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| DaDnDe 2004-03-20, 12:51 pm |
| A car company can move its factories to Mexico and claim it's a
free market.
A toy company can outsource to a Chinese subcontractor and claim
it's a free market.
A major bank can incorporate in Bermuda to avoid taxes and claim
it's a free market.
We can buy HP Printers made in Mexico.
We can buy shirts made in Bangladesh.
We can purchase almost anything we want from many different
countries BUT, heaven help the elderly who dare to buy their
prescription drugs from a Canadian (Or Mexico) pharmacy. That's
called un-American!
And you think the pharmaceutical companies don't have a powerful
lobby? Think again! | |
| azimuth40 2004-03-20, 1:02 pm |
|   | |
| lseals 2004-03-20, 3:25 pm |
| Scary isn't it | |
| prezbedard 2004-03-20, 3:44 pm |
| Well lets cheer on those who fight against it. Here in MA the mayor of Springfield has been doing it to help save city employees money. I'm not sure how it is going now but he made a good decision. | |
| yanqui 2004-03-22, 5:53 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by DaDnDe
We can purchase almost anything we want from many different
countries BUT, heaven help the elderly who dare to buy their
prescription drugs from a Canadian (Or Mexico) pharmacy. That's
called un-American!
And you think the pharmaceutical companies don't have a powerful
lobby? Think again!
I'm stupefied that nobody has forced Washington to do the math in public on this issue.
HOW IN THE WORLD can drugs cost more here than in Canada or Mexico--I mean the same drugs, the same brand names. Even when you factor in shipping for export, which should ADD to the cost of drugs sold elsewhere, it's still cost-effective for someone to board a bus and buy meds across the border. And if that's the case, then WHAT is it that is ADDED to the cost of meds sold in the US that makes them MORE expensive than traveling a couple of hundred miles to get them? Why in the world can't those drug companies sell for the same price here in the states that they sell them for in Canada or MExico? I'm sure the question has been asked, but what was the answer? | |
| prezbedard 2004-03-22, 7:41 pm |
| LOBBYISTS | |
| JohnDeere 2004-03-22, 8:17 pm |
| If a "foyer" is the same as a "lobby", does that mean that a "lobbyist" is a "foyerist"? | |
| DaDnDe 2004-03-22, 8:23 pm |
| actually the answer is basically simple.
the drug companies know that canadians and mexicans dont have as much money and therefore will not pay higher prices for the drugs.
the canadian government also played a huge role in canadian drug prices by simply telling the drug companies that they would go elsewhere before buying what the american drug companies had to sell.
so the drug companies afraid of losing one of the biggest non american clients they had, gave in.
it appears that europeans dont rely on american drug companies that much either. it is interesting to note that european branches of american drug companies sell what they claim is similiar drugs for much less there than they do in the US. they claim that the drugs may seem similiar but are manufactured under different regulations and guidelines. what they dont tell us is that about half the european countries guidelines are stricter than the US. | |
| DaDnDe 2004-03-22, 8:28 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by JohnDeere
If a "foyer" is the same as a "lobby", does that mean that a "lobbyist" is a "foyerist"?
well if the term was spelled "lobberist" then yes it would be the same. but its not | |
| andreo 2004-03-22, 8:46 pm |
| I once heard (don't remeber where, must have been a news magazine type program) that drugs are more expensive here because of lawsuits against the drug companies in the U.S. While this could or could not be true. I still don't think that the drug companies would be living hand to mouth if they relaxed the prices a bit.
Also as for the people here being in better position to pay more... The reason they are crossing the boarder is the fact that they are going broke over price of prescriptions. Throw in a bunch of insurance companies that love to collect premiums but hate to pay out. Along with hospitals and doctors that now make you sign a waiver that says they can come after you for whatever the insurance company doesn't pay (even if it's covered) and most people would be better off taking a ride on the kevorkian express then seeing a doctor. | |
| DaDnDe 2004-03-23, 1:11 am |
| well, when talking about the price of drugs, it is easy to see the true power of collective bargaining.
canadian drug prices are lower because they have a form of national medical coverage. the government is involved in basic medical coverage, although i know a few canadians(i live pretty close to them) and they do have the option of higher priced health care that is similiar in cost to our normal health care costs.
most european countries also have basic national health care. the US does not and i believe that a big part of the reason why we dont have basic health care is the powerful drug lobby.
in fact even in this country, if you have health insurance coverage through work, then you have collective bargaining working for you too and your prescription costs are greatly reduced.
basically, the people who can least afford to pay are the ones getting screwed. but why should the cost of drugs be any different??
its the same old story... money talks and bullsh** walks. that is why car companies can build cars in mexico and preach "buy american" its because they got the money so they can do what they want. | |
| MistyRing 2004-03-23, 8:42 am |
| If it's any consolation you are by no means the only ones in this position. The term "rip-off Britain" is part of everyday language over here where many people go to Holland, Belgium, Germany or France to buy all sorts of goods. For instance a UK spec car (and remember we drive on the left) can be purchased significantly cheaper in these countries - even cars built in British plants. All you have to do is drive it back. | |
| yanqui 2004-03-23, 9:29 am |
| quote:
Originally posted by DaDnDe
canadian drug prices are lower because they have a form of national medical coverage. the government is involved in basic medical coverage, although i know a few canadians(i live pretty close to them) and they do have the option of higher priced health care that is similiar in cost to our normal health care costs.
But Americans don't have coverage under the Canadian health coverage, so don't they have to pay what amounts to retail over in Canada? Just what I've figured, I don't have any facts, I'm asking. | |
| DaDnDe 2004-03-23, 1:15 pm |
| yanqui:
the canadians version of retail is different than retail as we know it.
the prices of drugs are set by the canadian government. the canadian government buys all the drugs directly from the US drug companies (no middle men) and negotiates aggressively.
then the drug is wholesaled to pharmacies who are mandated to sell the drug for a modest profit.
my parents purchase drugs on line from a canadian website and average cost is 20 to 60 cents on a dollar compared to best prices they can receive here. | |
| yanqui 2004-03-23, 2:23 pm |
| As the baby boomers edge into retirement, maybe there is some hope that they'll become a larger voting block, and the AARP will carry more clout than the pharmaceuticals. | |
| DaDnDe 2004-03-23, 4:23 pm |
| well something will change that is for sure. it is obvious that we cannot continue the current model of health care.
now one must realize that health care on a broad basis is a fairly new concept. health insurance is still a new field.
i think what will happen is that the movers and shakers are realizing that this model has been in place for most of 60-70 years and has failed miserably.
and the biggest reason why it has now come to light is that now even the doctors are getting squeezed. before when it was just patients suffering, there was no movement other than individual doctors in small local areas to provide viable reasonably priced health care to the masses.
only in the past 10 years have there started to be a few alternatives. unfortunately, lawyers and malpractice suits effectively prevent the little man (doctors and other health care professionals) from change status quo.
most doctors today find it difficult to provide cheap health care because they are practically forced to be affiliated with large medical organizations like hosipitals who help protect the doctor from being sued.
as usual, our problems can be directly traced back to lawyers getting richer at the expense of the common man. | |
| PoorboyTech 2004-03-23, 4:27 pm |
| buy american...
America is great..the only place where you can eat canadian bacon for breakfast, drive your japanese car to a chinese restaurant, eat french vanilla for dessert, drive home and get arrested by a black cop.
~Yakov Smirnov (comedian) |
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