State of Maine challenging GOP-Pharmaceutical Monopoly

[Londoner]

The State of Maine wants drug companies to compete for its business.

Specifically, the State of Maine is trying to buy cheaper generic drugs from foreign suppliers so that they are not held captive to the world's highest, most monopolized drug costs. If they are successful, it will result in a tremendous savings to tax payers and health consumers. It will also set a precedent which will force drug corporations into a whole new level of competition for consumers.
Maine?s prescription for drug savings: Go foreign | PBS NewsHour | Nov. 9, 2013 | PBS

Here is the essential problem: Big Pharma is going crazy over the fact that the State of Maine is forcing it to compete. Indeed, Big Pharma doesn't want to compete for American consumers. Through lobbying and election funding totaling $2,742,005,132, Big Pharma has literally paid Washington to muscle out Foreign and Generic drug makers, thus making American consumers captive to a government protected monopoly.

Sadly but predictably, The Republicans in Congress have come to Big Pharma's rescue. They are trying to prevent the state of Maine from testing the free market and seeking lower drug costs. They are trying to protect corporations from having to compete because those corporations fund their elections.

Here is the essence of how government protects wealthy corporation and investors
While it is completely legal for corporations to seek cheaper labor all over the globe (thus forcing the American worker to compete against Taiwanese sweatshops), it is illegal (in many markets, including pharmaceuticals) for the consumer to shop the globe for the cheapest prices. The Government intervenes in the market on behalf of the wealthy.

Will Republicans defeat the free market and feed the State of Maine into a government protected drug monopoly? Or, will the State of Maine win the right to force drug monopolies to compete for their business.

Story here
Maine?s prescription for drug savings: Go foreign | PBS NewsHour | Nov. 9, 2013 | PBS

What do you think?

 

[Kosh]

State of Maine challenging GOP-Pharmaceutical Monopoly

Far left propaganda!

 

[TemplarKormac]

Sigh. More class warfare nonsense.

 

[Londoner]

State of Maine challenging GOP-Pharmaceutical Monopoly

Far left propaganda!

Pharmaceuticals donate to Republicans as disproportionately as Environmental groups give to Democrats.

Same thing with Health Insurance which overwhelmingly funds the GOP.

ObamaCare threatens GOP protected monopolies as both pharma and insurance will lose monopoly pricing powers, especially those included in the 2003 Drug Bill.

Are you familiar with the 2003 Drug Bill, specifically the power it gives drug companies to charge government above market drug costs?

 

[Clementine]

Misleading to say it's GOP Pharms.

Obama made the deal with big pharms in exchange for their support of Obamacare.

 

[Londoner]

Sigh. More class warfare nonsense.

Busting up government protected monopolies will restore competition and help everyone, save the small group of special interests which own our politicians.

You can drain this thing of "class" by merely investigating the market distortions that occur because of lobbying. The Government should not manipulate market outcomes on behalf of a small group of owners/investors. Read the 2003 Drug Bill and the power it gives to big pharma to charge above market drug costs.

Corporations are not stupid about investing their money. Below is the money they invest into our politicians. Our politicians work for the corporations which fund their elections. These same corporations invest overwhelmingly in Rightwing media sources, which convinces people that government serves the poor rather than the large corporations which own it.

You can't take your country back if you have been 100% fooled over who actually owns it.

Pharmaceuticals/Health Products $2,742,005,132
Insurance $1,922,412,969
Electric Utilities $1,802,843,183
Business Associations $1,567,040,966
Oil & Gas $1,476,039,737
Hospitals/Nursing Homes $1,165,463,452
Securities & Investment $1,093,654,236
Real Estate $1,062,265,651
Health Professionals $1,039,677,846
Telephone Utilities $769,831,875
Telecom Services & Equipment $756,415,189
Health Services/HMOs $717,456,480

(You've been lied to about who government serves. The price for being fooled is that that real problem never gets fixed. The special interests which benefit from the status quo get rich off our blind addiction to Limbaugh, who never talks about who really owns government. We have raised a group of delusional voters who are strategically distracted with the culture war so they don't notice that government has been ingested by the market winners.)

 

[Pogo]

Sigh. More class warfare nonsense.

"Class warfare" ???? That's just a bizarre read, TK.

This story has nothing to do with "class". It's about corporatism. You know, the same concerns as "big government", except this time from the entity that actually runs big government.

Good for Maine. I hope they prevail. OP: IOU rep for posting this. Rep clock says wait.

 

[depotoo]

Sigh. More class warfare nonsense.

Busting up government protected monopolies will restore competition and help everyone, save the small group of special interests which own our politicians.

You can drain this thing of "class" by merely investigating the market distortions that occur because of lobbying. The Government should not manipulate market outcomes on behalf of a small group of owners/investors. Read the 2003 Drug Bill and the power it gives to big pharma to charge above market drug costs.

Corporations are not stupid about investing their money. Below is the money they invest into our politicians. Our politicians work for the corporations which fund their elections. These same corporations invest overwhelmingly in Rightwing media sources, which convinces people that government serves the poor rather than the large corporations which own it. 6

You can't take your country back if you have been 100% fooled over who actually owns it.

Pharmaceuticals/Health Products $2,742,005,132
Insurance $1,922,412,969
Electric Utilities $1,802,843,183
Business Associations $1,567,040,966
Oil & Gas $1,476,039,737
Hospitals/Nursing Homes $1,165,463,452
Securities & Investment $1,093,654,236
Real Estate $1,062,265,651
Health Professionals $1,039,677,846
Telephone Utilities $769,831,875
Telecom Services & Equipment $756,415,189
Health Services/HMOs $717,456,480

(You've been lied to about who government serves. The price for being fooled is that that real problem never gets fixed. The special interests which benefit from the status quo get rich off our blind addiction to Limbaugh, who never talks about who really owns government. We have raised a group of delusional voters who are strategically distracted with the culture war so they don't notice that government has been ingested by the market winners.)

1Obama, Barack*(D)$1,004,2282Romney, Mitt*(R)$716,840
2012 election cycle by pharma

 

[ScienceRocks]

I hope this doesn't hurt research into cures

 

[zeke]

Sigh. More class warfare nonsense.

"Class warfare" ???? That's just a bizarre read, TK.

This story has nothing to do with "class". It's about corporatism. You know, the same concerns as "big government", except this time from the entity that actually runs big government.

Good for Maine. I hope they prevail. OP: IOU rep for posting this. Rep clock says wait.

Two of the most ignorant posters on here respond that this must be "class warfare".
Because the state of Maine is trying to save the state and its citizens money.

Be much better and truthful if they (carmac and kosh) would just type; we to stupid to know what you are talking about. Please help us not be so stupid. Please.

 

[WelfareQueen]

Obamacare is a giant payoff to big pharma. To say GOP in the OP is the definition of hackery. Thread = fail.

 

[Vox]

The State of Maine wants drug companies to compete for its business.

Specifically, the State of Maine is trying to buy cheaper generic drugs from foreign suppliers so that they are not held captive to the world's highest, most monopolized drug costs. If they are successful, it will result in a tremendous savings to tax payers and health consumers. It will also set a precedent which will force drug corporations into a whole new level of competition for consumers.
Maine?s prescription for drug savings: Go foreign | PBS NewsHour | Nov. 9, 2013 | PBS

Here is the essential problem: Big Pharma is going crazy over the fact that the State of Maine is forcing it to compete. Indeed, Big Pharma doesn't want to compete for American consumers. Through lobbying and election funding totaling $2,742,005,132, Big Pharma has literally paid Washington to muscle out Foreign and Generic drug makers, thus making American consumers captive to a government protected monopoly.

Sadly but predictably, The Republicans in Congress have come to Big Pharma's rescue. They are trying to prevent the state of Maine from testing the free market and seeking lower drug costs. They are trying to protect corporations from having to compete because those corporations fund their elections.

Here is the essence of how government protects wealthy corporation and investors
While it is completely legal for corporations to seek cheaper labor all over the globe (thus forcing the American worker to compete against Taiwanese sweatshops), it is illegal (in many markets, including pharmaceuticals) for the consumer to shop the globe for the cheapest prices. The Government intervenes in the market on behalf of the wealthy.

Will Republicans defeat the free market and feed the State of Maine into a government protected drug monopoly? Or, will the State of Maine win the right to force drug monopolies to compete for their business.

Story here
Maine?s prescription for drug savings: Go foreign | PBS NewsHour | Nov. 9, 2013 | PBS

What do you think?

Except what does GOP has to do with this? State supporting big businesses monopoly is a SIGNATURE feature of the dimocraps.
Establishment republicans as well - but there is at least the part of the GOP party which is totally against "business as usual" and there are absolutely NO DIMOCRAPS who will support dismantling the fascist practices of securing the profits of big corporations - and the proof is their cherished fascist law - obamacare - the perfect example exactly of the practices described above.

 

[Katzndogz]

Isn't it the FDA that has to approve foreign pharmaceuticals? This is how leftist over regulation causes harm.

 

[Vox]

I hope this doesn't hurt research into cures

your cherished obamacare already DID

research in the medical field is SLASHED across the board EVERYWHERE.

that is the first thing to be flushed when the government takeover as happened with obamacare takes place.

ENJOY

 

[Vox]

Isn't it the FDA that has to approve foreign pharmaceuticals? This is how leftist over regulation causes harm.

but the leftard worshipers do not know that.

they always deny the obvious - that it is during DIMOCRAP administrations that the big business ( big pharma, big insurances etc) flourish THE MOST.

Obamacare is the perfect example.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Misleading to say it's GOP Pharms.

Obama made the deal with big pharms in exchange for their support of Obamacare.

That's different, Obama is their Messiah and can do no wrong

 

[Pogo]

Corporatia as partially listed above is and has been the master that pulls the strings of government in an elaborate puppet show featuring a red team and a blue team. Our job is to pretend it's the puppets themselves pulling their own strings and bicker with each other over whether red or blue should prevail, while the actual puppeteers pulling both sides get away completely ignored.

I see several of our sharpest minds are still buying into that puppet show.

Good show. Whatever you do don't look at the man behind the curtain.

 

[Londoner]

1Obama, Barack*(D)$1,004,2282Romney, Mitt*(R)$716,840
2012 election cycle by pharma

Bad candidates usually don't get much funding because everyone knows they're going to lose.

In 1984 Reagan received more environmental funding than Mondale because it simply was not worth investing in a loser.

In all genuinely contested races, especially in the Senate and House, pharma goes with the candidate least likely to:

1) raise their taxes or

2) change their regulatory benefits

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

The State of Maine wants drug companies to compete for its business.

Specifically, the State of Maine is trying to buy cheaper generic drugs from foreign suppliers so that they are not held captive to the world's highest, most monopolized drug costs. If they are successful, it will result in a tremendous savings to tax payers and health consumers. It will also set a precedent which will force drug corporations into a whole new level of competition for consumers.
Maine?s prescription for drug savings: Go foreign | PBS NewsHour | Nov. 9, 2013 | PBS

Here is the essential problem: Big Pharma is going crazy over the fact that the State of Maine is forcing it to compete. Indeed, Big Pharma doesn't want to compete for American consumers. Through lobbying and election funding totaling $2,742,005,132, Big Pharma has literally paid Washington to muscle out Foreign and Generic drug makers, thus making American consumers captive to a government protected monopoly.

Sadly but predictably, The Republicans in Congress have come to Big Pharma's rescue. They are trying to prevent the state of Maine from testing the free market and seeking lower drug costs. They are trying to protect corporations from having to compete because those corporations fund their elections.

Here is the essence of how government protects wealthy corporation and investors
While it is completely legal for corporations to seek cheaper labor all over the globe (thus forcing the American worker to compete against Taiwanese sweatshops), it is illegal (in many markets, including pharmaceuticals) for the consumer to shop the globe for the cheapest prices. The Government intervenes in the market on behalf of the wealthy.

Will Republicans defeat the free market and feed the State of Maine into a government protected drug monopoly? Or, will the State of Maine win the right to force drug monopolies to compete for their business.

Story here
Maine?s prescription for drug savings: Go foreign | PBS NewsHour | Nov. 9, 2013 | PBS

What do you think?

This had the potential to be a really great discussion, but you butchered it with your misguided partisanship.

Here are the top 20 federal politicians who received donations from pharmaceutical companies. It is very much a bipartisan list and took me all of 20 seconds to find.

Pharmaceuticals / Health Products: Top Recipients | OpenSecrets

 

[Pogo]

The State of Maine wants drug companies to compete for its business.

Specifically, the State of Maine is trying to buy cheaper generic drugs from foreign suppliers so that they are not held captive to the world's highest, most monopolized drug costs. If they are successful, it will result in a tremendous savings to tax payers and health consumers. It will also set a precedent which will force drug corporations into a whole new level of competition for consumers.
Maine?s prescription for drug savings: Go foreign | PBS NewsHour | Nov. 9, 2013 | PBS

Here is the essential problem: Big Pharma is going crazy over the fact that the State of Maine is forcing it to compete. Indeed, Big Pharma doesn't want to compete for American consumers. Through lobbying and election funding totaling $2,742,005,132, Big Pharma has literally paid Washington to muscle out Foreign and Generic drug makers, thus making American consumers captive to a government protected monopoly.

Sadly but predictably, The Republicans in Congress have come to Big Pharma's rescue. They are trying to prevent the state of Maine from testing the free market and seeking lower drug costs. They are trying to protect corporations from having to compete because those corporations fund their elections.

Here is the essence of how government protects wealthy corporation and investors
While it is completely legal for corporations to seek cheaper labor all over the globe (thus forcing the American worker to compete against Taiwanese sweatshops), it is illegal (in many markets, including pharmaceuticals) for the consumer to shop the globe for the cheapest prices. The Government intervenes in the market on behalf of the wealthy.

Will Republicans defeat the free market and feed the State of Maine into a government protected drug monopoly? Or, will the State of Maine win the right to force drug monopolies to compete for their business.

Story here
Maine?s prescription for drug savings: Go foreign | PBS NewsHour | Nov. 9, 2013 | PBS

What do you think?

This had the potential to be a really great discussion, but you butchered it with your misguided partisanship.

Here are the top 20 federal politicians who received donations from pharmaceutical companies. It is very much a bipartisan list and took me all of 20 seconds to find.

Pharmaceuticals / Health Products: Top Recipients | OpenSecrets

From the transcript linked in the OP:

>> RICK KARR: Doug Thomas sells firewood and serves as a Republican state senator. He calls himself a conservative, says he hates unions and believes in free enterprise and competition. He also thinks the pharmaceutical industry needs more regulation.

DOUG THOMAS: The drug companies have done a very good job at telling people that they need all this money for research and development, and if we don't give them everything they want, then we're not going to have these new drugs. And that's, I just-- I absolutely don't believe it. The Canadian system works. The Australian system works. The drug delivery system in New Zealand works. And it can work better here.

RICK KARR: Thomas introduced a bill that legalized pharmaceutical imports. So did one of his Democratic colleagues. They rolled their bills into one and joined forces ... and both sides of the issue sent their lobbyists to work.

SCOTT WELLMAN: I believe there were four of us that were lobbying on behalf of the bill; there were at least 12 lobbyists from-- representing pharmacies and big pharma.

RICK KARR: The pharmacists and drug companies argued the bill would endanger the people of Maine. But ]in June, the bill passed both houses with bipartisan majorities. Maine became the first state in the nation to legalize mail-order drug imports. In September -- a month before imports could resume -- the pharmaceutical industry and its allies filed a federal lawsuit to strike down the law. <<

The bolded parts tell the story of who's on which "side". Let's not get sidetracked on whether this guy's red or that guy's blue; this is their puppetmasters versus their constituents -- not the red and blue puppets against each other.