Editorial: Who's running the country?

I think a lot of people would like to know the answer to that question. The truth is, there is no "one" single person that "runs" the country, not even the President. True, he has the final word and decision, but there are a lot of others involved in actually "running" the country. Think about the following examples of decision makers or those that influence decision makers:

• President
• Presidential Advisors: Very heavily relied on for important decisions
• Congress-Senate, House, Staffers: Congress members depend heavily on their staffers
• Lobbyists and Special Interest Groups: Can be very powerful and influential
• Bureaucrats: Government agency employees that actually develop and implement many of the regulations; some we like and some we don't
• Contractors, Service-Providers: Many agencies contract out for data, information, etc.
• Media: Many will do anything for a story, including selling an individual or a professional group down the river!
• The Dollar: 'nuff' said?
• World Politics: Corporations that outsource to other countries to sell out jobs and services, affecting our political and social system

The above are not in order of importance or priority; they are just listed.

Now to the KEY ISSUE�what is necessary to run a government properly?

TRUE AND VALID INFORMATION!

In my experience of participating in hundreds of committee meetings at the national level, it is clear that many decisions are made on partial and incorrect information and misinformation.


Loyd V. Allen, Jr., PhD, RPh
Editor-in-Chief

�that the United States Pharmacopeia was developed for pharmacists in 1820?

�the United States Pharmacopeia-National Formulary was named as the official compendia of the United States in the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906?

�the United States Pharmacopeia continues to provide official United States standards for pharmaceuticals that are manufactured and compounded in and for the United States?

Those listings in bold are regular advertisers and supporters of the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding.

New Pharmacists' Pharmacopeia coming soon!
As the official standards for pharmaceuticals in the United States, all pharmacists should be familiar with the sections of the USP that apply to the practice of pharmacy. The second edition of the USP Pharmacists' Pharmacopeia will be coming soon and will contain all the latest standards for pharmacy practice, including USP Chapter <795> on nonsterile compounding, Chapter <797> on sterile compounding, and many others.