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From TFA: “It’s so easy to demonise Purdue and the Sacklers. I agree that what they did was terrible. I think a number of them should be in jail. But I’ve thou
by Jedd 3y ago
From TFA:
“It’s so easy to demonise Purdue and the Sacklers. I agree that what they did was terrible. I think a number of them should be in jail. But I’ve thought for some time that the issue behind it all is the structure of the system,” he said.
I really do get that sentiment, but IF the USA legal system had properly prosecuted Purdue execs from the get-go - there's a reasonable chance others would have been less inclined to also play the 'but what we're doing is technically not too illegal' card and try to run the same playbook.
The structure is doubtless a legal manifestation of Swiss cheese, but that doesn't mean the state can't react violently to a violent attack against its most vulnerable citizens.
- not1ofU 3y agoMcKinsey are also part of this story, doesn't appear to be mentioned anywhere else in the comments as yet https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/03/business/mckinsey-opioids-settlement.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/03/business/mckinsey-opioids...
- keneda7 3y agoCheck out the book empire of pain. It goes back the beginning of the Sackler rise and covers how we go to where we are today. The problem I have with your statement about the legal system is IMO Purdue and the Sacklers corrupted the justice department, legal system, and various Federal agencies. This was not some overnight thing. This took decades of works by multiple generation of the family. The system we have today is in large part thanks to the Sacklers.
- Jedd 3y agoThanks for the recommendation - added to my burgeoning tbr list. I've seen some dramatised documentaries on the subject (I think it's pulled ahead of Theranos documentaries now), and I'm sure there's a lot more nuance than is covered in screen retellings. Though Dopesick did make it fairly clear that federal agencies had been corrupted, as part of the original approval granting process. They didn't properly explore that angle, unfortunately.