UK’s Glaxo caught for bribery; CBS: USA no longer leads by example

Most Bribes Are Not Publicly Announced (Djembayz)

Recently, a report came out about the international scale of bribery (see Corruption reportedly up worldwide). A large UK-based pharmaceutical firm, GlaxoSmithKline has apparently been caught being involved in a sophisticated bribery scheme in China:

15 July 2013

(Reuters) – Chinese police on Monday accused British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline of channeling bribes to Chinese officials and doctors through travel agencies to boost sales illegally and raise the price of its medicines in the country.

The charges make the GSK case the highest profile corporate investigation in China since four executives from mining giant Rio Tinto Plc were jailed in March 2010 for taking bribes and stealing commercial secrets.

Gao Feng, head of the economic crimes investigation unit at China’s Ministry of Public Security, said since 2007, GSK had transferred as much as 3 billion yuan ($489 million) to more than 700 travel agencies and consultancies over six years.

Four senior Chinese executives from GlaxoSmithKline had been detained, Gao said at a news conference. The Ministry of Public Security had said last week that GSK executives in China had confessed to bribery and tax violations. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/15/us-gsk-china-idUSBRE96E02520130715

In my view, the pharmaceutical industry has a long history of bribery. Although the type of bribery that it seems to engage in, in places like the USA, is “legal,” yet I consider it immoral (see also Corruption reportedly up worldwide). Essentially, the pharmaceutical industry “bribes” doctors, hospitals, universities, and politicians through “contributions” and “gifts” and “trips” and “dinners” that are considered legal. But, in my view, it is still bribery and the health of people in the USA and elsewhere has been, and still is, negatively impacted by this.

The current accusations by the Chinese do not make the pharmaceutical industry, nor the UK, look good.

Speaking of not looking good. This morning I noticed that CBS was featuring a video by its Bob Schieffer who “fears the messes made by Washington are damaging our brand worldwide” where he “reflects that “America has always led best when we led by example,” but it’s struggling to do that now.”

And that is true.

Between the IRS scandals (see Scandals in the US government), espionage scandals (see It’s not paranoia: The USA government is engaged in massive surveillance on its citizens and others; Germany applauds Snowden.), Benghazi (see Scandals in the US government), debt crisis (see USA ‘budget deal’ problems and ramifications), being repeatedly involved in military conflicts around the world, promoting violence in sports and entertainment (see Is American Football Evil?), exporting pornography (see Celebrity Porn: AOL Please Stop Featuring It and Entertainment has a growing pornography problem and British and American Moral Decay), trying to promote and fund abortion internationally (Obama’s First 100 Days), trying promoting homosexuality internationally (USA government promoting homosexual pride parades internationally and Corruption reportedly up worldwide; Obama’s immoral views denounced in Kenya), etc., the USA is not setting the right example.

As far as China goes, its top leader, Xi Jinping, has stated he would try to reduce corruption by Chinese officials (China’s New Leader Formally Installed and Claims He Wants to Fight Corruption) and he even took the unusual step last year of encouraging the stopping luxury advertisements to attempt to reduce lust (China bans luxury ads in an attempt to fight corruption).

The Bible teaches against those who take bribes:

3…they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice (1 Samuel 8:3).

9 Do not gather my soul with sinners,
Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme,
And whose right hand is full of bribes. (Psalms 26:9-10)

23…Everyone loves bribes,
And follows after rewards.
They do not defend the fatherless,
Nor does the cause of the widow come before them. (Isaiah 1:23)

12 For I know your manifold transgressions
And your mighty sins:
Afflicting the just and taking bribes;
Diverting the poor from justice at the gate. (Amos 5:12)

Thus, taking steps intended to reduce government officials from taking bribes is a positive step.

Yet, the various scandals involving the UK and USA are not making them look like positive role models. This will later hurt them (cf. Isaiah 10:5-11).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.