Health Insurance Industry, Big Pharmaceuticals Launch Michael Moore Smear Campaign
Health Insurance Industry, Big Pharmaceuticals Launch Michael Moore Smear Campaign
In his new movie SiCKO, documentary filmmaker Michael Moore exposes the deplorable practices of the major health insurance and pharmaceutical companies in working to deny coverage to individuals who are insured. As Moore told ABC’s Nightline:
There’s no getting around the fact that people are dying in this country as a result of the decisions that get made by these health insurance companies. People are dying in this country because they can’t afford the pharmaceuticals because of the price gauging that takes place.
For his damaging exposé of the health care industry, Moore is now under attack from front groups supported and funded by the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. The New York Sun reports:
The pharmaceutical industry and think tanks it backs financially are readying a multifaceted counteroffensive against Michael Moore’s film about the health care industry. […]
The drug companies and their allies have been on their toes ever since the movie was being filmed, when they warned personnel to watch out for film crews from the “Fahrenheit 9/11″ director. But in advance of the film’s release, they are upping the volume and the tempo of their activities.
Armed with the plenty of cash from the health care industry, these organizations are lobbing personal insults against Moore and propagating the message of those invested in maintaining the status quo. Some examples:
FreedomWorks: FreedomWorks has launched a new campaign claiming that policies favored by Moore, “healthy individuals” would “wind up subsidizing people like Moore, who are overweight and and/or live decidedly unhealthy lifestyles by frequenting fast-food restaurants, smoke, or use drugs.” FreedomWorks is run by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, whose PAC has received significant contributions from the health care industry. Several industry members serve on its board of directors. Additionally, it has a deal with Medical Savings Insurance Co. allowing the company’s brokers “sell high-deductible insurance policies and tax-free savings plans at a group discount to buyers who join the conservative political organization.”
CATO Institute: CATO receives funding from multiple insurance and pharmaceutical companies, including Amerisure Insurance, Pfizer, and Merck. It has written numerous pieces attacking Moore’s film, arguing that he “ignores the positive side of American health care” and instead “focuses on life expectancy.” It held an event after the DC premiere of the film, screening conservative films that “highlight problems” with “government-run health care.”
Manhattan Institute: The Manhattan Institute receives funding from multiple pharmaceutical giants such as Bristol-Myers Squibb. One of its senior fellows started a site called Free Market Cure, which argues SiCKO is “set to inject a large dose of misinformation and propaganda into our national dialog about health care policy.” The group is advising reporters covering SiCKO that scholars “at the institute’s Center for Medical Progress…were available to comment on the health care industry.”
Other health-care industry front groups — such as the Galen Institute, Pacific Research Institute, and the Heritage Foundation — have recently launched their own attacks on Moore’s film.
For the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries, Michael Moore’s film exposing their history and their misdeeds is a serious threat, and they have no shortage of funds to try to distort it.
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The SS SwiftSmearBoat arriving at Pier #46 in five minutes.
June 22nd, 2007 at 6:59 pmI don’t believe that any of this will bother Michael Moore. Actually, I think he will be delighted. The more noise these pharmaceutical people make, the more people will want to see his film. And, as far as personal insults are concerned, Moore has to have an awfully thick skin to have made it as far as he has in his endeavors.
He will look at this campaign as free publicity.
So, smear away folks. It will only come back on you. The American public is on to you smear merchants.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:01 pmWell, they are allowed to defend themselves. That is what they are doing. What’s the big deal?
It’s not like anyone was just going to believe whatever Michael Snore said, with no proof but his word.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:02 pmThe NOISE, is just what would be expected. When someone exposes, all effort is made to debunct, demonize and denigrate.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:03 pmThis just in from Yahoo:
BOSTON - An ever-present aide to Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney took a leave of absence Friday after he became the subject of investigations in two states for allegedly impersonating a law enforcement officer.
That’s not surprising seeing how Mitt is impersonating a presidential contender.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:04 pmSo, smear away folks. It will only come back on you. The American public is on to you smear merchants.
Comment by katie — June 22, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
Oh, by “smear merchants” you mean like Moore himself, right?
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:04 pmThis movie like “Inconvient Truth” is on my must get around to watching list. I watch so little television though it makes it rough to actually sit down and do it.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:07 pmSo, smear away folks. It will only come back on you. The American public is on to you smear merchants.
Comment by katie — June 22, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
Oh, by “smear merchants†you mean like Moore himself, right?
Comment by AVGVSTINVS
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:07 pmMoore?? Smear?? What a complete lack of understanding on how we are all manipulated by the powerhouse of healthcare comp. and pharm comp. You think big oil is big? Watch the next 5 years of debate.
What on earth could they possibly say to smear Moore? Anyone who has insurance and has tried to use it already knows. So do those who don’t have insurance.
Unless you work for a MEGA MAJOR corporation, your insurance pretty well blows.
Smears may work for the people who have outstanding insurance, but how many of those are there these days?
If you can talk radio this and sell it to the dittoheads either they’re stupider than I give them credit for or completely delusional because the conservative audience does not have the money or resources their ditto god has and this has to be obvious even to them. (He definitely has a better prescription plan! (wink)
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:09 pmkatie,
Spoken like a 26 percenter.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:11 pmHey you’re a minority! I’ll bet that’s a first princess.
Oooops, my bad katie.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:12 pmThe big insurance companies and Big Pharma SHOULD be scared! Having worked within the healthcare system for years, I know how they work, and I know that they skim the “profits” off of the top of the dollars coming in, followed by the bloated “administrative costs” and whatever is left is used to pay for patient care. The docs and hospitals are getting squeezed while the fatcat management take HUGE salaries, bonus, stock options, expense accounts, etc.
It’s all a big scam. Universal healthcare could NOT cost more than this con game.
PEACE
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:12 pmNo, katie probably works for one of those companies.
When I called my insurance carrier one day I was so pissed I asked her how she could work for a company like that. She told me she was proud to work there. That says it all.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:12 pm???
What did Katie say?
It looked like she was defending Moore to me?
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:14 pmAnd that last comment meant to go to AVGVSTINVS…I picked up the wrong name. My sincere apologies.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:14 pmWhew you guys had me really confused there for a sec.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:15 pmYou know the drill:
Moore is not credible because:
1) He’s fat
2) He’s making money
3) He doesn’t support our troops
4) He’s overall un-american.
Why even discuss what he says?
Now go back to watching Rupert Murdoch Wellness TV
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:16 pmAnd that last comment meant to go to AVGVSTINVS…I picked up the wrong name. My sincere apologies.
Comment by MsJoanne — June 22, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
No problemo, MsJ.
Your apology is accepted.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:17 pmAnd it’s doubtful that this thread will turn into a left wing/right wing radio because too many people have had the pain of experiencing the wonderful world of healthcare.
Where are the conservatives now? Come out, come out from whatever rock you’re hiding under. Can’t because you KNOW better?
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:18 pmBig Pharma reminds me of Third World Aid companies. Sure, there are a some Aid companies out there that are really good at getting the money to where it needs to go. But, like Big Pharma, only a small portion of the money coming in gets to where it needs to be.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:19 pmTP hates American corporations and free enterprise in general. Liberals can’t compete so they legislate.
Just some parting words of wisdom for the weekend:
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” -Winston Churchill
“As for me, I am deeply a democrat; this is why I am in no way a socialist. Democracy and socialism cannot go together. You can’t have it both ways… socialism is a new form of slavery.” -Alexis de Tocqueville, Notes for a Speech on Socialism, 1848.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:25 pmSocialized medicine = DMV handling your healthcare. I’d much rather work with the greatest healthcare system in the world - bar none- even with it’s warts then allow government to intercede. I can see the Postal Service opening up a small branch within their offices like banks in grocery stores.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:29 pmI love the one where they say you shouldn’t pay attention to MM because he’s fat.
That’s a classic 5th grade level wingnut attack.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:30 pmI despise big pharmaceutical companies too…….think there is much more promise with natural remedies and preventative care.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:31 pmHere is how insurance works. I pay every month into my health insurance. The one time I break my toe and need a little boot thing. I had to pay for it out of pocket. THe cost of the boot is less than what I have been paying monthly for going on 8 years now. So, I called and asked exactly what does my health insurance provide and the only thing I could get out of the lady on the phone was that they got me in contact with my primary care provider (which used to be called a doctor).
And from what I gather, I have typical or better than most health insurance.
Very sad.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:32 pmSocialized medicine = DMV handling your healthcare. I’d much rather work with the greatest healthcare system in the world - bar none- even with it’s warts then allow government to intercede. I can see the Postal Service opening up a small branch within their offices like banks in grocery stores.
Comment by eric — June 22, 2007 @ 7:29 pm
LOL Here is someone that has no idea how other countries deal with health care no does he have a clue about how those other countries citizens think of their system. Greatest healthcare system in the world - bar none! LOLOLOLOLOLOL Get some education my man.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:33 pmI despise big pharmaceutical companies too…….think there is much more promise with natural remedies and preventative care.
Comment by eric — June 22, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
An excellent reason to make sure the rain forests aren’t wiped out.
I agree with the natural remedies. Big pharma is a scam.
They don’t want to cure you of anything. That is why they are called Health Maintenence Organization. If you get cured, you stop taking their chemical based drugs. We got more people taking more pills everyday.
What did people do 50 years ago when these drugs didn’t exsist. Die 2 years earlier?
What happened to “Well, I guess it was his time to go.” or “He is in a better place now.” I know I don’t want to live to be old enough that I am crapping my pants everyday.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:36 pmMichael Moore is one of the most funny, brilliant characters I have found regarding US. The first one should be Chomsky.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:37 pmAgainst all odds.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:37 pmGood show, Michael.
Keep showing!
Truth before lies.
One thing I have to say in Eric’s defense is that we aren’t in the other countries that are doing it right. The only thing close to this that they have tried is VA health care. Anyone in that system knows what a true mess it is and has been (All parties).
Before I fully sign on to the Government taking full control I would really like to see them clean that up and get it working properly. It’s sort of like if Michael Moore’s first film only made $14.32 at the box office, would you ask him to direct a $50 million dollar movie?
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:38 pmI think it’s kinda ridiculous that so called “free market” groups are coming out to bash Sicko when the health care industry is far (FAR) from a free market as it stands.
Too late. Already do. And you get ripped off in the process.
Also, companies like Pfizer use the government to get their way all the time. Remember Kelo vs. New London? How can you forget?
Wow, CATO, wow.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:40 pmAlmost any person who is not a financial powerhouse, has had to deal with craptastic insurance policies in America. It is vile. Letting corporations dictate national health is absurd.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:41 pmThey can spin the facts however they want, but so many have their own facts in dealing with insurance coverage, and the fact is for those many that if you aren’t healthy, you are gonna be f****d at some point, unless you just ignore your ailments (Which could be less painful than dealing with insurance companies in many respects).
I know I don’t want to live to be old enough that I am crapping my pants everyday.
Comment by Spudge_Boy
Hilarious!
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:43 pm“It’s not like anyone was just going to believe whatever GEORGE BUSH said, with no proof but his word.”
“Oh, by “smear merchants†you mean like BUSH himself, right?”
Comment by AVGVSTINVS
Corrections in caps for you, whoever you are. You’re welcome.
“I love the one where they say you shouldn’t pay attention to MM because he’s fat.
That’s a classic 5th grade level wingnut attack.”
Givin them an awful lot of credit aren’t you? Seems more like a second graders’ handiwork to me!
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:43 pmOnce again, Moore has stirred the pot and got people talking about something really important. The lack of a fair and functional healthcare and prescription medicine program in this country has long been shameful and will soon be a crisis of devastating proportions. National healthcare works in so many other “first world” countries that the lack of it in the U.S. is ludicrous and the fact that our leaders won’t seriously deal with it approaches criminality. Without a fair and comprehensive national healthcare program, what is left of the middle class - the people who foot the bill for the rich and the poor - will collapse completely within the next 10 years. Have a great weekend…..
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:44 pmAll I can say, as a Canadian, you guys had better hurry up and get single-payer universal healthcare. I know all about these American lobbyists because they’ve been playing up the problems in our system for years and urging conservative governments to make cuts whereever and whenever possible. And still our system survives!
I’d like to tell you that, even though the Right moans about the cost up here of universal health care and the higher taxes that pay for them, but we actually pay less per capita than Americans. And, frankly, I don’t see what the difference is between an insurance premium and a tax? Why is the former capitalism and the latter socialism?
I live across the street from a registered nurse. She was enticed by an American hospital 10 years ago when North America was suffering a shortage of healthcare workers. She’s back because she couldn’t stand a system that would evict patients from hospital beds when their insurance ran out. Or where procedures had to be cleared with the HMO first and, if denied, the family had to be brought in to debate the money issue.
That last point I find completely heartless and sadistic. I have a friend whose mother died last year. She was in her 70s and very ill. The doctors said she’d be bedridden for the rest of her life if she didn’t have heart surgery. The problem: the doctors only gave her a 20% chance of survival. There was no debate about money, no fight with the HMO, instead, it was up the family to discuss the risk and the quality of life.
BTW, do you know why simple operation cost 5 times more in the USA than in Canada? I mean, where is all that extra money going? And why, if America has all that high tech gadgetry, are Americans so much unhealthier than Canadians and Europeans?
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:44 pmRemember how they said Moore was lying when he said bin Laden helped a bunch of Saudis leave the country quickly after the 9-11 attack.
Judicial Watch got the FBI documents. Turns out Moore was correct.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:46 pmFor all you people talking about “we can’t have socialized medicine” blah blah.
Let me fill you in on something. We have socialized medicine RIGHT NOW. But, a lot of people are simply excluded from this “program” (the highly corrupt program, I might add.)
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:49 pmBin Laden? I think you mean G.W. Bush don’t you Jack? I doubt Bin Laden would be able to pull to many strings to get Saudis out of the US.
On a note about Healthcare, we already pay for the uninsured. I read a thing that on average those with insurance spend and extra $1,000 a year on the uninsured. A single payer system, that would allow people to see the doctor when the need to is healthier. Catastrophic care is expensive, but seeing a doctor before it is catastrophic, means less money to pay.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:50 pmIf they’re pulling out the big guns to smear Michael Moore, you know he’s onto something big.
Good job, MM.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:54 pmI don’t understand how average people can attack Michael Moore. In every one of his films, he’s doing nothing but trying to help common people. It’d be like attacking your brother for trying to help you with your insurance company.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:56 pmIt speaks volumes that our current healthcare system–easily the worst in the world–was cooked up by Haldemann and Nixon.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:57 pmHow was graduation today, AVGVSTINVS?
Are you a full fledged junior emperor now?
I remember that song from summer camp…….
Up in the Air,
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:07 pmJunior Emperors…
Up in the Air,
Upside down!
Krazny,
Here is a pdf of documents that Judicial Watch gained through a FOIA request. It is very long, but read page 3.
http://www.judicialwatch.org/ archive/ 2007/ Saudi%20Docs%202.pdf
The entire document is highly redacted. Now why in the world would they NOT redact the name of osama bin laden in the document is beyond me.
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:09 pmComment by heyzeus — June 22, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
It wasn’t graduation, it was a final exam.
Anyway,
I hate to do this, but I would not be me if I didn’t.
Augustinus is the Latin for St. Augustin, the Catholic Church Father, not the Roman Emperor Augustus.
- Augustin of PIPpo
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:15 pmAnd what, pray tell, is St. Augustin famous for, or the patron saint of?
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:20 pm( Sorry, I lost track of them all after a few hundred years or so…)
Augustinus is the Latin for St. Augustin, the Catholic Church Father, not the Roman Emperor Augustus.
- Augustin of PIPpo
Comment by AVGVSTINVS — June 22, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
So we can assume from this that had you been living in Jesus’ time, you would have supported the Roman Empire in their quest to silence Jesus?
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:20 pmDo you all remember when the 1400 page give away to HMO’s and PHarma. was being voted on.? If my memory is correct the above was subsadized to the toon of 68 million and debated a few day’s….The senate adjurned on a Friday with plan’s to vote the following Tuesday..It was noted after the vote that Tom Delay went into the bill and added 200 more pages that Friday night and after the vote’s were done many representatives finelly admitted they had their aid’s quick read the 1600 page’s..Best case report was maybe 40 total pages had been read before they all voted…
At the time and even now I am livid with the nightmare they saddled us with..Let me not forget the AARP backed it and didn’t realy know the fact’s and givaway’s either…I had watched the hearing’s and looked up all I could find and will say I would not of voted for it…1600 pages of give away’s to big businees with our tax money not well spent….Blessings
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:23 pmComment by heyzeus — June 22, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
Well, he was a convert to Xtianity at an early date and he helped start up the Catholic church. But other than that he was a pretty insightful philosopher, that is how I know of him. But you should read what the Drudge fellas said when they impersonated me on the right-wing radio thread:
Well everybody I would like to tell you a little about myself. As you know I am a bleeding heart liberal. I have several active restraining orders against me, mostly for stalking. As I am a typical liberal, (I like to be called progressive) I am 32 years old and still live with my parents. As you can guess I do not have a lot of dates. I drive a 1985 Yugo it gets me around. I spent $4000.00 on the stereo but I cannot turn it on because it blows the rear lift gate off. I got the $4000.00 because a guy backed in to the Yugo; I saw the ad from a sleaze bag attorney and figured Why not, I am lazy work a temp job making minimum wage because I have no goals in life. Sure when Mom and Dad die I’ll get the Double wide trailer. I had sex once, I was 24 she was 15 (hey she looked 17) and I did 5 years. Anyway as you can see I fit the Model of a Progressive. When I got my GED, they said My I.Q. was 77, I check the box Graduate degree on Job apps because I Graduated. Wonder why I never get the jobs? I want to sue for discrimination. I think the world owes me something. Mom and Dad are third generation welfare; they make extra money by faking slip and falls in the local supermarkets. I am a basic loser, I support all liberal causes. I also am one of the people E Harmony said they could not find a match for. So I have to go to family functions to try to pick up girls.
Comment by AVGVSTINVS — June 22, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
My trolling skills work even better on them. It’s a blast!
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:25 pmSo we can assume from this that had you been living in Jesus’ time, you would have supported the Roman Empire in their quest to silence Jesus?
Comment by Namtillaku — June 22, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
Nah, I probably would have tried to dupe more people than Jesus into thinking that I was a god.
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:27 pmMoore’s film will be successful. Despite all the bombast about “national health insurance”, most Americans are dissatisfied with the general state of health care coverage and provision in this country.
Those who have a vested interest in maintaining the current stove-piped, fragmented conglomeration of “profit centers” will beat the anti-government drum; however, that is not the real issue.
A truly excellent health care system must meet three important criteria — affordability, accessibility and availability. The U.S. “non-system” fails on all three measures for a significant portion of the population.
The answers do not necessarily lie in adopting an English or Canadian system but they certainly do not lie in continuing the dysfunctional situation that we now have where truly no one is accountable for the cost or quality of the services or products they provide.
As a nation, we can do better than this and we deserve to do better. In fact, the burden of the current bloated structure with its competing incentives is being borne by taxpayers and businesses already. It threatens the very health of our companies and our government. Certainly, we can find better ways to structure and finance care while increasing quality and reducing total cost in the process. It may mean that insurers and Big Pharma get squeezed but so be it.
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:30 pmHuh, I guess there must be more than one St. Augustine, the one I know about was a Berber from Algeria, quite the womanizer in his early years, and in general kind of an opportunist and carpet-bagger type of fella…..
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:30 pmmichael moore is awesome! i think if jesus was around, he’d thank michael for being so big on his “care for your fellow man” message, i think for every dollar michael moore makes jesus smiles
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:32 pmHuh, I guess there must be more than one St. Augustine, the one I know about was a Berber from Algeria, quite the womanizer in his early years, and in general kind of an opportunist and carpet-bagger type of fella…..
Comment by heyzeus — June 22, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
No, that is the same guy. Except in the year 300-something it wasn’t called Algeria, it was Roman Carthage in Africa. Sometimes his name is spelled with an “e” at the end and sometimes not, but your thinking of me.
- Augustin of PIPpo
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:35 pm“Augustine’s mother had followed him to Milan and he allowed her to arrange a society marriage, for which he abandoned his concubine (however he had to wait two years until his fiancée came of age; he promptly took up in the meantime with another woman). It was during this period that he uttered his famous prayer, “Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet” [da mihi castitatem et continentiam, sed noli modo…..” (wikipedia)
I this your St.Augustine?
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:36 pmAlso, he did not convert to Christianity at an early age…..
he hadn’t converted yet at this stage of his life, anyways…..
if anyone is surprised at the pharma/ins reaction they must have pulled a van winkle. Wake up you bloody dummies.
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:49 pmDoes anyone know how much money is at stake here? I don’t have a clue but I would bet that they might just cover the next 10 years of “WAR EXPENSES”!
Now work on that for a while.
More later. This one is the real war. Don’t ever forget that as far as they are concerned- we are just ciphers that make them money.
I this your St.Augustine?
Also, he did not convert to Christianity at an early age…..
he hadn’t converted yet at this stage of his life, anyways…..
Comment by heyzeus — June 22, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
Yup, that is the one. He was a bad ass for most of his life, I meant that he was one of the earliest converts of Roman Catholicism and he basically influenced all those other old church guys like Aquinas and the like.
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:49 pmDidn’t Einstein say “UNTHINKING RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY IS THE GREATEST ENEMY OF TRUTH”? . . . this does sound like the essence of our country’s troubled times . . .
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:56 pmVery interesting info about St Augustine. I was raised Christian, so we didn’t have saints really, that you would notice.
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:57 pmavg
if you are idolizing a catholic saint and calling him a bad ass, you need to get out more
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:58 pmI just found it curious that you would adopt a womanizer as a namesake, Mr. P.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:02 pmI just found it curious that you would adopt a womanizer as a namesake, Mr. P.
Comment by heyzeus — June 22, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
It’s O.K. ’cause he confessed. No harm, no foul.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:08 pmif you are idolizing a catholic saint and calling him a bad ass, you need to get out more
Comment by k — June 22, 2007 @ 8:58 pm
Why?
Have you not seen the pure light of the Lord?
Guard my life, O Lord, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you.
k, are you new here or something?
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:12 pmAVGVSTINVS,
**YAWN**
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:14 pmThere’s no getting around the fact that people are dying in this country as a result of the decisions that get made by these health insurance companies. People are dying in this country because they can’t afford the pharmaceuticals because of the price gauging that takes place.
What an asinine assertion! People are living thanks to the honorable work of the drug companies.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:16 pmComment by Zooey — June 22, 2007 @ 9:14 pm
Hey, you should always know your Church history.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:18 pmWhat an asinine assertion! People are living thanks to the honorable work of the drug companies.
Comment by m12 — June 22, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
You are the only ass here. Support for the immensely profitable pharmaceutical companies, and health insurance companies is a vote against your fellow human being, and for the machine. I expect no less out of you and your fellow authoritarians.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:19 pmHere is how insurance works. I pay every month into my health insurance. The one time I break my toe and need a little boot thing. I had to pay for it out of pocket. THe cost of the boot is less than what I have been paying monthly for going on 8 years now. So, I called and asked exactly what does my health insurance provide and the only thing I could get out of the lady on the phone was that they got me in contact with my primary care provider (which used to be called a doctor).
If everybody got an expensive boot which was more costly than their monthly payments, how would the health insurance company (or a government plan) operate?
You are unlucky to be a source for the leeches. ‘Universal’ healthcare simply adds more leeches.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:19 pmA new study released this week revealed that Americans’ health care varies dramatically from state to state. It should come as no surprise that in general Southern states ranked at the bottom in almost every category. After all, whether the issue is health, education, working conditions, or virtually any indicator of social pathology, things are worst in precisely those states that voted for George W. Bush.
For the details, see:
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:20 pm“Health Care the Latest Red State Failure.”
You are the only ass here. Support for the immensely profitable pharmaceutical companies, and health insurance companies is a vote against your fellow human being, and for the machine. I expect no less out of you and your fellow authoritarians.
The drug companies save millions of lives. Supporting them is supporting that effort.
And they are no more profitable than Microsoft, Intel, or anything in the banking industry.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:22 pmHey, you should always know your Church history.
Comment by AVGVSTINVS
Mine was built over an indian cemetery. You can imagine the big mess after they put the mausoleum. Heh.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:22 pmHey, you should always know your Church history.
Comment by AVGVSTINVS
I have no church history.
NO ONE CARES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:22 pmYou are unlucky to be a source for the leeches. ‘Universal’ healthcare simply adds more leeches.
Comment by m12 — June 22, 2007 @ 9:19 pm
Yet again, another anti-human statement. I bet it fills you with glee to see all those brown people in Iraq dying, doesn’t it?
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:23 pmCertainly, we can find better ways to structure and finance care while increasing quality and reducing total cost in the process. It may mean that insurers and Big Pharma get squeezed but so be it.
There is. Once the constitutionally mandated patent protection on drugs expire, the US has some of the cheapest generics in the world.
Simply wait until that time.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:23 pmmichelle malkin (lil lulu) already has her youtube censor ready nonsense up.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:26 pmMy trolling skills work even better on them. It’s a blast!
Comment by AVGVSTINVS
Mr. President, PIPpy, AVGVSTINVS what’s with the constant name changing. Are you having an identity crisis?
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:26 pmYet again, another anti-human statement. I bet it fills you with glee to see all those brown people in Iraq dying, doesn’t it?
Yet again, another simple personal attack from a foolish liberal.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:27 pmThe drug companies save millions of lives. Supporting them is supporting that effort.
And they are no more profitable than Microsoft, Intel, or anything in the banking industry.
Comment by m12
I totally agree. I think that there shouldn’t be any type of socialized protection in the US. It does nothing but stagnate improvement. I mean think how great our fire departments and police would be if they were allowed to make profits for their actions. These groups would only get better than the horrid condition they are in now. Public safety would soon be as good as our public health care is now if they would just be allowed to get rid of that damn “common good for the nation” thing and introduce profit and greed.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:27 pmComment by Juan C — June 22, 2007 @ 9:22 pm
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:30 pmI did not know you were religious Juan.
Are you having an identity crisis?
Comment by shane — June 22, 2007 @ 9:26 pm
No, but my name and e-mail come up “null” frequently lately, maybe it has something to do with the new TP whatever.
AVGVSTINVS came to me when The Joker said that he was Roman Catholic.
Interesting, huh Zooey?
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:30 pmYet again, another simple personal attack from a foolish liberal.
Comment by m12 — June 22, 2007 @ 9:27 pm
Attacking a willing participant who is choosing to further the agenda of the machine is hardly foolish.
You ARE an ass, you spell it out for us with each and every one of your posts.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:31 pmInteresting, huh Zooey?
Comment by PRIMVS INTER PARES
God no……
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:34 pmI totally agree. I think that there shouldn’t be any type of socialized protection in the US. It does nothing but stagnate improvement. I mean think how great our fire departments and police would be if they were allowed to make profits for their actions. These groups would only get better than the horrid condition they are in now. Public safety would soon be as good as our public health care is now if they would just be allowed to get rid of that damn “common good for the nation†thing and introduce profit and greed.
What is this “common good for the nation” nonsense? If you are like SpudgeBoy here, you are going to get bent over by a big tax government plan.
Who is going to be the source for all the leeches who spent hundreds of thousands in healthcare yearly? They don’t produce a thing, so it isn’t them.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:34 pmAttacking a willing participant who is choosing to further the agenda of the machine is hardly foolish.
Willing participant into what? American drug companies, which have been a forefront of innovation and development worldwide? American drug companies, who are grossly disregarded and mistreated by governments worldwide? Or American drug companies, which donate millions of dollars of their time, efforts, and products to others?
If you don’t like them, don’t be a participant and stop buying prescription drugs.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:36 pmWho is going to be the source for all the leeches who spent hundreds of thousands in healthcare yearly? They don’t produce a thing, so it isn’t them.
Comment by m12
Limp argument. Injecting your unprovable biased hate for a group of Americans does nothing.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:37 pmYou lefties remind me of a saying: “Don’t bite the hands that feed you!”
Why is the doctor or the drug company expected to give his time, energy, and welfare to the patient, while the patient gives meager compensation and lawsuits to the doctor or drug company?
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:38 pmLimp argument. Injecting your unprovable biased hate for a group of Americans does nothing.
Idiotic statement which fails to understand any concept of financing the plan you support.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:39 pmWhat is this “common good for the nation†nonsense?
It’s when a society thinks that some services should be provided and paid for by the society for the society as a whole. Ya know like the police, fire departments, early education……and many think healthcare falls into that since a healthy society as a whole lifts the society in production.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:40 pmPlease ignore the asinine, moronic, racist, fascist, nutzoid, piss-soaked trolls.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:41 pmWilling participant into what? American drug companies, which have been a forefront of innovation and development worldwide? American drug companies, who are grossly disregarded and mistreated by governments worldwide? Or American drug companies, which donate millions of dollars of their time, efforts, and products to others?
If you don’t like them, don’t be a participant and stop buying prescription drugs.
Comment by m12 — June 22, 2007 @ 9:36 pm
Ahhh yes, I see it now. We should support the drug companies, because they aren’t making enough money. Poor drug companies being mistreated - tsk tsk.
You speak of them like you would a person. No, I’m wrong. People are leeches in your world.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:41 pmComment by Zooey — June 22, 2007 @ 9:41 pm
HEY! I’m not piss soaked!!
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:42 pmAhhh yes, I see it now. We should support the drug companies, because they aren’t making enough money. Poor drug companies being mistreated - tsk tsk.
You speak of them like you would a person. No, I’m wrong. People are leeches in your world.
It costs $800 million to bring a drug to market. Kindly define “enough” money for creating such wonder products.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:43 pmPar for the course for Big Pharmaceutical. I only hope that Moore’s next film goes after the corruption of Big Oil.
A corporate fascist wasteland? Yes Cindy, I think we’re headed in that direction. Thanks to corporate f*cking a$$holes like Big Oil & Big Pharmaceutical.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:44 pmZooey,
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:45 pmI know. I just haven’t been around for a while and wanted to loosen up a little. m12 is funny….and not in haha kinda way.
HEY! I’m not piss soaked!!
Comment by Tundra
You’re calling yourself a asinine, moronic, racist, fascist, nutzoid troll these days? :D
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:45 pmIt costs $800 million to bring a drug to market. Kindly define “enough†money for creating such wonder products.
Comment by m12 — June 22, 2007 @ 9:43 pm
No.
Kindly define the meaning of the golden rule.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:46 pmIt costs $800 million to bring a drug to market. Kindly define “enough†money for creating such wonder products.
What is that…a week in Iraq?
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:46 pmIt’s when a society thinks that some services should be provided and paid for by the society for the society as a whole. Ya know like the police, fire departments, early education……and many think healthcare falls into that since a healthy society as a whole lifts the society in production.
Thankfully, healthcare is not funded by the federal government, or it would be about as useful as an inner city school or police department.
Our society holds a $13 trillion GDP. I know you liberals hate the rich, but surely you don’t want your ‘universal’ healthcare to cut that to $3 trillion like those European nations.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:46 pmPlease ignore the asinine, moronic, racist, fascist, nutzoid, piss-soaked trolls.
Comment by Zooey
Absolutely. m12 is way too stupid and/or delusional to understand the issue. There are so many sides to this issue that he doesn’t understand or knows nothing about it’s laughable. What a tool.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:47 pmYou’re calling yourself a asinine, moronic, racist, fascist, nutzoid troll these days? :D
I strive for truth in advertising :)
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:47 pmSorry,
I did not read thru’ the posts.
It’s my last read before going to bed.
Anyone else mention that H. Clinton has the second most contributions from the health care system?
Too bad, Hill. I’m a liberal, but this is just another reason why I’ll never vote for you.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:47 pmZooey,
I know. I just haven’t been around for a while and wanted to loosen up a little. m12 is funny….and not in haha kinda way.
Comment by dlet
Welcome back, dlet. :)
m12 is f*cking warped and devoid of humanity.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:47 pmOur society holds a $13 trillion GDP. I know you liberals hate the rich, but surely you don’t want your ‘universal’ healthcare to cut that to $3 trillion like those European nations.
Comment by m12 — June 22, 2007 @ 9:46 pm
Well I sure as hell don’t!!!
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:47 pm#94
Dodging a simple question, I see. Well, I’d rather have you dodging questions than destroying innovation.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:48 pmCARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:48 pmI strive for truth in advertising :)
Comment by Tundra
You’re just trying to make yourself look all tough, Tundra, but I know you’re just a cuddly bear. :)
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:49 pmWhat is that…a week in Iraq?
Maybe a couple days worth of Medicare payments. $10000 per patient per year, courtesy of the federal government.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:49 pmDodging a simple question, I see. Well, I’d rather have you dodging questions than destroying innovation.
Comment by m12 — June 22, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
The pot is calling the kettle black.
Evolve, please.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:51 pmCARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by PRIMVS INTER PARES
I don’t wanna, and you can’t make me!
–Are we channeling each other this evening? Too weird.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:51 pmSorry Zooey, I hate m12 and all those that think like him. Plus, as much as I hate him, he’s not really a troll - just wrong.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:52 pmIt’s my last read before going to bed.
Comment by trueblue
Awwww, c’mon!!
New baby keeping you up? :P
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:52 pmSorry Zooey, I hate m12 and all those that think like him. Plus, as much as I hate him, he’s not really a troll - just wrong.
Comment by Namtillaku
He’s a troll AND wrong.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:54 pm#101
US GDP/capita: $44000
Canada GDP/capita: $35000
UK GDP/capita: $35000
France GDP/capita: $31000
or maybe we can copy Turkey, and cut our productivity to $9000 per person.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:56 pmOk, I’ll defer to you because I like you :) It’s my policy to be nice to nice people, and otherwise, well you know…
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:56 pmYes, and I’m totally exhausted and in a foul mood!
I figure I better get some shut eye before the wailing begins…..
…what. an. idiot. i. am……
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:57 pmThe pot is calling the kettle black.
Evolve, please.
Evolve into what? A brainless moron like yourself?
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:57 pmWhoa, m12 is pulling out all the stops!!!
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:58 pmMaybe somebody else can answer:
How much is universal government healthcare going to cost the federal government, and how do you propose raising the revenue?
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:58 pmYou’re just trying to make yourself look all tough, Tundra, but I know you’re just a cuddly bear. :)
Comment by Zooey — June 22, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
SHHHHH
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:59 pmOk, I’ll defer to you because I like you :) It’s my policy to be nice to nice people, and otherwise, well you know…
Comment by Namtillaku
I just hate to see you pound your head on that brick wall. :)
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:02 pmOK, campers, listen up!
I’ve got some announcements. You can finish your pork barbecues while I’m speaking.
I’m Counselor Monica, but you can just call me Goody!
OK?
OK!
First of all, we need to hang together here, those of us who survived this afternoons tragedy, when Counselor Deadeye from Cabin #9 went berserk with his shotgun.
The good news is, his pacemaker batteries went dead before he could get to the rest of Camp GOPer, and he’s dead now also.
Congratulations to the Camper Formerly Known As Primvs Whatever, with the expert tutelage of Pastor Ted and his assistant Daryll, he passed his final, oral exam with flying floorburns, got religion, and has adopted a well known 4th century scallawag as his new namesake.
Kilo, you have been observed again, in broad daylight again out at the burn barrel with the gardener.
May I remind you to be more discreet with your illicit substance abuse.
m12… you were tracked, by virtue of your shoe size, which is noticibly oversized for your age, across the dry lake bed over to the girls camp on the other side.
Let me remind you, this is a Republican Camp, and this kind of heterosexual behavior is highly frowned upon.
I have spoken to Miss Venus about her escapade over here on the boys side of the lake two nights ago, and she has assured me she will not cum over again.
She also said to inform all those concerned that they should visit the infirmary within the next week.
OK, now on to the fun stuff!
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:02 pmDo you know what tonight is?
That’s right, it’s spooky, scary, horror story night!
Our first storyteller is none other than, you guessed it, Counselor Snowman Tony!
He’s got a real scary one, called, Leahy the Leviathan Shreds Alberto the Gone-o!
Yes, and I’m totally exhausted and in a foul mood!
I figure I better get some shut eye before the wailing begins…..
…what. an. idiot. i. am……
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Comment by trueblue
I hate to do it you ya, true, but…..
I. TOLD. YOU. SO. :-D
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:03 pmSHHHHH
Comment by Tundra
Heh.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:04 pmComment by RNC Camp Activities Director — June 22, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
Mr. Director sir…
Um… last night… I saw Mr. Roboto, The Joker, and Falco sneaking out after dark… I told ‘em not to, honest I did.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:11 pmHow much is universal government healthcare going to cost the federal government, and how do you propose raising the revenue?
Comment by m12
We can just borrow the money from your alternate reality world so we’ll never have to pay it back.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:12 pmIn spring 2005, Paul Krugman wrote a series of columns in the NY Times that picked apart why the American health care system costs so much more than in the other leading industrialized countries. His conclusions (paraphrased):
1. The USA has no coherent system of health care finance.
2. The poor get health care in the most expensive way possible, namely through the emergency room.
3. Americans pay the highest drug prices in the world.
Hmm, does this mesh at all with the points “Sicko” is trying to make? I have a hunch, and I guess I’ll find out in a week…
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:14 pmHow much is universal government healthcare going to cost the federal government, and how do you propose raising the revenue?
Comment by m12
We can just borrow the money from your alternate reality world so we’ll never have to pay it back.
Ok, that answers question 2. How about question 1? $2000 per person? $5000? $10000?
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:15 pmUm… last night… I saw Mr. Roboto, The Joker, and Falco sneaking out after dark… I told ‘em not to, honest I did.
Comment by PRIMVS INTER PARES
What was it, a triangle jerk?
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:19 pmWhat was it, a triangle jerk?
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity
Don’t traumatize the child! :D
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:20 pmWhat was it, a triangle jerk?
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — June 22, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
Look for yourself… you can see a jerk of sorts on the thread above… I think his name is Obomayomomma.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:21 pmThank you, Primus Augustus.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:23 pmIf you had been present this morning at 9:00 AM for your cabin counselors discussion, you would have known that a statement such as this is precisely why you were selected for such rapid advancement and early exams.
Since you are being so helpful, would you be kind enough to take these Blackberrys out to the far western edge of camp, where, underneath the next to the last guard tower to the north, you will find a coffee can just within reach through a hole in the fence, put the ‘berrys in the can and leave immediately, and don’t look back, or you’ll turn into a pillar of salt.
I can trust you, can’t I……?
Sir, yes sir.
Anything for the RNC!!!
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:26 pmLook for yourself… you can see a jerk of sorts on the thread above… I think his name is Obomayomomma.
Comment by PRIMVS INTER PARES
The one wearing his mother’s dress?
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:29 pmThat’d be the one… oh by the way, The Joker is out of his cage.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:35 pmI work for big pharma. Sure research and development costs millions of dollars and pharmaceuticals should be re-imbursed for the expense of developing medicines and medical devices. The problem with big pharm is that it is GREEDY. It’s all about making money for the investors and for the CEO’s. The current trend is for big pharma to outsource as much of their work as possible… to India and China and South Africa so that they can reduce the cost of doing business. In the meantime, they raise the price of drugs while reducing their operating costs. With the exception of drugs that are still in the “testing phase”, pratically all drugs are manufactured overseas in the same manufacturing plants. There was a recall of pet food because of contamination which occured in China. Think about this… many of our drugs, both prescription and over the counter are manufactured in China. SCARY.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:36 pmThat’d be the one… oh by the way, The Joker is out of his cage.
Comment by PRIMVS INTER PARES
No F*#king sh*t… geez, where’d I put my baseball bat?
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:40 pmThink about this… many of our drugs, both prescription and over the counter are manufactured in China. SCARY.
Comment by Coffins draped with flags
Question for you… how much does Big Pharma spend on advertising each year? Ya know, trying to convince people like m12 that heartburn is actually a complicated diseas called “acid reflux” that requires a never-ending monthly presciption to manage?
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:46 pmEvolve into what? A brainless moron like yourself?
Comment by m12 — June 22, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
More projection from the *piss-drivel* known as m12 - BORING ZZZZzzz…
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:49 pmIn keeping with the “Jesus” theme that seems to appear in this thread…
Jesus gave away free health care when he cured the sick.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:49 pmOk, that answers question 2. How about question 1? $2000 per person? $5000? $10000? Comment by m12 — June 22, 2007 @ 10:15 pm
Oh, poor little sh*thead. We already pay more per person than any industrialized country, because we don’t have it. Or hadn’t you read all of the projections about cost reductions, because of earlier treatment of diseases? We already pay for many of those people at the local, state and federal level - but only when they have to get expensive *emergency* treatment.
Pull your head out of your *ss, child. You sound like a spoiled, ignorant little redneck t*rd attached to a redneck boot.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:51 pmIn keeping with the “Jesus†theme that seems to appear in this thread…
Jesus gave away free health care when he cured the sick.
Comment by Coffins draped with flags — June 22, 2007 @ 10:49 pm
Oh that… we was just funnin’ around.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:52 pmJesus gave away free health care when he cured the sick.
Comment by Coffins draped with flags
Well then clearly, Big Pharma would have kicked his smarmy butt all over the place, and back again.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:52 pmRepublic… I agree. Like I said, big pharma is GREEDY. On occasion, I would receive emails asking me to contact my Congressperson and tell them to vote in favor of big pharma. I had to threatened them with harrassment on the job so that they would stop sending me these emails.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:52 pmOk, that answers question 2. How about question 1? $2000 per person? $5000? $10000? Comment by m12 — June 22, 2007 @ 10:15 pm
Oh, and dum sh*t, you also forgot to think of all of the money it could *make* us as a country. GM says it costs 1500$ per car to pay for health insurance, that’s free in Japan. That’s right. It’s 1500$ per unit cheaper to build a car in japan, just because of universal health care there.
Why do you hate american industry and americans so much, putz?
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:53 pmRepubilic #140…
Poor Jesus… getting his butt kick by big pharma… but not as bad a getting nail to a cross.
Jesus was a liberal persecuted by conservatives.
By the way, I’m an gnostic which means I don’t really care if Jesus existed or not.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:56 pmShut Down Entire Health Insurance Industry And Imprison The CEOs!
Friday 22nd of June 2007
by Jay Randal
Most Americans want Single-Payer healthcare system, but the health insurance industry wants that quashed, so it’s time to prosecute the CEOs of the HMOs now.
Everyone who works for health insurance companies deserve to be unemployed, for all the harm they have done denying medical care, for in fact killing people.
Their greasy-spoon employment have harmed people who needed emergency medical care, who were denied life-saving procedures, who instead died from neglect.
The immense harm that the health insurance industry has caused is criminal negligence, which occurred for maximizing profits, which indicts them all as criminals.
Therefore no legitimate excuses exist to coddle them, nor to shield them from prosecution, nor to prevent the complete shut down of their operations nationwide.
The Congress must stand-up to shut them down now!
(Jay Randal, political activist and writer in Georgia, USA.)
PS: Bravo to Michael Moore for highlighting this issue in “Sicko.”
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:57 pmJay R
Everyone who works for health insurance companies deserve to be unemployed, for all the harm they have done denying medical care, for in fact killing people.
Hey, lighten up. No American should be unemployed except for the crooks and liars, such as boy Bush, Deadeye Dick Cheney and traitor Rove.
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:00 pmm12, you are so full of sh!t. It does not take $800 million to bring a new drug to market. What a nonsensical statement! No two drugs cost the same amount to develop, research, test, and market. Some cost little and others cost a lot.
But let’s put a little perspective in here. The average drug company spends more on sales & marketing than it does on R&D. Many drugs are developed for no better reason than a patent on a earlier drug is going to expire. Many drugs are merely symptom suppressants and some have only a 55% effectiveness rating. And of course there’s the FDA scandal where drugs with lethal side effects are fast tracked for approval because certain doctors and regulators have received the old nudge-nudge-wink-wink.
BTW, many drugs are used for treatments of “off label” treatments. That means that the drug has been tested for one usage and no long term study has been done for other uses. Another problem is that many drug trials make exclusive use of adult males because the rapid changes in children and the menstrual cycle in women make it difficult to get “clean” results. And then the drugs are prescribed to women and children with no data on how it effects them.
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:06 pmBig Pharma and the insurance companies run one of the best scams on the planet.
They bilk companies out of more and more money each year, which invariably gets passed onto (read pissed onto) the employees who are lucky enough to work enough hours to even qualify.
Then there’s the increasing deductable, the copay, and the spiraling cost of treatment for anything, including ingrown toenails.
I must admit I am one of the fortunate few who work for a company that provides an excellent health care package. They also pay less than the going wage, to compensate for the security and benefit package.
My wife’s empoyer’s package is expensive and how would you like to have mammograms covered, but only every other year. Good luck finding that breast cancer too late.
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:29 pmWhat defense could the pharmaceuticals and insurance folks possibly have without making complete foos of themselves? We could eleiminate the health isurance industry - the middle man - altogether and have better health car for half the cost. And they are going to buy smear tactics so they can continue ripping off the American people?
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:29 pmBy the way, I’m an gnostic which means I don’t really care if Jesus existed or not.
Comment by Coffins draped with flags
W/ a handle like The Republic of Stupdityâ„¢, do you think I really care either? For all I care, everyone can worship the Easter Bunny if it rocks their world. I just wish they’d either shut up or start making sense.
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:36 pmOh, and dum sh*t, you also forgot to think of all of the money it could *make* us as a country. GM says it costs 1500$ per car to pay for health insurance, that’s free in Japan. That’s right. It’s 1500$ per unit cheaper to build a car in japan, just because of universal health care there.
You forget the higher taxes Japanese have to pay, both the auto companies and the people.
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:37 pmIt does not take $800 million to bring a new drug to market. What a nonsensical statement! No two drugs cost the same amount to develop, research, test, and market. Some cost little and others cost a lot.
That’s a ballpark figure. Read for yourself.
http://psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/ cgi/ content/ full/ 57/ 8/ 1225?ref=Yapma.net
But let’s put a little perspective in here. The average drug company spends more on sales & marketing than it does on R&D. Many drugs are developed for no better reason than a patent on a earlier drug is going to expire.Many drugs are merely symptom suppressants and some have only a 55% effectiveness rating. And of course there’s the FDA scandal where drugs with lethal side effects are fast tracked for approval because certain doctors and regulators have received the old nudge-nudge-wink-wink.
If you don’t like their products, don’t buy them. I guess the rest of the nation doesn’t share your view, given that Americans fill some 10 prescriptions per person per year.
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:40 pmComment by m12
Every working, competent health care professional I talk to says the system is broken. These people are the actual pros doing the work, not Ins company tools, not paid shills from the Heritage Foundation. Since you fantaisze endlessly that you and you alone know the truth, share it w/ us. What is the real answer?
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:41 pm#144
What about all the people who have been saved by big pharma’s research?
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:41 pmMaybe a couple days worth of Medicare payments. $10000 per patient per year, courtesy of the federal government. Comment by m12 — June 22, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
As usual, we can count on you to make an unfounded bullsh*t statement.
Those costs are at the courtesy of the medicare premiums paid over a lifetime by those that are elderly and severly ill. A handful of people produce that costs, and the costs will remain the same whether private insurance, or public pays for it - dum bass. The difference? Private insurance would dump them at the first chance, and hospitals would bleed their assets dry. But hey, that kind of heartless shortsightedness is what I expect from you.
I notice you’re using the 10,000 figure, after I corrected your 8,000 figure. You’re welcome, st*pid child, for my patience to correct your many lies, distortions and misrepresentations - despite your unworthiness. Too bad for you, that you spent weeks posting the wrong numbers, too st*pid to know how wrong you were…
So, if only 7% of the most elderly require the bulk of the costs, the