Wonk for Sale: Guido has previously drawn attention to Stephen Pollard's lauding of the Big Mac
"as one of the greatest achievements of mankind". There has been a lot of sniggering about this, particularly his claim that you could get a Big Mac in Delhi, which he now admits was
"a howler". Pollard is more infamous in wonk circles for writing paeans to Big Pharma's profits which are treasured and reprinted by the industry - the Pfizer Corporation in particular. That he benefits from Pfizer's largesse whilst writing
without declaring his interest has raised many eyebrows. In particular on one occasion the use of an
article in
The Times as a platform which could be said arguably to favour Pfizer's profits.
So his
latest piece in today's
Times on the Bigger Big Mac has had Westminster wonkland wits musing as to why he has become such a great friend of Ronald McDonald with such a keen interest in Mac matters. Is the amply proportioned Pollard getting a free supply? He says he can’t stand the taste of Big Macs so Guido doesn't think it can in this instance be said to be self-interest. In fact Pollard is right, as a matter of principle we should be free to munch Big Macs without the Nanny State or Lib Dem health spokesman getting involved.
Polly is in truth a principled defender of the big profits of Big Pharma and Big Macs.
Wonk for Sale: Guido has previously drawn attention to Stephen Pollard's lauding of the Big Mac "as one of the greatest achievements of mankind". There has been a lot of sniggering about this, particularly his claim that you could get a Big Mac in Delhi, which he now admits was "a howler". Pollard is more infamous in wonk circles for writing paeans to Big Pharma's profits which are treasured and reprinted by the industry - the Pfizer Corporation in particular. That he benefits from Pfizer's largesse whilst writing without declaring his interest has raised many eyebrows. In particular on one occasion the use of an article in The Times as a platform which could be said arguably to favour Pfizer's profits.
14 comments:
Has anyone tried a Mega Mac, I don't know if they do them anymore, but I last had one at Mac D's in Victoria Sation. Lovely.
Didn't so-called "Blairite libertarian" Stephen Pollard once write an article advocating a smoking ban.
Pfizer make Nicorrette patches.
Oi! What's happened to that Mark Oaten competition, then? The esteemed owner of this blog mentioned that the results would be announced on Monday, "after the show". Since then, not a dicky bird. Not even a review of the show,which would surely have been a rich mine to work?
- Anonymousette
Prof Webb's comments on Big Macs were a bit stupid. Not as profoundly moronic as Dave Cameron's chocolate orange tantrum, but silly nonetheless.
"...particularly his claim that you could get a Big Mac in Delhi, which he now admits was "a howler".
But excusable since everyone knows that sacred cows make the best burghers
HMM... Pfizer, Don't they make viagra?
From now on im going to call a hardon a "pollard"
A big fat thing that spews bollocks.
And Polly can shove the "tasting menus" of expensive restaurants about which he writes at length right up his fact hypocritical a*se..
er, fat
Anonymousette,
Fair point - will summon up the will to go through them. Have been away and missed the first show - was it any good?
Can I ask why you don't put "Anonymousette" in the name box if that is your chosen moniker?
I note that he's allowing comments on his blog now...
"Because healthcare is paid for through the State, rather than directly through our own pockets, we can eat and drink ourselves into oblivion and it makes not the least difference to us."
Well, except that it'll make you into a big fat bastard, eh Polly?
It is hardly a state secret that Pfizer part fund the CNE that Pollard works for, so unless every article he writes is supposed to have a complete list of all the donors to the organisation I'm not sure what the point of all the 'Big Pharma'* nonsense is.
* Big Pharma as opposed to what, Cottage Industry Pharma perhaps? Or some of the alternative crap Prince Charles is waffling on about today/
Whatever happened to the Freedom of Information request re: Ruth Turner? Shouldn't she have got back to you by now Guido?
"Because healthcare is paid for through the State, rather than directly through our own pockets, we can eat and drink ourselves into oblivion and it makes not the least difference to us."
Oh for Blue Cross/Blue Shield and the HMOs !
You meet so many Americans waxing lyrical about their health system and the glowing praise for health insurers is one thing that Americans are so effusive about.
Private health insurance is the main reason Americans have no obesity problem, low rates of infant mortality, negligible cancer rates, and everlasting life.
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