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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group

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To: geode00 who wrote (192346)	7/20/2006 6:35:59 PM
From: Constant Reader	Read Replies (2) of 281500

[EDITED] Where is the consumer information on docs? In many states, information is probably already available on the internet. IIRC, in California at least, you can call the state regulator and find out about a doctor's history. I've seen the arguments you mention about costs of pharmas. I think that you will find that overall profitability of drug companies is about twice that of the average S&P company. Studies such as the one you cited tend not to take into account costly mistakes such as Merck's Vioxx. If we regulate their profits don't we have to underwrite their losses? I could do without the advertising to the consumer, too, but someone has to inform the providers about a new drug and its benefits, and that is called marketing as well. Average costs are averages - some are much more expensive and others less. Those with huge target markets also tend to cost less per dose than those with tiny markets. Should we just write off the folks in the tiny markets? How intrusive do you want to be in their operations in the name of the public interest? If capital finds a more profitable place to go, or one with a lower return but far less risk, it will. It's about money right? Did I say that? You said we spent too much. I didn't. I know people who swear by Kaiser but I have no firsthand experience with HMOs. Then you are in for a very rude awakening when national healthcare arrives, which it will, sooner or later. Unless you are uninsured - then you will accept it but not be thrilled by it. Is it cheaper to have nationalized healthcare than private insurance companies and the uninsured ending up using ER's instead? No one knows for sure. That's the problem. [ONE LAST THOUGHT] When nationalization occurs, I believe that it will be a government operation from top to bottom - no more contracting out. Government employees are the only growth sector for the union movement today and the potential numbers of new members is too great for the unions not to fight to the bitter end for it. Given their dominance in the Democratic Party, no sane politican is going to cross them.

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