Todd Moody  said:
>>...I do *not* believe in dismissing or discounting research because of who
funds it....  While it is true that corporations that have an investment in
X will try to fund research that shows X in a good light, it is also true
that the
research stands or falls on its own merits.

My response:  

It is not the case that the research always stands on its own merit.  In the
case of rBGH, the results of the research on rBGH was not released, even
with court orders, because of how it might affect Mansanto, makers of this
unnecessary, but highly profitable drug.  There are other drugs that have
been put on the market DESPITE reserach strongly indicating health risks.
Money talks, often louder than results, which are ofted fudged to allow
risky products to be put (and pushed) on the open market.

Recently, the multi-national giant Monsanto spent millions of dollars
developing recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), marketed as a tool for
increasing milk output.  Monsanto¹s expenditures were not limited to
legitimate research and development.  In the fall  of 1993, the 6,000 member
Physician¹s Committee for Responsible Medicine reported that Monsanto gave
$30, 000 to the American Medical Association to fund a television program
promoting rBGH milk.   Monsanto also gave $100, 000 to the American Dietetic
Association (ADA) and in return the ADA ran an ³education² hotline doling
out positive information about the hormone. (15)   Thus these organizations
are acting as advertisers for Monsanto and cannot be trusted to give
accurate information about rBGH.

Rachel