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Politics : A US National Health Care System? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Road Walker who wrote (3067)	12/4/2007 6:11:30 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42652

There are only two meaningful accounts in the business HD and Lowes Two large accounts, that aren't permitted to collaborate on their buying, combined with a bunch of smaller accounts, compared to having one monopsony buyer that also has regulatory power.

To: Road Walker who wrote (3067)	12/4/2007 6:13:45 PM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42652

Ever negotiate with Home Depot? A couple of years ago there were several news stories done about companies negotiating with Walmart. They weren't pretty. even government isn't dumb enough to negotiate it's suppliers out of business. I agree with that and already said so. I have health insurance negotiated with the feds. Blue Cross hasn't gone out of business yet. But, even with bureaucrats gone native, that doesn't mean Blue Cross has enough profit to manage a big R&D activity. If they did negotiate same, it would be effectively the same as the government sponsoring research via grants. R&D would be a function of federal largesse. Six of one, half dozen...