Regulators Protect Dollars, Not People

Re “An Ailing, Failing FDA,” editorial, Nov. 23: The Vioxx scandal further underscores the imbalance of corporate power in our society. Recently, the Department of Agriculture forbade a small company to test all its cattle for mad cow disease to free major companies from having to improve their testing standards. Unrelentingly a friend of big business, President Bush sneers when he says the words “trial lawyer.” But given the cronyism and impotence of our government agencies, who is safeguarding the public? If Bush wants to put trial lawyers out of work, he should encourage regulatory agencies to protect us instead of the bottom line.

Michael Artan

Los Angeles

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Isn’t it ironic that the Food and Drug Administration has been one of the main obstacles to obtaining cheaper drugs from Canada because of “safety reasons”?

Paul R. Elder

Agoura Hills