By Nicholas Regush

All this yammering by politicians about the great need to care for American children is just that - a lot of yammering. And that includes George W. Bush, who talked endlessly during his presidential campaign about the importance of not "leaving any children behind." What a crock!

America is now PILL NATION. It is polluting the brains of its children by giving huge numbers of them drugs like RITALIN.

This past week, finally, a politician - Rep. Dan Burton (R- Ind.) got nervy and blasted the head of a loathsome organization called CHADD (Children And Adults with ADHD). During a congressional hearing, he took a good whack at E. Clarke Ross, CHADD's bigwig, accusing the organization of creating an "appearance" that it was compromised because it has received almost $1 million from Ritalin's manufacturer

Burton was incensed that 6 million American children were on Ritalin. The NIH says 2 million. But whatever the real number is, it's dangerously well over the top.

Even the CHADD bigwig, who has denied any lobbying for drug companies, now apparently admits that things have gone out of control in the diagnosis of ADHD. And also according to a story in the New York Post this week, the head of the National Institute of Mental Health says that his organization is "concerned about improper diagnosis of ADHD."

Concerned? A little late to be "concerned." Where was this inept administrator (Dr. Richard K. Nakamura) when doctors began experimenting with the brains of young children? In fact, where have all the Members of Congress been when doctors in recent years have been doing quickie ADHD diagnoses of children and prescribing Ritalin like candy? Out on their yachts? On junkets? Nice of Burton to finally get a little tough on this issue.

Burton now would like to see some restrictions on how groups such as CHADD are funded. Please, give me a break, Dan; don,t make yourself look like a fool. Because it ain,t gonna happen.

While the entire U.S. Congress - all members of the Rip Van Winkle Club - have been snoozing, the drug industry has been hoping to create front groups all over the map in the health arena. CHADD, despicable, as it is, in my humble estimation, is merely one tiny pod among many, that have been receiving drug company loot.

This is a crisis that should erupt as large in scale as the ongoing interest in CEOs of major corporations. Who ultimately will be held responsible for the maiming of children?