[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

I would agree that breastfeeding is preferable but it is not always possible.

Our daughter for some reason rejected feeding from one of my wife's breasts. How does one convince a two moth old little girl this is not the right thing to do? Sometimes a female has a problem producing enough milk.

Bottom line not always possible.

Of course. But what percentage of cases out of the entire spectrum of infants needing bottle/breast feeding is this true? There is still formula to be had. And if we were a bit more proactive and resourceful I am sure it would be more than enough to cover those cases.

[Burgy]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

It was a voluntary closure after. whistle blower contacted the FDA with concerns. The FDA then "dragged its feet" in addressing the problem. To me the more important question is why the FDA dragged it's feet.

Just like we waited many weeks for them to approve covid vaccines with their many layers of boards for approvals. All the director would say is it wasn't OPTIMALLY HANDLED. Now they are acting heroic with the planeloads coming in.

[forebubba]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

What a joke, a plane load here, a plane load there.

Not a drop in the bucket & months late.

And who voted against even getting any?
Tariffs imposed on Canada closed that supply source too
Abbott bought back $5,000,000,000 stock. Did not fix the problem.

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by forebubba

And who voted against even getting any?
Tariffs imposed on Canada closed that supply source too
Abbott bought back $5,000,000,000 stock. Did not fix the problem.

The problem was/is a virtual monopoly with NO plan for what to do when the biggest producer (the virtual monopoly holder) had a problem. That problem has been around a long time, and was exaggerated by the previous administration. That the limitations put in place came back to haunt us in this administration is just what happens with out method of governing where we change sides every few years and undo everything possible that the other side did.

Once upon a time (in the GOOD OLD DAYS) monopolies were illegal and people got famous by taking them to court and taking them down. Then companies figured out they could buy the politicians and change the laws to help them become monopolies (the vast majority of baby formula is made by 2 companies and 45% is made by one - Abbot).

In so many critical product lines today virtual monopolies exist - a handful of mega companies control 80% of the food in the US, and on and on. We all know about Amazon, and WalMart, et al.

The government is in the pocket so to speak of these major international virtual monopolies. And if you believe they do not talk to each other to "fix prices and supplies" you are naive for sure.

Anyway. This whole thing was the product of decades of decisions and a predatory capitalism system that places profit above people. Just consider with Abbot producing 45% of all Baby Formula in the country, what do you think would happen if they shut down their biggest plant for a month or more. And yet, they were not required to have a plan, and so they didn't.

You can stop blaming administrations. People in government are trying to deal with a situation that should never have happened. And doing the best they can.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

The problem was/is a virtual monopoly with NO plan for what to do when the biggest producer (the virtual monopoly holder) had a problem. That problem has been around a long time, and was exaggerated by the previous administration. That the limitations put in place came back to haunt us in this administration is just what happens with out method of governing where we change sides every few years and undo everything possible that the other side did.

Once upon a time (in the GOOD OLD DAYS) monopolies were illegal and people got famous by taking them to court and taking them down. Then companies figured out they could buy the politicians and change the laws to help them become monopolies (the vast majority of baby formula is made by 2 companies and 45% is made by one - Abbot).

In so many critical product lines today virtual monopolies exist - a handful of mega companies control 80% of the food in the US, and on and on. We all know about Amazon, and WalMart, et al.

The government is in the pocket so to speak of these major international virtual monopolies. And if you believe they do not talk to each other to "fix prices and supplies" you are naive for sure.

Anyway. This whole thing was the product of decades of decisions and a predatory capitalism system that places profit above people. Just consider with Abbot producing 45% of all Baby Formula in the country, what do you think would happen if they shut down their biggest plant for a month or more. And yet, they were not required to have a plan, and so they didn't.

You can stop blaming administrations. People in government are trying to deal with a situation that should never have happened. And doing the best they can.

Govt caused this by allowing these monopolies and oligopolies and should have done a better job stopping this before it reached this level.

Govt in way too many instances brings new meaning to incompetence.

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Govt caused this by allowing these monopolies and oligopolies and should have done a better job stopping this before it reached this level.

Govt in way too many instances brings new meaning to incompetence.

Sorry, don't mean to be argumentative, but I disagree. The government is extremely competent. They do exactly what their owners want them to do, with precision and tenacity, regardless of what their constituents want.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

Sorry, don't mean to be argumentative, but I disagree. The government is extremely competent. They do exactly what their owners want them to do, with precision and tenacity, regardless of what their constituents want.

Sad that they do not work for we the people anymore. Unfortunately we keep returning them to office.

Did you read the comments from retired guy recently how incredibly inefficient the govt actually is.

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Sad that they do not work for we the people anymore. Unfortunately we keep returning them to office.

Did you read the comments from retired guy recently how incredibly inefficient the govt actually is.

I don't recall that post. I assume the "inefficiency" is things like $1000 screw driver for a jet. Which if you think about it is a very efficient way to transfer tax dollars to mega companies.

[Retiredsteve]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Better question is why is the govt allowing these mergers that reduce competition? Shocked that the govt allowed Spring and T Mobile to merge. How does that not limit competition?

Also what really happened between Abbott and the govt after the FDA closed the facility? Suddenly when their is a shortage of formula Abbott can suddenly restart the factory? How is that?

I live in the bastion of right wing politics and you ask that question? Remember, less government? Remember, too many government regulations? Viola, less oversight

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Retiredsteve

I live in the bastion of right wing politics and you ask that question? Remember, less government? Remember, too many government regulations? Viola, less oversight

With all the govt we have not much oversight seems to be going on. Do you really think more govt will give more oversight?

Sorry have to disagree.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

I don't recall that post. I assume the "inefficiency" is things like $1000 screw driver for a jet. Which if you think about it is a very efficient way to transfer tax dollars to mega companies.

No his post was saying 12 employees were needed to do the work that two efficient workers could be doing.

And eventually we get to pay the pensions for lots of people who stood around doing very little.

[nn0wheremann]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

The FDA closed a major producer of formula in a market where there is only a few manufacturers. What did they think would happen when the factory was closed for many months?

Why did not the Justice department sue to break up Abbot’s trust? One company supplying 40 percent of an essential product? Managed by arrogant idiots who would not fix a leaky roof in their only factory, nor would they maintain sanitation? And still they cannot clean it up to sanitary standards! But they crank out PR bull$%@# denying that their documented sanitation problems killed the babies sickened by their mistakes.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

With all the govt we have not much oversight seems to be going on. Do you really think more govt will give more oversight?

Sorry have to disagree.

In my opinion more EFFECTIVE government will lead to proper oversight. It seems to be a distressing tendency for governments--all levels--to get so bloated over time that they get in their own way more often than not. Best way to slim down the government is to get rid of the inefficient fat, which would mean a smaller, more efficient government.

Of course that will never happen. No entity on the planet is better at justifying its existence than government.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by nn0wheremann

Why did not the Justice department sue to break up Abbot’s trust? One company supplying 40 percent of an essential product? Managed by arrogant idiots who would not fix a leaky roof in their only factory, nor would they maintain sanitation? And still they cannot clean it up to sanitary standards! But they crank out PR bull$%@# denying that their documented sanitation problems killed the babies sickened by their mistakes.

Hope you fell better now.

Except for 40%, 100% opinion..............no facts.

[billethkid]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

Sorry, don't mean to be argumentative, but I disagree. The government is extremely competent. They do exactly what their owners want them to do, with precision and tenacity, regardless of what their constituents want.

Perfect assessment!!