Raging Hypocrisy
I’m fixing to tell you a story that leaks hypocrisy juice all over America’s doorstep if you squeeze it.
It starts with Teva Pharmaceuticals, an Israeli company that is the largest maker of generic drugs in the whole damn world.
Lookie here, right here in the good ole USA.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Tea) and its wholly-owned Russian subsidiary, Teva LLC (Teva Russia), agreed to resolve criminal charges and to pay a criminal penalty of more than $283 million in connection with schemes involving the bribery of government officials in Russia, Ukraine and Mexico in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
“Teva and its subsidiaries paid millions of dollars in bribes to government officials in various countries, and intentionally failed to implement a system of internal controls that would prevent bribery,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. “Companies that compete fairly, ethically and honestly deserve a level playing field, and we will continue to prosecute those who undermine that goal.”
Oh yeah, rah-rah America. We have laws against bribery. You can’t bribe our lawmakers.
Well, unless you call it a “campaign contribution” or a “Super-PAC donation.” Then you are in bribery heaven playing a harp with Captain Kidd and Blackbeard.
Take a look at $27,000 in those bribes donations from Teva in one month. By the way, Alamo PAC is John Cornyn’s PAC.
It just hasn’t been a good month for Teva. Earlier this month….
A wide-ranging investigation into generic drug prices took its most significant turn yet on Thursday, as state attorneys general accused two industry leaders, Teva Pharmaceuticals and Mylan, and four smaller companies of engaging in brazen price-fixing schemes — and promised that more charges were coming.
I’m not saying that only 20 states joined in because “campaign contributions” are expected to the other 30, but oh hell, I might as well say that.
And this wasn’t little drug price increases either.
One form of doxycycline, for example, went from an average market price of $20 for a bottle of 500 pills in October 2013 to an average market price of $1,849 in April 2014, according to a congressional report.
Oh Teva, we shall slap your wrist while taking a campaign contribution from your hand.
Thanks to Alfredo over at the Dairy Queen for the heads up.
Big Pharma= Big business= Crooks.
1This is why the Rethugs want to eliminate so many regulations restricting their greed. They will thrive under Trump, the Big Crook-in-Charge.
Honestly, how do #TFP live with themselves?
2Another fine piece of journalism by JJ. Greed knows no bounds. Unfortunately, many criticisms but the end result is the same.
3It’s true, campaign contributions are simply bribes in better clothing, but they are bribes.
That’s the place to begin cleaning up government. No campaign contributions. None, zero. Any “gifts” must be limited to $50 in value for no more than a total of $500 annually. Not $500 from each different giver. $500. No legislator, nor anyone in that legislator’s employ, may receive more than $500 annually in the fair value of gifts.
Wouldn’t that be nice?!
4My brain still tries to run away from the fact that it is illegal for the US government to negotiate lower drug prices. And guess who’s responsible for that? Congressthings with their hands out to the drug industry.
5Doxycycline is the first antibiotic prescribed when you (finally) test positive for Lyme disease. The patient is usually sick for years before testing positive and a lot of irreversible damage is done to brain, nerves, heart, etc. during those years.
6Doxy is also useful for treating the inevitable and repeating relapses from this INCURABLE infection.
So, this manic price increase jeopardizes the currently ill, and those who will become ill in the future. Lyme is the hidden epidemic that is responsible for a LOT of chronic illnesses. Lyme KILLS.
The corporate oligarchs are doing great at squeezing the last drop of blood from the non-rich. Trump will clear the decks for the last salvo of greed that destroys civil society.
I’m glad I’m old. This was an interesting phase of capitalism to see.
7Hey! Guess what! There were and I believe still are some politicians who have made it public policy not to accept campaign donations. One of them was the late John Glenn when he was in the Senate. And he recently went to heaven. God speed, John Glenn!
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