A call to more heavily regulate the supplement industry

jonnythan

Agreed, the last thing we need is MORE government intrusion. How many drugs has the FDA approved that kill people? How many ecoli outbreaks do we get? Does the FDA actually do anything other than add to the price of consumer goods?

Down with the FDA, down with big brother and all his alphabet agencies, including the NSA who is reading this post.

Rigger

And those are just the drugs the FDA approved.

What if there were no FDA and the pharmaceutical companies could introduce and market whatever they wanted?

No doubt the death rate would go down. Wait, what?

You're implying that it's in a companies best interest to kill it's customers? In what world does that make sense? You're right though, government never fails. I'm going to take this opportunity to call for more government regulation with regard to the way people wipe their @$$. I think we need government agents stationed at every bathroom to ensure that people wash their hands. Can I have your support?

Rigger

Rigger

I'm implying it's in the companies' best interest to sell drugs.

"The FDA is a terrible gatekeeper because sometimes they approve drugs that end up being harmful" is not an argument for "abolish the FDA entirely."

billsica

If they put labels on my supplements, I'll just get them from the Colombian supplement cartels.

LiminalAscendance

The FDA knowingly turns a blind eye to the various misrepresentations of supplement manufacturers, as long as their products aren't (knowingly) harmful.

Not too difficult to understand why, given the economic importance of the sales resulting from such complicity.

The FDA does not regulate dietary supplements at all, as it stands. So your point is moot.

And this decision was made because?

Picking apart details doesn't change the overarching rationale.

navyrigger46

So basically you're saying that you, and most other Americans need a babysitter?

Rigger

LiminalAscendance

So basically you're saying that you, and most other Americans need a babysitter?

Rigger

Yes, because the average American consumer doesn't have much sense, sadly.

BrianSharpe

Honestly, why do people *WANT* a nanny to tell them how to live their life? Are you admitting to being a dummy or just lazy or what?

Nobody wants a "nanny" but society at large needs to be protected from unscrupulous companies that would gladly sell products that are unsafe and/or ineffective. (not just big pharma either.......)

Pray tell, who do we call to protect society from unscrupulous government?

Rigger

An entirely different question and the TOS prohibit political threads in open fora.......

wheird

It is kind of funny, considering that I am a staunch Libertarian, but I do believe in the necessity of regulating medicines, supplements, and food. Testing whether a product is safe, contains what it says it does, and is not contaminated are not things that an average citizen can do through due diligence. Without these regulations, and if no independent lab has verified has tested them and publishec their results, they are at the mercy of the manufacturer.

royaldrea

Proven safety and efficacy are always good. At the same time, I admit to chafing against even MORE big government.

Maybe we should give Darwinism more of a chance? :bigsmile: I'm leaning towards that concept in the MFP threads as well.

Exactly this.

Because you would be the exception to the negatives, I'm assuming.

richardheath

So basically you're saying that you, and most other Americans need a babysitter?

Rigger

So what is the purpose of the Navy. if not to "babysit" the civilian population and keep us safe from harm?

The FDA does the same, only for food and drugs.



eta typo

navyrigger46

Agreed, the last thing we need is MORE government intrusion. How many drugs has the FDA approved that kill people? How many ecoli outbreaks do we get? Does the FDA actually do anything other than add to the price of consumer goods?

Down with the FDA, down with big brother and all his alphabet agencies, including the NSA who is reading this post.

Rigger

And those are just the drugs the FDA approved.

What if there were no FDA and the pharmaceutical companies could introduce and market whatever they wanted?

No doubt the death rate would go down. Wait, what?

You're implying that it's in a companies best interest to kill it's customers? In what world does that make sense? You're right though, government never fails. I'm going to take this opportunity to call for more government regulation with regard to the way people wipe their @$$. I think we need government agents stationed at every bathroom to ensure that people wash their hands. Can I have your support?

Rigger

Rigger

I'm implying it's in the companies' best interest to sell drugs.

"The FDA is a terrible gatekeeper because sometimes they approve drugs that end up being harmful" is not an argument for "abolish the FDA entirely."

That kind of makes my point, companies would have a hard time marketing their drugs to people they have already killed, or to people who have seen all the people they have killed. Companies have a vested interest in satisfying their customers, government doesn't. The solution is not, nor has it ever been more government.

Rigger

jwdieter

Gubmint is bad. Name one thing the gubmint does that people wouldn't choose to do without gubmint.

navyrigger46

So basically you're saying that you, and most other Americans need a babysitter?

Rigger

So what is the purpose of the Navy. if not to "babysit" the civilian population and keep us safe from harm?

The FDA does the same, only for food and drugs.



eta typo

Clearly you're ignorant about both.

Rigger

richardheath

So basically you're saying that you, and most other Americans need a babysitter?

Rigger

So what is the purpose of the Navy. if not to "babysit" the civilian population and keep us safe from harm?

The FDA does the same, only for food and drugs.



eta typo

Clearly you're ignorant about both.

Rigger

I'll see your empty statement and raise you a "nope". Your turn.

Or you could, you know, actually answer the question...

WendyTerry420

Honestly, why do people *WANT* a nanny to tell them how to live their life? Are you admitting to being a dummy or just lazy or what?

How do you really know that the supplement you are purchasing really contains what it says it contains? How do you know it is safe?

We like the FDA regulating our prescription drugs why dont we like them regulating supplements? Or at least some standards and methods to audit and monitor. We require many industries to have rigorous standards why should the supplemental industry be any different?

How do you know that the FDA is being honest? Vioxx, anyone? And again, no accountability. The government can lie, cheat, murder, steal with *no* repercussions.

WendyTerry420

My only comment: END THE FDA! DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER!

Go get a copy of "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair. Then you will be thankful we now have the FDA

I read it in high school. If there were accountability and honesty, I might feel safe in changing my opinion. But as it stands...

Does the FDA actually do anything other than add to the price of consumer goods?

^^ EXACTLY!

navyrigger46

So basically you're saying that you, and most other Americans need a babysitter?

Rigger

So what is the purpose of the Navy. if not to "babysit" the civilian population and keep us safe from harm?

The FDA does the same, only for food and drugs.



eta typo

Clearly you're ignorant about both.

Rigger

I'll see your empty statement and raise you a "nope". Your turn.

Or you could, you know, actually answer the question...

Okay, the FDA does not keep people safe, what it does do is raise the cost of consumer products, enhance revenue to the government and basically stands in the way of the free market. It also provides a crutch that Americans lean on so they don't have to do their due diligence.

The navy's stated purpose is the defense of the nation, and of it's shipping avenues. What it actually does is force projection, humanitarian aid, and a slew of other things that it shouldn't and are of no benefit to the American people.

So basically, they are both a waste of taxpayer money and of little benefit to the average citizen, and they both represent a huge blockade to liberty. Next.

Rigger

WendyTerry420

Honestly, why do people *WANT* a nanny to tell them how to live their life? Are you admitting to being a dummy or just lazy or what?

I am not in favor of overregulation.

I am, however, in favor of some entity ensuring the things we ingest are safe to ingest.

I am in favor of freedom and responsibility for your own body, your own health, your own choices.

wheird

In reference to due diligence...how does one go about doing their due diligence in regards to medicine, food, and supplements if they are unregulated?

WendyTerry420

Honestly, why do people *WANT* a nanny to tell them how to live their life? Are you admitting to being a dummy or just lazy or what?

so... you like it when you buy something based on what you *thought* it was, and then find out it's something different? If we required these supplements to fall under the same regulations as food and OTC drugs, I don't see how that would be a bad thing.

YES!!!!

I would *much* rather have the opportunity to hold a company accountable than paying for bureaucrats to steal from my pocketbook!

UsedToBeHusky

Wait...


I need to get out my tinfoil hat before I read any further.

WendyTerry420

Agreed, the last thing we need is MORE government intrusion. How many drugs has the FDA approved that kill people? How many ecoli outbreaks do we get? Does the FDA actually do anything other than add to the price of consumer goods?

Down with the FDA, down with big brother and all his alphabet agencies, including the NSA who is reading this post.

Rigger

And those are just the drugs the FDA approved.

What if there were no FDA and the pharmaceutical companies could introduce and market whatever they wanted?

No doubt the death rate would go down. Wait, what?

You're implying that it's in a companies best interest to kill it's customers? In what world does that make sense? You're right though, government never fails. I'm going to take this opportunity to call for more government regulation with regard to the way people wipe their @$$. I think we need government agents stationed at every bathroom to ensure that people wash their hands. Can I have your support?

Rigger

Rigger

Exactly! Killing people, making them sick, defrauding them, etc. are all ways to ruin your business. There's no profit in pissing off customers.

UsedToBeHusky

Agreed, the last thing we need is MORE government intrusion. How many drugs has the FDA approved that kill people? How many ecoli outbreaks do we get? Does the FDA actually do anything other than add to the price of consumer goods?

Down with the FDA, down with big brother and all his alphabet agencies, including the NSA who is reading this post.

Rigger

And those are just the drugs the FDA approved.

What if there were no FDA and the pharmaceutical companies could introduce and market whatever they wanted?

No doubt the death rate would go down. Wait, what?

You're implying that it's in a companies best interest to kill it's customers? In what world does that make sense? You're right though, government never fails. I'm going to take this opportunity to call for more government regulation with regard to the way people wipe their @$$. I think we need government agents stationed at every bathroom to ensure that people wash their hands. Can I have your support?

Rigger

Rigger

I'm implying it's in the companies' best interest to sell drugs.

"The FDA is a terrible gatekeeper because sometimes they approve drugs that end up being harmful" is not an argument for "abolish the FDA entirely."

Only the Sith deal in absolutes.

jwdieter

Exactly! Killing people, making them sick, defrauding them, etc. are all ways to ruin your business. There's no profit in pissing off customers.

How naive can you get? That's an insane statement.

WendyTerry420

So basically you're saying that you, and most other Americans need a babysitter?

Rigger

Yes, because the average American consumer doesn't have much sense, sadly.

Perhaps that's because they aren't allowed to be responsible?

UsedToBeHusky

Honestly, why do people *WANT* a nanny to tell them how to live their life? Are you admitting to being a dummy or just lazy or what?

Do you research every single product that you purchase? Do you really have time for that?

This is a free market. Without the FDA, countries like China could sell us rat poison and call it a supplement.

WendyTerry420

It is kind of funny, considering that I am a staunch Libertarian, but I do believe in the necessity of regulating medicines, supplements, and food. Testing whether a product is safe, contains what it says it does, and is not contaminated are not things that an average citizen can do through due diligence. Without these regulations, and if no independent lab has verified has tested them and publishec their results, they are at the mercy of the manufacturer.

Doesn't sound "staunch" to me.

navyrigger46

Exactly! Killing people, making them sick, defrauding them, etc. are all ways to ruin your business. There's no profit in pissing off customers.

How naive can you get? That's an insane statement.

You would rather trust a government bureaucracy that has no vested interest in keeping people safe? How Naïve can you be?

Rigger

navyrigger46

Honestly, why do people *WANT* a nanny to tell them how to live their life? Are you admitting to being a dummy or just lazy or what?

Do you research every single product that you purchase? Do you really have time for that?

This is a free market. Without the FDA, countries like China could sell us rat poison and call it a supplement.

How long would that last before people got wise to it? Honestly.

Rigger

WendyTerry420

Honestly, why do people *WANT* a nanny to tell them how to live their life? Are you admitting to being a dummy or just lazy or what?

Nobody wants a "nanny" but society at large needs to be protected from unscrupulous companies that would gladly sell products that are unsafe and/or ineffective. (not just big pharma either.......)

Pray tell, who do we call to protect society from unscrupulous government?

Rigger

An entirely different question and the TOS prohibit political threads in open fora.......

Technically, this whole thread violates the TOS then, at least for those of us Americans on MFP. Calling for regulation is a policy decision, and in 'Merica, land of the not-so-free, all policy decision are politically-based, unfortunately.

jonnythan

So basically you're saying that you, and most other Americans need a babysitter?

Rigger

Americans do need someone standing in between supplement and drug companies, preventing said companies from marketing things that are not safe. Yes.