Posted on 12/04/2007 5:46:54 PM PST by neverdem
“US importation would have led to drug shortages in Canada. Canadian officials threatened to stop importation.”
You can’t possibly be that gullible.
US Pharmies put a stop to it through lobbying politicians on both sides. The Phamies want their price fixing one way or another. They won’t stand for US seniors getting their much needed drugs at a 30% - 70% “discount” through free trade.
“Canada would have stopped the practice because US importation would have led to drug shortages in Canada.”
There are “x” amount of drugs produces for a market....say North America. If US seniors purchase their drugs from Canada....then for every pill bought down over the border there is one less pill sold in the US and remains sitting on the shelf here. You assertion is simply ridiculous and not based on “free market” at all.
Your reply seems to imply there is a free lunch: just impose price controls without any consequences. Canada imposes price controls as do many other countries. The drug companies would not have produced enough drugs at the price imposed levels for both the Canadian market and the US market. In the long term, price controls (imposed ceiling prices) always lead to shortages. To deny this assertion, you must believe that the law of supply and demand does not hold.
If you believe in price controls, why not just impose the price controls here? Importing drugs from Canada is just an indirect method to impose price controls. There were many statements by Canadian officials indicating that they would try to stop exporting drugs to the US if importation was permitted. If the Canadians had stopped or limited exportation, the rats and rinos would have demanded price controls. The rats demanded price controls in the prescription drug bill. One of their biggest complaints was that Medicare could not negotiate drug prices. Conservatives rejected this demand because it would have led to price controls.
BP is the first major to get behind butanol. They have deep enough pockets to make it happen.
The beauty of butanol is it’s easier to pipeline and blend with gas, so if it’s higher to produce the reduction and transportation costs will offset some of that.
ping
We really need to start the primary process in another state, or hold the primary vote nationwide on one day.
Archer Daniels Midland wins;
Die, corporate scum!
and special interest contributors to political campaigns win.
Tell the rent-seeking lobbyists to go pound sand!
It is interesting that the profit margin for the drug industry is about 20%. Most other major businesses have profits of from 2 to 7%. It must feel really good to get so rich off of sick people, good Christians, I’m sure.
Repeat after me.... Archer, Daniels, Midland
They own congressmen in several states. They’re the ones getting rich off this boondoggle.
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