Corporatism: Rumsfeld will profit from sale of Bird flu medication

[Raydawg1234]

http://www.gilead.com/wt/sec/pr_933190157/

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00016.htm

http://neoconrush.blogspot.com/2005/11/rumsfeld-roche-birdflu-tamiflu.html



QUOTE:

NCJ News has learned that Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, is a major stockholder in Gilead Sciences, the patent holder of the Tamiflu Vaccine.

[gordonlamb]

1. This is an interesting point....

This can apply to any and all politicians, democrats, republicans or whoever. Should someone in public office be required to dispose of all outside business while in office? Not just business with which the gov't has existing contracts but ANY investments or business holdings since there's no way to read the future and see which firms might create a conflict of interest for them. WHile I don't think Rumsfelds think listed above is all that uncommon (TONS of people ahve medical stock; especially since mustual fund houses began buying them in the 1980's)it brings and interesting point. At what point are those elected to office deemed to be free from even the hint of wrongdoing?

[Raydawg1234]

2. He was company chairman!

And why should we give them the benefit of the doubt? You've seen how they love to manipulate the media for their own gain, remember the lead up to the Iraq war?

[gordonlamb]

3. But further...

This kind of illustrates my point. Should gov't officilas be required to recuse themselves and dispose of all outside business when they take office? This type of corruption happens in communities of all sizes. My state of Georgia has suffered through many, many local-gov't scandals involving kickbacks on contracts, unfair enrichment, etc. I was just using the Rumsfeld story as an example to introduce this idea to the board.

[rucky]

4. K&R

let's get this on the front page.

[Raydawg1234]

5. My sentiments exactly, But How???