ON OBAMA'S SPEECH: What about prescription med prices? Why didn't I hear anything about that?!!!!!!

[Libertas1776]

A very interesting article from Consumer Watchdog
"Europe's the leader in drug research; What is it we're paying extra for?"
http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/patients/articles/?storyId=29089

Big pharma claims to Americans that we pay higher costs for medicines while the rest of the world (Canada, Europe, etc) pay quite less for the same exact meds because we essentially are subsidizing their research for new and improved meds. This argument has been around for some time. And if it were true, it would be a total affront, a slap in the face to all taxpaying Americans that we have become the whipping boy for the drug companies while the rest of the world reaps the benefits at our expense. It would be an affront if it weren't for the fact that, according to Consumerwatchdog.org and a study by Health Affairs Journal,

It turns out U.S. drug companies do less research than European companies, and Europe's lead is expanding.

This line from the article pretty much sums it all up...

In fact, U.S. drug pricing looks more and more like the kind of "protection" money extracted by street gangs.

We have all been distracted solely on the big insurance companies screwing us over, all the while the big pharma companies are taking us to cleaners. And what does our leadership do. They make backdoor deals with these bastards in order to get their so called "reform" through Congress. So the big insurance companies are getting a nice little deal, the big pharma companies are getting a nice little deal, and the American working man is footing the bill for these nice little deals. All this change is making my head spin. :argh:

[HughMoran]

1. No, nothing is perfect is it

I think we'd all like everything to change in a way that is best for the average person, but since that's not going to happen, I won't be asking for something I know isn't realistic.

[Libertas1776]

3. No offense to you

but there is that classic, typical response so often shared by many on this board "Well, its not perfect (hell, its not even slightly good, more tantamount to downright obscene and abusive, manipulative, un-democratic, etc) but I will settle. I will never settle for these outrages. Never!

[HughMoran]

6. I didn't say that at all

You keep on telling people they're not as demanding as you because they have a pragmatic side. Yes, that is offensive.

[Libertas1776]

9. Well, in that case, sir,

offense to you. There is a big difference between being pragmatic and completely rolling over and accepting the un-acceptable. How dare I demand tighter, stricter governmental control over big pharma and be outraged when I am made aware of their giant screw job against the American people. How dare I :sarcasm:

[HughMoran]

10. "completely rolling over"

You just can't stop with the hyperbolic horsepucky. It's just not convincing to me and it makes you seem unreasonable.

[Libertas1776]

13. Well if it takes a little "hyberbolic horsepuckery"

as you like to put it, to get people to realize that they are being milked to protect Pharma companies profits, then so be it. But then again I'm unreasonable. I don't know why I just don't shut up and be all pragmatic about corporate bullshit and abuse.:sarcasm: That's what we Americans are best at doing, isn't it?

[Hannah Bell]

21. no, never. so roll over like a good dog. let our thoughts & demands never

grow larger than what the rulers deem "realistic".

cause god knows, it's worked *great* for the last 30 years!

[polichick]

2. imo it's obscene (if true) that the WH cut a deal with big pharma...

...making sure that we cannot negotiate prices or reimport drugs.

[NYC_SKP]

4. That it was not mentioned does not mean that it is not under consideration.

Prescription drug prices are not the only thing that wasn't mentioned in the 40 minute address.

I don't think it was meant to be a point by point all-inclusive summary.

Time was taken, for example, to take the liars to task and to frame this effort as an American thing to do.

:patriot:

[Donnachaidh]

12. they've already made a deal with Pharma, behind closed doors

Transparency is fun, ain't it? :sarcasm:

[NYC_SKP]

16. The deal is not without considerations for both sides, IIRC. n/t

[Donnachaidh]

20. considerations? Probably Medicare part D redux

Pharma makes the majority of their profits from forcing Americans to pay through the nose, while they sell the drugs for less elsewhere in the world.

Whatever *consideration* they *offered*, it protects THEIR profit margin more than it helps the American consumer - you can bet on that.

[DCKit]

19. It was mentioned, obliquely.

He didn't say it outright, but he did mention that (paraphrasing) "Seniors on Medicare are paying too much for prescription drugs" and got a positive response from both sides.

If he wasn't referencing the debacle that is Medicare part D, I don't know what he may have been talking about. Everyone, on both sides, knows it is a complete and utter failure, and they're hearing from their constituents on Medicare, daily.

Seniors vote and they are a large and important block. Even the Republics know this.

[msongs]

5. that sellout has already been done nt

[d_b]

7. "Everything changed after reagan

And there's nothing you can do about it"

I think we're all supposed to accept that, no matter the party.

[Laelth]

8. This is not the change I voted for.

Since when do "We the People" have to make deals with our oligarchs? Last time I checked, we were a Republic. Congress can pass any law it wants without seeking the approval of the big "stakeholder" corporations.

It's obvious I was mistaken about the form of government we actually have here in the United States.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Thickasabrick]

14. That would be true if Congress hadn't been paid for by the big

stakeholder corporations.

[Nederland]

11. Because Bush solved that problem

Didn't you know that? :eyes:

[tabbycat31]

15. how about end the TV advertising for rx drugs?

I am sick of seeing boner pill commercials.

[Raine]

17. I'll say

pushing drugs for problems that people didn't even have until they hear the ad. x(

[Lagomorph]

18. Health Care Corporations...

Make Bernie Madoff look like a poor old man just trying to get by, in comparison.

[Le Taz Hot]

22. S-s-s-sh-h-h-h-h!!!

Not supposed to talk about it. Must continue to "rah rah" everything President Change does without question. Now get back in line! ;-)

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

23. Harry & Louise 2009 ad for health care reform paid for by big pharma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q1hPanrtGk


people responsible for it at the end -Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America

[OneBlueSky]

24. that Congress will not allow Medicare to negotiate bulk pricing for drugs . . .

says all we need to know about the power of corporations -- in this case the pharmaceutical industry -- to influence what the government does or doesn't do . . . and the bottom line reason for Congress caving to corporations is nothing more complicated than money, specifically the billions of dollars in corporate donations they get for their campaigns . . . and it appears that the Supreme Court is about to extend their power exponentially by allowing them even more power to control Congress through donated funds . . .

someday there may be a Congress and a president willing to stand up to the corporations and say "Enough!" . . . unfortunately, that day has not yet arrived . . . there's a lot of things to admire about Obama, but his positon vis-a-vis corporations and the power they have to control Congress and the legislative process isn't one of them . . .