It's a wonder the mainstream media doesn't emphasize some of these things more. I know they feel compelled not to alienate the "vast majority" of the country of which President Bush claims to have support (45% job approval in a recent Associated Press/Ipsos poll).
Doesn't anyone want to know why we have to pay so much for our medicine, and the rest of the world doesn't? For over two centuries, America has been at the forefront of one thing or another. At one point, it was cotton and tobacco, then it was Manufacturing, in the early 1900s it was Automobile Production, through the 60s, 70s, and 80s we were the Financial center of the world, in the 1990s we led the way on Computer Technology, and now, our edge (which is cutting) is Medical Advancement and Medical Technology. We do it better than anyone else in the world. This is largely, giving credit to our free market ways, due to the the fact that the American Healthcare system is not nationalized.
The truth is this...We could have a system of prescription drugs that encourages competition, and allows for generic on a wider scale, but instead, the Bush administration has sheltered big drug companies like Pfizer, and Eli Lilly from patent expirations, and we are left with outrageous bills. What is sad is that on top of keeping Americans (especially the elderly) under enormous financial strain from these medications, the government took it a step further by completely blocking the flow of drugs from overseas and Canada. Scare tactics, a Bush Administration favorite. Of course there is always the risk of buying drugs from India that are sugar pills, or worse, tainted. However, the rest of the world seems to have very low incident of such poisoning.
This is just another case of Big Business exploiting the consumer, via, their friends at the White House. Its not wonder really. These businesses put millions of dollars into federal campaigns, and when their candidate wins, it is only to be expected that a portion (perhaps vast) of legislation will be decided not by party ideology, or personal morality, but by lobbyist who force the hand of members on both sides of the aisle. I don't mean to say that this problem is limited to the Republicans, they have just allowed a new breed of Cash-n-Carry government to rule since taking over the White House in 2000.
This is best shown on my favorite "what's wrong with our government" website, www.opensecrets.org. The website says the following about prescription drugs, "The Schumer-McCain bill would help speed cheaper generic drugs to market by closing several loopholes that allow brand-name drug manufacturers to extend their patents." Also, re-enforcing my point about contributions being on both sides of the aisle, but decidedly slanted towards the Republicans, "Generic drug manufacturers are not huge campaign contributors. Barr Laboratories, for example, gave nearly $270,000 in individual, PAC and soft money donations during the 2002 election cycle (78 percent to Republicans), compared with brand-name drug manufacturers Pfizer ($1.7 million, 79 percent to the GOP) and Eli Lilly ($1.5 million, 74 percent to the GOP)"
The latest battle will be fought on Capital Hill, where, god willing, the Democrats will stand up for what is right. The Bush Prescription Drug Plan introduced in 2003 called for $400 Billion in federal spending over the next 10 years, the plan has now ballooned to $720 Billion in the same time span. Bush accuses Democrats of trying to re-nig on their promise to the elderly in America, but even house Republicans say "The cost could fore a re-examination."
My head hurts just thinking about it...
Good thing Tylenol is over the counter, or I'd have to work overtime...
Stay Tuned...
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