Political Science

A. The FDA and Tobacco Regulation case undoubtedly reveals an administrative system that is found lacking of the necessary legislative powers to assure that these tobacco corporations, however powerful their influences may seem, abide by the legal as well as the ethical guidelines that ought to be respected by all corporations. 

Although it was evident that our system has its flaws, it nonetheless was strongly emphasized that the FDA is an active advocate of fair and healthy practices, especially in their scope of responsibilities.  This was evidenced in the numerous methods that they have tried to acquire withheld information, be it clandestine or otherwise, just to gather enough evidence and witnesses in their fight to place necessary regulations in the tobacco industry.  One of the more important witnesses was a woman named Saint, a Chemical Engineer at Philip Morris, who had developed a technique to completely remove the carcinogens in tobacco, and whose work was halted abruptly by her employers, without any explanation.

B. It certainly is in the best interest of the public for FDA to be given more authoritative powers in assuring that tobacco corporations abide by the legalethical standards.  It is unfortunate that the very agency that was given the responsibility to assure our wellbeing through the food and drugs available in the market seemed to lack the appropriate authoritative powers to force these corporations to be truthful in their dealings with the said agency. 

However, given the gravity of the problem and its consequence to the general public, perhaps it would be feasible for Congress to assist, and in some desperate cases, intervene in the amendment of additional regulations to provide FDA with the necessary authority to combat these corporate giants.  After all, this problem directly concerns the health of the general public, who have the right to be assured that what they consume have not been genetically modified just for the sake of profit.