CORPORATE CRIME REPORTER: Merck Messes With Texas

[mhatrw]

http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/perrymerck021507.htm

Merck’s PAC spent $74,250 in a single day in September, 2006 to influence elections in five states. It directed 60 percent of that money to 82 candidates in Texas.

Merck so far has agreed to pay a total of up to $250,000 to three Texas lobbyists this year, which doubled what it spent in 2006. Merck retained Texas Lobby Group partners Lara Laneri Keel and Valens “Mike” Toomey – who was Governor Perry’s roommate when the two men served in the Texas House in the 1980s.

Texans for Public Justice report that “because of their long, close relationship, many capitol insiders believe that the governor contracted the HPV-vaccine bug from Toomey.”

This is one groundhog day move that may keep coming back to haunt Perry. And it’s not just liberals who are fuming over Perry’s move. ...

[AX10]

1. K & R!

[AX10]

2. You know mhatrw, to some, corporate influence suddenly won't...

matter.

[antigop]

3. Thanks, mhatrw! n/t

[kestrel91316]

4. Why don't you just admit what you are really about:

you are working OVERTIME in a campaign to see women denied the right to this vaccine.

Betcha those checks from the Christofascists come in handy..................

[mhatrw]

5. Anybody who wants GARDASIL should get it.

Where have I ever argued otherwise?

[kestrel91316]

6. Then why the crusade against it like it's the f---ing Antichrist?

[ima_sinnic]

8. you're free to be the guinea pig--but we don't want no dictators

making us take drugs, okay?

[kestrel91316]

10. Name one person who has been forced to receive this vaccine.

I'm waiting....................

Still waiting.....................



Why the objection? If you don't want your child to get it, OPT OUT. No one will try to stop you.

[AX10]

12. We are for an "opt-in".

[kestrel91316]

20. I just don't get the HYSTERIA.

[seabeyond]

40. being opposed to mandate = hysteria? being for = sheep.

lets dismiss differing opinion with exaggerated claims to those we oppose.

[PLF]

45. Well then stop being so hysterical.

Nobody is stopping anybody from getting the vaccine.

Everybody here is opposed to Rick Perry and the Merck lobbies actions.

[ima_sinnic]

19. excuse me? His Imperial Fraudulency Rick Perry didn't mandate it

in Texass?

whatever. I don't live in Texas, I don't have a young daughter (she is 37 and can make up her own mind about it) and I have no interest in getting it myself.

[kestrel91316]

21. AFAIK there's an opt-out. So there is NO NEED WHATSOEVER

for the HYSTERIA I am seeing here.

Jeebus H. Christ, I hate fascist, control-freak government as much as the next guy, but this is a PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. PEOPLE DIE of this disease. It spreads among the population and is virtually 100% preventable.

Your decision to opt out, if you must know, could very well result in you spreading the disease to someone else who may die of it, even if you don't. I thought Repubics were the ones lacking any social conscience...........

[ima_sinnic]

22. yeah I could spread the disease IF I HAD IT

and if I had sex with someone other than my partner of 15 years.

I understand the opt-out is so complicated as to be kind of formidable.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

23. Have you gotten tested?

Because odds are, you do have it.

[kestrel91316]

28. "....the opt-out is so complicated as to be kind of formidable..."

Well, if that's the case then it needs to be changed. But we don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water by getting completely hysterical and ranting on and on about how evil the vaccine itself is, and wanting to prohibit its use, like some people are doing.

I consider it a god-send. If they'd had it during my college days I would have been FIRST IN LINE. Back then they had no idea what caused cervical cancer.

[mhatrw]

35. But it isn't being targeted at 17 to19-year-olds.

It's being MANDATED for 11 and 12-year-olds even though it wasn't tested on them and we don't have ANY data whatsoever on efficacy over 5 years.

It's about $500 for a three shot regimen and the only way its cost per life year gained makes ANY sense is if the insurance plans that pay for this vaccine plan to cut funding for annual HPV screenings for the general female population in the near future.

[tavalon]

41. It is going to be mandatory in Texas

What part of mandatory do you not get?

I think this vaccine may well turn out to be one of man's greatest medical inventions. That said, I do not want it made mandatory until they have about 10 years of data from voluntary vaccinated folks. I intend to be one of those vaccinated folk. I intend to fight what's going on in Texas tooth and nail. My child was used as a guinea pig and I don't want to see the girls of Texas being used in the same way.

Why do I want such extended research? Because they've already fucked up with at least two vaccines I can think of off the top of my head. One had to be removed from the market after causing 100s of deaths. I want this and all vaccines to have the proper amount of research. That they didn't do this with any of the other vaccines doesn't make it okay to make that same mistake again.

[AX10]

9. All we are doing is pointing out the conflicts of interest that exist.

And it is absurd to acuse us who are against the mandate as being "christofacsists". It is the pro-mandate people (sheeple) who are the "facsists"

I believe in Evolution. "Christofacsists" do not.
I am also a staunch advocate for universal "single payer" healthcare. You cannot accuse me of being "anti-health".

[The Cleaner]

44. I disagree with that characterization,

because, while I have said here many a time I would vaccinate my daughters if I had any (so long as the vaccine is PROVEN safe and effecitve), my main problem is Rick Perry of Texas' underhanded, scheming, un-democratic, fast-tracked executive order mandating this thing. I personally don't see how people can look the other way - it is SO OBVIOUS that Perry is not acting altruistically. Follow that money!! And see the corruption.

The RW/anti-woman argument has already been debunked (as if it had merit to begin with).

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. It's about the sex, isn't it?

You think this means kids will have sex.

[AX10]

11. This is not about "the sex".

:eyes:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. I was talking to the OP.

But I think it really is.

The arguments keep changing every five minutes, as soon as they get debunked. Only to be rehashed a few arguments later.

Which is why I don't believe that any of the anti-vaccine people really believe this nonsense. They're worried that teens are going to go out and have sex, as if they weren't already. Apparently cervical cancer is God's cure for fornicatresses.

[AX10]

14. Give it a break. I am not anti-vaccine, nor is the OP

All we are saying is that it should be optional.

You have religious "facsists", then you have science "fascists". Extremes exist on both sides.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. I wish there were a vaccine for stupid.

It wouldn't help the people who already had it, of course. But then there would be hope for the future.

[AX10]

16. Ad hominem attacks are all you people have left.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. LOL.

God dam science facists going around calling names and asparagus!

[AX10]

18. This makes no sense:

"God dam science facists going around calling names and asparagus!"

But at least you are able to use the term.

[uppityperson]

29. It really doesn't. Proper use is "casting asparagus"

If you are going to use the terms, use them properly. I mean, really!

[AX10]

30. I would say the same to you.

Clearly you believe that scientists can do no wrong? They can make no mistakes? That is what it sounds like.

[uppityperson]

33. naw, just pointing out proper term usage of casting asparagus

[mhatrw]

38. The arguments are always the same and have never been debunked. n/t

[kiahzero]

24. No, it's about the crazy-assed conspiracy theory lunacy.

The vaccines are a Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify our precious bodily fluids, don't cha know?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

25. Like I said...

it's about sex.

[ima_sinnic]

26. no, it's about being forced to do something that is backed by a

profit-mongering repuke and a profit-mongering corporation who so far have shown not one iota of concern for human life, pain, suffering, or illness. Why should I believe ANYthing they say about the "safety" of this? That's what they said about Thalidomide, Vioxx, Zyprexa, and a bunch of others that I see advertised everyday by lawyers building class-action lawsuits. The class-action settlement for Gardasil was built into the R&D budget a long time ago. A few hundred million to throw to the people whose life and health might be ruined is a mere pittance to a gazillionaire corporation. Standards of testing have gone severely downhill since *it pulled his little coup and started handing out cushy agency jobs like candy to his buddies.

Think FEMA and New Orleans. Now think FDA and Gardasil. Catch my drift?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

27. I'm catching your drift.

I'm just not buying it.

[antigop]

42. Some info from Merck's 10-k: . Item 3. Legal Proceedings. Goes from page 24 to page 34

Read from pages 24 - 34.

http://sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/64978/000095012306003031/y18212e10vk.htm#005

How many lawsuits and investigations does Merck have outstanding right now?


Also Page 22:Cautionary Cautionary Factors that May Affect Future Results
>>
Significant litigation related to Vioxx.
>>



Also Page 17: The Company faces significant litigation related to Vioxx.
>>
The Company faces significant litigation related to Vioxx.
On September 30, 2004, the Company voluntarily withdrew Vioxx, its arthritis and acute pain medication, from the market worldwide. As of December 31, 2005, approximately 9,650 product liability lawsuits, involving approximately 19,100 plaintiff groups, alleging personal injuries resulting from the use of Vioxx, have been filed against the Company in state and federal courts in the United States. The Company is also a defendant in purported class actions related to the use of Vioxx. (All of these suits are referred to as the “Vioxx Product Liability Lawsuits”). In addition to the Vioxx Product Liability Lawsuits, a number of purported class actions have been brought against the Company and several current and former officers and directors of the Company alleging that the Company made false and misleading statements regarding Vioxx in violation of the federal securities laws (all of these suits are referred to as the “Vioxx Securities Lawsuits”) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) (all of these suits are referred to as the “Vioxx ERISA Lawsuits”). In addition, a number of shareholders have filed derivative suits and one shareholder

page 18:
has filed a demand asserting claims against the Board members and Company officers. (All of these suits are referred to as the “Vioxx Derivative Lawsuits” and, together with the Vioxx Securities Lawsuits and the Vioxx ERISA Lawsuits, the “Vioxx Shareholder Lawsuits”). The Company has also been named as a defendant in actions in various countries outside the United States. (All of these suits are referred to as the “Vioxx Foreign Lawsuits”). The Company has also been sued by four states with respect to the marketing of Vioxx. The Company anticipates that additional lawsuits relating to Vioxx will be filed against it and/or certain of its current and former officers and directors in the future.
>>


Page 19:
>>
The Company is not currently able to estimate any amount of damages that it may be required to pay in connection with the Vioxx Lawsuits or Vioxx Investigations. These proceedings, which are expected to continue for years, are currently at a very early stage and the Company has very little information as to the course they will take. In view of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of litigation, particularly where there are many claimants and the claimants seek indeterminate damages, the Company is unable to predict the outcome of these matters, and at this time cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss with respect to the Vioxx Lawsuits. The Company has not established any reserves for any potential liability relating to the Vioxx Lawsuits or the Vioxx Investigations.
A series of unfavorable outcomes in the Vioxx Lawsuits or the Vioxx Investigations, resulting in the payment of substantial damages or fines or resulting in criminal penalties, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, cash flow, results of operations, financial position and prospects.
>>


As always, do your due diligence.

[mhatrw]

37. So now it's a "crazy-assed conspiracy theory lunacy" to suggest

that Big Pharma and HMOs sometimes put profits before public health?

Is capitalism itself a "crazy-assed conspiracy theory" to you?

[mhatrw]

36. It's all about the sex if you are a crazy RW wingnut.

To me, it's all about the flawed original clinical studies, the spotty clinical safety record, the cost & risks vs. the benefits, the Big Pharma corporate welfare, shady Merck lobbyists and the rush to make a potentially dangerous vaccine MANDATORY.

[AikidoSoul]

31. I hear there's going to be a group forming to discuss this issue in a more reasoned

manner. Since this topic seems to immediately attract those with extreme emotional reactions that serve to trigger screaming matches... I don't have much hope.

Track it back and see how the level of discourse on the Texas Gardasil mandate from Gov. Perry --has been repeatedly dragged down into the muck with ad hominem attacks each time a thread appears. To me it looks as if some tried to get the threads locked on purpose by their outrageous insults and mud slinging.

Even those with scientific and medical backgrounds have been denigrated and abused for posting thoughtful, well documented concerns about this.

It's sad really.

To remind those who need reminding of the meaning of "ad hominem":

ad ho·mi·nem /ɑd ˈhoʊmɪˌnɛm; Eng. æd ˈhɒmənəm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
Latin.
1. appealing to one's prejudices, emotions, or special interests rather than to one's intellect or reason.
2. attacking an opponent's character rather than answering his argument.

[AX10]

32. Do you have a view on this?

I did use the term "ad hominem". I do stand by my comments.

[AikidoSoul]

34. Yes -- The Texas mandate for this vaccine troubles me greatly.. for several

reasons stated in other threads, not the least of which is the lack of long term data on young girls who are targeted by this mandate. There are many other issue as well. Wishing I could take the time to discuss this further, but am behind in other things.

Please do your best to keep this discussion measured, documented and cool-headed... it will be a challenge! :-)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

39. peanuts. Merck spent a billion WITH A "B" a year on vioxx

even after it knew that heart problems seemed to be associated with its use. AND after it knew that OTC drugs actually worked better without side effects.

despite that ad war, vioxx still made a billion in net profits a year.

if that billion had been spent on research imagine what we could know now.

Merck is an evil company.

[The Cleaner]

43. Excelent! Good find! Thanks for posting.

Maybe some people will see exactly why Rick Perry signed an executive order mandating Gardasil in the State of Texas - the ONLY STATE to mandate this vaccine. And somehow I doubt it's for purely altruistic reasons...