It is time again to get involved with others. Times are getting increasingly difficult and this is primarily due to selfishness. One of the things we can do is to become more involved in our own governance. Here is a copy of a letter I wrote to lawmakers on the recent salmonella outbreak, something seemingly minor when compared to the collapse of the global economy, but nonetheless a symptom of the same disease: that is, a failure of the people to ensure their own future by allowing government’s role of enforcement to be reversed by the regulated community. Get involved and fight for a civil society!
The Honorable Senator Patrick Leahy
433 Russell Senate Office Bldg
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510 FAX (202) 224-3479
February 08, 2009
RE: Salmonella Outbreak
Mr. Leahy,
I am writing to express a conceptual framework by which lawmakers should define their approach to the Salmonella typhimurium outbreak attributed to Peanut Corporation of America.
To briefly express my background, I am a former Environmental Investigation officer of the Washington, D.C. Department of Health and am currently a third year M.D. student on clinical rotations in New Jersey. In addition I have experience working for a private, food-testing contract laboratory.
If a few months ago I were to discuss with members of Congress a historical incident in which toxigenic bacteria were knowingly distributed to American citizens resulting in several deaths one would likely first recall the Anthrax attacks of 2001.
Interstingly enough, the species of bacteria implicated in the current peanut contamination was also used for intentional harm in what is considered the most extensive bioterror event in the U.S., that is the 1984 “Rajneeshee” food poisoning attack which sickened over 750 people in The Dalles, Oregon.
In short the current crisis might come to be differentiated from these aforementioned incidents on the basis of intent, but it is also unique in that the number of fatalities from the current situation exceeds the total loss of life from these other two events combined!
“Testing to compliance” is essentially a practice which puts at risk, not only our nation’s food and pharmaceutical products, but the quality of our water, air, transportation systems and manufactured goods. Unfortunately I have observed this practice in multiple venues. It is therefore imperative that Congress provide for the appropriate regulatory agencies, sophisticated monitoring and enforcement branches in order to ensure compliance.
American citizens have collectively chosen a safe society and it is this image we wish to project to the international community and ourselves. It is time that we no longer let some bad apples (or peanuts as it were) spoil the bunch.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. It is sincerely appreciated.