Why is Kerry & all the Dems for OK to buy drugs from Canada?

[napi21]

It's a good temporary help, but we shouldn't be depending on other countries, because of price cap laws they were willing to pass, to get the US out of the price gouging the drug companies are enjoying.

I just heard Kerry saying this again today, that I will make sure you can get your drugs from Canada.

Why don't we have the ba**s to come down on these drug companies ourselves?

[bearfan454]

1. Their billion dollar lobbyists have a lot of power with repukes.

I spend about 100 a month on bp meds. I'm all for this.

[Warpy]

2. having enough people tell the US companies to screw off

will create downward pressure on prices. That's market economics 101.

[Ghetto_Boy]

3. Sounds like outsourcing Pharmacy jobs to Canada

[K-W]

4. Because it is OK

supporting the ability to buy drugs from canada does not preclude fixing the problem here

[el_gato]

5. It's unclear where the corporations stop and our government begins

In fact it's questionable if we do not have corporate governance already.

The politicians serve thier masters well.

[Ganja Ninja]

6. Good Question! Why is it that Drugs made here are sold for less..

in other countries.

The answer can be summed up with 3 letters, G-O-P!

Because the political powers in other countries are looking out for their constituents and the GOP is looking out for some campaign money.

[napi21]

7. Thanks! Officials in other countries look out for thier constituents.

That's something we haven't seen in a very long time!!!

I think that was my point when I started this thread. I want to hear SOMEBODY say, it's OUR system that is wrong! The BS about all the $$ is going into research, if we lower our prices, we'll have to stop looking for new cures, and all the other BS they put out all the time.

I'm still voting for Kerry, but I really want some residents in Wash. to finally tell the drug companies that THEY have to find a solution to this mess!

[chromotone]

8. It's a matter of choice...

Buy expensive drugs from US...
Buy inexpensive drugs from Canada...

Why shouldn't I have the choice to buy from Canada?

When US corporations lower their prices, then I might consider buying from them.

I don't understand why this requires debate...

[napi21]

10. That's not the point. It's the same drugs!

The reason they are cheaper in Canada is because of Canadian laws that prohibit the drug companies from raising their prices more than a specific % per year. I'm saying that we are taking advantage of Canada because we don't have the courage to enact similar restrictions in the US.

[Village Idiot]

9. I seem to remember...

in the late 1980s the Canadian Parliament made a deal with the Pharmaceutical lobby to lower their prices in Canada - in return, Canada made "generic" drugs illegal in many cases, protecting their monopoly...

[Spazito]

14. Generic drugs are not illegal in Canada...

there is a time period that gives the company that owns the brand a monopoly to recoup their R & D costs and then the generics can compete on the market.

Re: the purchase of Canadian drugs by US citizens, I believe it is a band-aid over a festering sore and it delays addressing the REAL problem, the control of the pharmaceuticals over the politicians, both dem and repub. Until special interests are banned from "bribing" politicians in the US, the very real crisis in the cost of drugs in the US will NOT be addressed, imo.

[OHswingvoter]

11. I don't like this, I would

rather have him say "you will be able to get your drugs here in the US conveniently and they will be as affordable as getting them from Canada"

This is better than Bushie but not ideal to me.

[Democat]

12. Isn't that a version of outsourcing?

It's a strange issue.

[cheezus]

13. because that's all you CAN do now!

We're already screwed by the RW medicare "reform" bill. Kerry will get around to dismantling/fixing it, but he can't promise to get it done right away (he won't be able to). Drugs from Canada is the right stopgap solution, and it makes people wonder, "how come our drugs aren't as cheap here?", thus creating demand for Kerry and the congress to actually make it so.

[caffefwee]

15. It's the same with oil

We shouldn't be dependent on anyone else like you say. Senator Kerry is trying to make the best of a bad situation created by Bush. Let him win and then give him some time to go to work fixing the problem.

[Bongo Prophet]

16. Yes, a temp workaround, but at least that.

We all use workarounds until better solutions are possible, all the time.
Us software users especially so! :D

A good question to ask conservatives in the meantime is...

"Why don't you believe in the free market?"
"Why should BIG GOV decide for us?"

Also,
"Why don't you think we should be able to buy into the same collective risk pool as Congress for medical insurance?"

And as to 527s
"Whatever happened to the free speech argument you guys were making during campaign fi reform?"

Of course remind them the MoveOn PAC is a PAC, dammit.
Not "shadowy" at all.
I do realize asking questions of Reps is usually futile. The answer is all too often a diversion and quick shifting of subject---"CIGAR!"
:crazy: :eyes: