The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 News
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Take Our Regulators—Please!

Take Our Regulators—Please!

February 1, 2009 • By David S. Pisetsky, MD, PhD

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF
David S. Pisetsky, MD, PhD

On behalf of the editorial board and staff of TR, I want to extend my best wishes for the new year. I hope that you had a wonderful holiday season, that Santa was good to you, and that you are ready for 2009, rejuvenated and restored. Although it had its moments of exhilaration, 2008 was a rough year, full of disappointment and anxiety. Like a baby, a new year is very welcome.

You Might Also Like
  • Main Fund for U.S. Medicare Program to Run Out of Money in 2030
  • Europe Launches New Fast Approval Scheme for Promising Drugs
  • Thinkers Wanted: Join the Grassroots Rheumatology Think Tank
Explore This Issue
February 2009
Also By This Author
  • Is the Toll Sports Take on Athletes’ Bodies Worth Glory on the Gridiron?

While the challenges confronting the United States are great, I am nevertheless optimistic. With a new president and a strong determination to chart a better future, I predict genuine progress in solving problems that have long vexed our country. Near the top of the list, of course, is the current healthcare system, which is rife with inequity and inefficiency. How brave will Americans be in enacting change to our troubled system? Only time will tell.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

The celebration of 2009’s arrival may have been more muted and restrained than those of the past. With the Dow Jones plunging, a recession deepening, and bonds offering returns of 0%, money is scarce. As 401K plans became 201Ks, a low-end bubbly from Costco sufficed as revelers in Times Square smooched and tooted their horns in an avalanche of confetti.

As anyone who follows the news knows, one of the main causes of our financial woes is a failure of regulation as Wall Street and banks ran wild with an anything-goes attitude, securitizing mortgages and collateralizing debt. (Which shows you what I know about economics—I thought that debt is electrophoresed.)

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

“Let’s regulate,” is the current cry as citizens seethe with the knowledge that, in the past year, their nest eggs have been boiled, scrambled, or fried.

The Regulation Solution

I agree with the drive for more regulation. I don’t want to see my retirement funds fall any further nor watch my university’s endowment vanish as the whizzes who once produced 20% returns were caught with their investment pants down—and I mean far down.

Regulation is a tough, grinding business. It requires lots of vigilance and legions of no-nonsense gumshoes and FBI types to scrutinize the books and ledgers. Given the shambles of the financial and mortgage industries, I would guess that the country will need tens (or hundreds?) of thousands of regulators to make sure that the treasury does not again fall asleep at the switch as the banks cook up new magic schemes to manufacture money from thin air.

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Pages: 1 2 3 4 | Single Page

Filed Under: Legislation & Advocacy, Rheuminations Tagged With: Healthcare Reform, Politics, RegulationIssue: February 2009

You Might Also Like:
  • Main Fund for U.S. Medicare Program to Run Out of Money in 2030
  • Europe Launches New Fast Approval Scheme for Promising Drugs
  • Thinkers Wanted: Join the Grassroots Rheumatology Think Tank
  • Change on the Mall

Meeting Abstracts

Browse and search abstracts from the ACR Convergence and ACR/ARP Annual Meetings going back to 2012.

Visit the Abstracts site »

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

Visit the ACR »

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2021 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This site uses cookies: Find out more.