Statement by Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
Addressing Ethical and Moral Failures in Global Health Leadership
May 9, 2025
As a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander, educator, and servant leader, I am running for Governor of Minnesota to restore integrity, protect the innocent, and serve the public with unwavering commitment. Today, I speak to a pressing concern shared by many Minnesotans: the ethical and moral failures of influential figures like Bill Gates, Anthony Fauci, and leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, whose actions—regardless of intent—have caused harm to our communities, our health, and our trust in public institutions.
The persistence of harmful chemicals in pharmaceuticals, such as formaldehyde, aluminum, and PFAS, raises profound ethical questions. These substances, known to pose risks to human health and the environment, remain in vaccines and other products due to inadequate regulatory oversight and industry prioritization of functionality over safety. As a father, grandfather, and advocate for the working poor, I find it unconscionable that such risks are accepted as mere tradeoffs, particularly when they disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. The environmental toll of pharmaceutical pollution, with 631 active ingredients contaminating global ecosystems, further compounds this harm, especially in low-income regions near manufacturing sites.
Bill Gates, through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has funded vaccine programs that save lives but also perpetuate the use of these risky chemicals. His $1.75 billion investment in COVID-19 responses, including COVAX, prioritized access over scrutiny of pharmaceutical ingredients, sidelining the moral imperative to pursue safer alternatives. While Gates has acknowledged COVAX’s distribution failures, his silence on chemical risks betrays a moral lapse, as his global influence could drive reform. Minnesotans deserve leaders who confront systemic flaws, not those who deflect accountability by focusing solely on health gains.
Similarly, Dr. Anthony Fauci, as former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, oversaw vaccine research that indirectly supported products containing these chemicals. His focus on efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic, while understandable, neglected the ethical duty to address long-term safety concerns. Fauci’s admissions of errors in mask guidance and lockdown policies show a willingness to reflect, but his failure to engage with chemical risks undermines public trust. As a public servant, he had a moral obligation to challenge industry standards, not merely defer to them.
Pharmaceutical industry leaders bear equal responsibility. The continued use of formaldehyde, aluminum, and PFAS, despite known risks, reflects a profit-driven mindset that prioritizes cost over human and environmental welfare. Regulatory gaps, rooted in the outdated 1938 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, enable this, but industry leaders have a moral duty to innovate safer solutions, not exploit loopholes. Their inaction harms communities, erodes trust, and fuels skepticism about public health.
The harm extends beyond chemicals. COVID-19 protocols endorsed by Fauci, such as ventilator overuse and prolonged lockdowns, caused unintended consequences—high mortality rates, economic devastation, and mental health crises. Gates’ vaccine-centric approach, while well-meaning, overlooked early treatments and equitable distribution, leaving low-income nations underserved. These failures, acknowledged only partially, highlight an ethical blind spot: prioritizing immediate outcomes over comprehensive harm prevention.
As Governor, I will demand accountability from global health leaders and the pharmaceutical industry. Minnesota will lead by example, fostering transparency in public health, advocating for safer pharmaceutical practices, and protecting our environment from pollution. I call on Gates, Fauci, and industry leaders to:
1. Acknowledge the Harm: Publicly address the risks of chemicals like formaldehyde, aluminum, and PFAS in pharmaceuticals, committing to transparent risk assessments.
2. Fund Safer Alternatives: Invest in research to replace harmful ingredients with safer options, prioritizing human and environmental health.
3. Strengthen Oversight: Support reforms to close regulatory gaps, ensuring the FDA prioritizes long-term safety over industry interests.
4. Mitigate Environmental Damage: Address pharmaceutical pollution by funding cleanup and enforcing stricter manufacturing standards globally.
5. Restore Public Trust: Engage with communities, listen to concerns, and provide clear, honest communication about health risks and benefits.
My administration will protect Minnesotans by investigating health policies, cutting wasteful bureaucracies, and ensuring our state’s resources serve the public, not corporate interests. We will rebuild trust through servant leadership, grounded in intellectual and moral principles, as I have pledged since my 2018 campaign and reaffirmed for 2026 (Parrish for Governor).
To the people of Minnesota: your health, your trust, and your future are my priorities. Together, we will hold global health leaders accountable, demand ethical integrity, and build a healthier, stronger state. Join me in this fight for justice and public welfare.
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
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