfalls.
One issue realized is that China is beginning to see health problems not seen before as chronic illness is becoming more common. This should give Americans a clue as to the causes of our own illnesses. As the use of chemicals, pharmaceutical drugs and pollution increases in China so do reports of cancers and the many chronic illnesses that we deal with. The explosion causes the mountain to crumble and this is the perfect example as to modern life becoming unhealthy for all human beings.
The question remains is whether the Chinese put the breaks on and start to adjust economic policy to relieve their peoples health woes. This execution may be the starting point as they begin to look at the true costs of economic expansion. I certainly don’t recommend executing anyone however allowing people to die from bad drugs and chemicals that can kill or injure is a crime.
If you have a car accident and are at fault and someone dies you are charged with manslaughter or murder. But in the United States if you produce a drug or use a chemical that causes death or injury the worst case scenario is that you are sued. You can continue to run your business or continue in your government position as it may take a life time before action is taken. This seems to allow the criminal to continue his/her crime spree. Chances are that government will intercede on your behave and protect you from those killed or injured. Only if you are a corporation that is deemed vital to the economy however.
As is widely known “money is the root of all evil” yet money runs our nation and maybe we need to look at why? Is the health of almost half of your population worth the price? Do the children that suffer from anything from ASD too Leukemia even cross your mind? Can we be truthful and start to clean this problem up? Your greatness is only evident in how we treat our weakest links. We claim to be above the animals yet some of them will protect their youngest and weakest at their own peril.
Time has come to look at these developing nations as they are showing us the down side of moving too quickly without understanding the end results. We failed to pay attention while we were striving to achieve prosperity ourselves. But now we have a second chance to really see the mistakes made as with all of our history it is only understood when you look back upon it. It has begun to repeat itself and so we have no excuses anymore. The answers are being played out right in front of our own eyes.
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