It is illegal to take a drug that is manufactured here in the United States across the border to Canada and then back into the U.S. and sell it. But making drugs in China and then selling them here is just fine.

This example of incredible insanity has led to the Heparin scandal. Heparin is a blood thinner, and much of it is manufactured in China. Unfortunately, we don't have full control over that manufacture, so when an imitation drug came across the Pacific marked as the real thing, it killed 19 Americans.

You would think that these deaths would cause Congress to wake up. But no, they're still asleep on the job. According to the NY Times, "Congressional Democrats are talking about authorizing more money so the F.D.A. can do more overseas inspections, particularly in China, where more and more drug ingredients are made."

How about prohibiting drug companies from importing drugs from anywhere? It would not only raise the safety level immeasurably, but also create new jobs here in America. If, as the drug companies say, the major cost of drugs is due to research and development, then manufacturing them here should not result in a price increase (or at least not a noticeable one).

This is merely proof that the drug companies (a.k.a. "pushers") have far too much control over Congress. The time has come to raise awareness of the fact that these companies are killing us without a care in the world, and Congress is just as much to blame for American deaths as is China.