Flemco- wrote:
>
> Dear List Members,
>
> I think it is important we address the issue of private industry vs.
> government funded research. I still stick by original question: when has the government ever cured anything?
>
> Some have said the government must take on research responsibilities because private industry can not be trusted to pursue it. Because private industry could not be trusted to develop a cure that would put them out of the business of selling drugs, the government must intervene.
>
> Did anybody explain this logic to Jonas Salk? According to Encarta at the height of the polio epidemic in 1952 there were 50,000+ cases
> annually(sounds like PD) in a population base probably half today's numbers.> He and Sabin did not become millionaires by curing 50,000 people. They effectively eliminated the disease.
******************
Dear Larry:
I do not want to pursue this subject any longer except to state that
Jonas Salk was in the army medical research labs in NJ and then academia
when he developed the vaccine, and so on for much similar basic research
resulting from government work or support. Industry commercialized the
vaccines for extravagant monetary profits, and normally charges whatever
traffic will bear (e.g. Viagra).
He that keeps political blinders on will be nigh impossible to convince
with facts.
But I hope you are right and industry will come through, but I will not
hold my breath till then.
Michel Margosis
