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

To: John Koligman who wrote (7698)	7/23/2009 2:05:50 PM
From: i-node	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 42652

"Drug companies have invested nearly $1 billion in lobbying over the last decade, more than any other industry, according to the nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics, and more than $100 million in campaign donations, increasingly to Democrats. And the drug industry in the last three months has increased its spending, according to reports filed Tuesday: PhRMA spent $6.2 million during that period and 10 drug companies each spent more than $1 million." SO WHAT? US Drug companies, one of the most heavily regulated businesses in existence, spend $100 Million/year for lobbying. Versus 60-80 Billion/year in R & D? And you're finding something to bitch about in there?

To: John Koligman who wrote (7698)	8/4/2009 3:50:44 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42652

Considering how much regulation they face, and the potential threat to their revenue from various ideas for legal changes in health care and/or health care insurance, I'm surprised they don't spend even more on lobbying (unless they feel they have reached the point of diminishing returns on the investment). Lobbying isn't sinister (some specific cases can be but it isn't always or intrinsically so). A lot of it is defensive, certainly the drug companies are under attack enough to feel they need a defense.