[editor-surveyor]

>> “The exception that proves the rule are scientifically oriented companies with a vested interest in research (e.g., pharmaceuticals).” <<

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I sure wouldn’t number Pharma with “scientifically oriented companies;” their interest is not in science, but in technology that will turn a profit, and get a drug approved, even though almost all of the drugs so approved have been proven by science to be harmful, and life shortening (recent example: Avandia, known to be harmful from the beginning, but kept on the market to the bitter end, and Viox = Ditto)

[okie01]

...even though almost all of the drugs so approved have been proven by science to be harmful, and life shortening

Why, then, as we take more and more of these pharmaceuticals, are we living longer and longer and longer?

If what you say is true, it should be the other way around.