I've been predicting major food poisoning for the past eight years, and how ironic is it that the most prominent example happens only after Bush is on the way out the door?

I used to work for an FDA-compliance consulting firm, and shortly after Bush took over, the FDA called all its agents back from the field "to rewrite the field manual" (even though it was updated on a regular basis) and announced they would no longer do random inspections of facilities. In fact, the only manufacturing facilities they would inspect were the ones that were already operating under a consent order!

There was even an FDA FAQ directed at employees: Q. "Isn't this defacto deregulation?" A.: "Of course not! We are simply trying to make the agency more efficient." (Hint: Whenever they spell out an objection in order to deny it, it's usually a dead giveaway.)

I was appalled. I gathered up all the supporting documentation and started making phone calls to science and business reporters: The New York Times, the Washington Post, the L.A. Times, the Boston Globe, even the trade industry publications.

No one was interested. Everyone I spoke to said they found it hard to believe that the U.S. government would risk the food and drug supply like that and treated me like a crank.

Not so far-fetched now, huh?