The immediate and evolving tragedy of the recent Indian Ocean tsunami (a destructive and deadly wave caused by a rift in the ocean floor) has evoked a world-wide outpouring of sympathy, aid and support to those affected – and rightfully so. Preservation of the species is an admirable, deeply-ingrained human quality. Despite accusations of a picayune U.S. government response, individually and collectively the American people have stepped forward with their historic generosity, while "compassionate", ambitious American politicos seeking photo-ops have rushed to the scene to the extent that aid workers complain about their impediment of relief efforts.

This sudden, unpreventable natural disaster generated an initial death toll approaching 150,000 accompanied by thousands of survivors suffering injury and collateral damage. Media reports with dramatic images of the carnage have indelibly stamped on our minds the magnitude of this tragedy, and even the most glib theologians cannot answer the universal question – Why?

Maybe it was the suddenness, or the randomness, or the violence, or the helplessness - or even the inexplicable "reason" for this disaster that drew forth such passions. Whatever the emotional trigger, it is confusing that in America, explainable and preventable human tragedies of this magnitude have not fueled comparable compassion and civic response. For instance, there is overwhelming evidence of a widening rift separating actions of U.S. government agencies and their mandated directives to protect the American public. Because of this divide, in the U.S. there is a widespread, continuing and rising wave of "death and destruction" no less devastating than the one we now see updated daily. In effect, that fatal wave is America’s own "medical tsunami".

For example, it is alleged that just one "FDA-approved" and officially defended drug, Vioxx, has caused as many as 139,000 American heart attacks, with as many as 40 percent of them being fatal - while Vioxx’s "sister drugs", Celebrex and Bextra, stand accused of contributing to thousands more. The final and perhaps incalculable numbers have not been revealed as to the physiological, psychological and economic "collateral damage" to survivors, families and insurers caused by these COX-2 drugs and the SSRI antidepressants – all FDA-approved drugs with mounting evidence of cover-ups of their adverse and deadly consequences.

Yet, despite revelations of industry deception and governmental complicity that contributed to the American "medical tsunami" caused by these and other dangerous drugs of questionable value, there has been no evidence of an enduring public outrage against the perpetrators - or even demonstrable sympathy for their trusting and innocent victims. In fact, hidden in medical liability legislation promoted by the administration are provisions that severely limit the ability of those injured to be compensated for damages caused by such actions of the multinational drug cartel.

Maybe Americans have become desensitized to these slower-evolving tragedies where the body count is scattered, devastation less immediate, and not as graphic. Maybe they are conditioned to, jaded by, or overwhelmed by a dysfunctional or corrupt regulatory system wherein the regulators are subservient to the regulated; where is it difficult to discern who works for whom; and where that alleged "wall between the public and private sectors" is actually a revolving door…*

Obviously, not all of America’s failing federal regulatory agencies cause irreversible damage: A compromised FCC just limits what Americans will see and hear; a compromised SEC or a compromised FTC primarily affects Americans’ jobs, incomes and their savings - but when the FDA, or the FAA or the USDA is compromised, Americans can get sick – and many can die.

(There is little doubt that a more steadfast FAA could have prevented the 9/11 massacre simply by following the example of countries that responded effectively to the 1960’s airline hijackings. A more diligent and dedicated FDA could have prevented the above-described healthcare debacles – as well as those associated with Fen-phen** and Propulsid and a multitude of other now-infamous drugs. And, even now, the USDA is bending to administration trade-offs that will allow U.S. beef imports from sources known to be contaminated with "Mad Cow" disease.)