Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Politics - Not List Material

[Jim Conforti (lndshrk]

Michael James wrote:
> Polio wasn't eradicated by Pfizer.  Ever wonder why we have half-a-dozen
> pills on the market to cure Erectile Dysfunction in this country, but no
> cure for AIDS? 

  Let's see - because AIDS - despite the ridiculous amounts of money
  spent on it to date - has not been "cured" - by all of the researchers
  who search for a "cure".

  TENS of BILLIONS of DOLLARS are spent on HIV research annually.

  IMNSHO to the detriment of every other medical condition there is.

  Sorry - not going to blame "private industry" here.

 Or Cancer?

  Many types of cancer CAN be cured.  Many cannot.

  There is no one CANCER.

Couldn't that private-industry investment
> for the development of Viagra have been better-spent on more worthwhile
> medical pursuits that better-support the goodness and health of the
> greater society?  

  What gives you the right to tell me where my dollars should go?

  Or some company?

  That's called THEFT - or INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE.

  That aside, your hate for capitalism and the success it brings, shows
  loud and clear, COMRADE.

  Do you know how Viagra was found?

  They weren't looking for PENIS PILLS.

  They were researching drugs TO TREAT HYPERTENSION (Blood Pressure),
  ANGINA, and Blood Clots - researching a group of drugs called
  phosphodiesterase inhibitors.

  It was a serendipitous discovery.  They were going to discard it and move
  onto the next drug when they found out it helped w/ erections.

  Voila - now old guys can get it on, and old ladies don't have to cheat with
  the pool boy or gardener anymore... WIN/WIN!

  Unlike (for example) the discovery of Zanamivir - aka RELENZA.

  Which was designed by computational chemistry (my specialty, btw!) to
  be a neuraminidase inhibitor - something that prevents the influenza
  virus from replicating via infection of healthy cells.

  Both cases of industry spending MONEY to find a cure for a disease.

Guess what - private-industry doesn't give a DAMN
> about such things.  Let's not kid ourselves here - this isn't the 1950s
> anymore.  Business 'ethics' and 'values' have deteriorated from what
> they once were to ONLY THE BOTTOM LINE MATTERS.  Quick, short-term
> profits by any means necessary.

  Really?

  Here we go with the anti-capitalism/pro-socialism fantasies.

  Viagra was discovered by accident while researchers were looking for real
  cures for REAL diseases.  Zanamivir was discovered intentionally as a cure
  for a REAL disease.

  Gee, that blows your theories right out of the water, doesn't it COMRADE?

  As usual.

  Suggestion: Quit while you're ahead.