BigPharma- if you didn't hate them before, you will now!

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LeAnn

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I was at the CASAA meeting last nite, good meeting, more should join. It never fails me to see what the Big Pharma gets by with. How stupid do they think we are???? I have a friend with a crippling diease and is on SSI and the goverment won't let her have the meds that will save her life, or make it a whole lot better and the price for the drugs are much more than SSI gives her a month to live.....but they can spend all that money on junk that don't even matter......Money is the root of all evil!
 

Petrodus

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I was at the CASAA meeting last nite, good meeting, more should join. It never fails me to see what the Big Pharma gets by with. How stupid do they think we are???? I have a friend with a crippling diease and is on SSI and the goverment won't let her have the meds that will save her life, or make it a whole lot better and the price for the drugs are much more than SSI gives her a month to live.....but they can spend all that money on junk that don't even matter......Money is the root of all evil!
The Ugly Truth ... Big Pharma couldn't care less
 

Petrodus

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Maybe they don't but I do, I care about Freedom to do as I see fit, they have big mouths and big money but they aren't my boss and I should have the right to say and do as I wish when it comes to what I put into my body. They need to be exposed to what they really do!
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
 

Petrodus

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I'm probably not going to word this right
but I'm sure you'all will understand the reasoning.

1. What percent of commercials on TV today are drug commercials?

2. What percent of commercials are attorneys soliciting
clients for their class action lawsuits against Drug companies?

I would guess ... the answers might be divided between 2 categories
Cable and Regular local channels. Possibly some Cable channels
have a lopsided number ... I don't know.
:?:
 

DontBurnIt

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It's called social darwinism, aka DOG-EAT-DOG. See, we're not actually humans, we're hyenas and we're supposed to be devouring one another, rather than behaving as intelligent beings. If I have the teeth and the bestial nature to rip you limb from limb, then I deserve to live well. If you're soft, either because you're weak or you have a higher consciousness, you deserve to be eaten alive.

I think statin drugs are one of the best examples of the scam called "healthcare". They shut down your body's ability to metabolize sugar, causing weight gain, depression, and congestive heart failure. They make the heart as dead and hard as a leather football. Cholesterol, what types there are, how much is too much, has yet to be understood or explained. It is certain that the best way to reduce cholesterol is through diet and exercise, not a mind-numbing, body destroying pill. Yet they are handed out like candy without discussion of the very terrible side-effects.

We have the most expensive system on planet earth here in the U.S. (over $8500/capita/annum), yet over $50million Americans have no coverage at all, either because they're poor or self-employed (the last people who should be without health benefits are self-employed people who create their own living.)

Capitalism is the principle that money purchases exclusive rights, titles, and patents to be the sole profiteer of any particular resource, be it a machine, a chemical compound, or a parcel of land. It's an absolute denial of the reality that humans are symbiotic with one another and our environment. It's a denial of nature, of "God", of humanity. To defend capitalism, the U.S. had engaged in over 50 overt and covert wars over the last century. And why not? There's good money in war, for some.
 

Petrodus

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Friends ...
Remember a time "Before" we found out the Ugly Truth
about the government, its agencies, and Big Pharma ??

It was a happier time

Argue that all you want ...
Doesn't change the fact that we were happier back then.

When you know and share the truth ...
Some will ask the "Big Question"
What can we do about it or What's the solution ??

Truth doesn't set you free ... Its an awesome burden.
 
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mjt

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It's called social darwinism, aka DOG-EAT-DOG. See, we're not actually humans, we're hyenas and we're supposed to be devouring one another, rather than behaving as intelligent beings. If I have the teeth and the bestial nature to rip you limb from limb, then I deserve to live well. If you're soft, either because you're weak or you have a higher consciousness, you deserve to be eaten alive.

I think statin drugs are one of the best examples of the scam called "healthcare". They shut down your body's ability to metabolize sugar, causing weight gain, depression, and congestive heart failure. They make the heart as dead and hard as a leather football. Cholesterol, what types there are, how much is too much, has yet to be understood or explained. It is certain that the best way to reduce cholesterol is through diet and exercise, not a mind-numbing, body destroying pill. Yet they are handed out like candy without discussion of the very terrible side-effects.

We have the most expensive system on planet earth here in the U.S. (over $8500/capita/annum), yet over $50million Americans have no coverage at all, either because they're poor or self-employed (the last people who should be without health benefits are self-employed people who create their own living.)

Capitalism is the principle that money purchases exclusive rights, titles, and patents to be the sole profiteer of any particular resource, be it a machine, a chemical compound, or a parcel of land. It's an absolute denial of the reality that humans are symbiotic with one another and our environment. It's a denial of nature, of "God", of humanity. To defend capitalism, the U.S. had engaged in over 50 overt and covert wars over the last century. And why not? There's good money in war, for some.

The only capitalism this country is defending is the crony sort. Fools that believe government is ever the answer are going to be very disappointed.
 

Uncle Willie

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Capitalism is the principle that money purchases exclusive rights, titles, and patents to be the sole profiteer of any particular resource, be it a machine, a chemical compound, or a parcel of land. It's an absolute denial of the reality that humans are symbiotic with one another and our environment. It's a denial of nature, of "God", of humanity. To defend capitalism, the U.S. had engaged in over 50 overt and covert wars over the last century. And why not? There's good money in war, for some.

So, I'm wondering what you propose that will pay for the R&D that it takes .. ??

Profit incentive is what drives economies .. which is why I chuckle when I read threads like this ..

Sometimes I wonder if some of the posters would advocate anarchy ..

As well, does no one realize what good has come out of the Pharma industry .. ?? Because, it seems to me, countless lives have actually been saved and lifestyles improved .. regardless of the financial incentive .. oh, sorry .. if there were no financial incentive, those life saving drugs and technologies would just miraculously appear ..
 

Fizzy-Penny

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So, I'm wondering what you propose that will pay for the R&D that it takes .. ??

Profit incentive is what drives economies .. which is why I chuckle when I read threads like this ..

Sometimes I wonder if some of the posters would advocate anarchy ..

As well, does no one realize what good has come out of the Pharma industry .. ?? Because, it seems to me, countless lives have actually been saved and lifestyles improved .. regardless of the financial incentive .. oh, sorry .. if there were no financial incentive, those life saving drugs and technologies would just miraculously appear ..

Willie, while I do agree to some extent with what you just said:
Not all research and answers come from BP. I honestly believe that when real breakthroughs to cancer start coming, a great deal of that (if not the majority) will come from research funded by independent non-profits.

I have a type of lymphoma that is pretty rare (3 in one million population are diagnosed with it. It's called Waldenstrom's Macroglubinemia.) The current research on this disease is largely funded by the WM Foundation. Recently they have discovered through genome research a very promising avenue, which may well result in a cure for this particular type of cancer. I have no doubt that this type of answer may well be on the horizon for many others.

It's why donations to these type of charities is so awesomely important. If it was left to BP, people like me wouldn't stand a chance of seeing any cure ... ever. There's a real problem with folks who stand to gain financially having so much say in healthcare, its research and development, etc. It's a major reason why BP has never come up with a good solution to helping people addicted to analogs get off them. It's actually more financially helpful to BP for folks to have cancer than prevent it, obviously. Capitalism, while pro'lly a good thing in many respects, is certainly not a saint, imo.
 

mjt

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So, I'm wondering what you propose that will pay for the R&D that it takes .. ??

Profit incentive is what drives economies .. which is why I chuckle when I read threads like this ..

Sometimes I wonder if some of the posters would advocate anarchy ..

As well, does no one realize what good has come out of the Pharma industry .. ?? Because, it seems to me, countless lives have actually been saved and lifestyles improved .. regardless of the financial incentive .. oh, sorry .. if there were no financial incentive, those life saving drugs and technologies would just miraculously appear ..


Anarchy would be an improvement over our current trend. The world, including this country, is heading towards big goverment authoritarianism. Most people aren't paying enough attention. Profit motive, which is simply an extension of self interest is the natural human path. The vaping industry is a perfect example.

Statism is like living in an ant colony. No thanks.
 

mjt

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Willie, while I do agree to some extent with what you just said:
Not all research and answers come from BP. I honestly believe that when real breakthroughs to cancer start coming, a great deal of that (if not the majority) will come from research funded by independent non-profits.

I have a type of lymphoma that is pretty rare (3 in one million population are diagnosed with it. It's called Waldenstrom's Macroglubinemia.) The current research on this disease is largely funded by the WM Foundation. Recently they have discovered through genome research a very promising avenue, which may well result in a cure for this particular type of cancer. I have no doubt that this type of answer may well be on the horizon for many others.

It's why donations to these type of charities is so awesomely important. If it was left to BP, people like me wouldn't stand a chance of seeing any cure ... ever. There's a real problem with folks who stand to gain financially having so much say in healthcare, its research and development, etc. It's a major reason why BP has never come up with a good solution to helping people addicted to analogs get off them. It's actually more financially helpful to BP for folks to have cancer than prevent it, obviously. Capitalism, while pro'lly a good thing in many respects, is certainly not a saint, imo.

Compare the innovations in healthcare, medicine, surgeries, equipment, labs and so on over the last 75 years in countries where profit was not involved in the process and get back to me.

Not to mention the wealth needed to fund the research you stated above would not be possible.

Lastly, if I have an illness, I would pray to God the incentive for wealth was immense toward any person finding a cure or treatment, because my odds for getting one would increase exponentially.
 
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chartreuse

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I'm more than a little curious. Pardon my naiveté. On what grounds can an American company sue a govt. (or anyone) for making a cheaper product ? And what is it that the US congress can sign that will prevent another country from manufacturing a product ?

TRIPS provides for sanctions via the WTO. The company doesn't bring the action directly, though. Rather it must persuade its government to do so.
 

aikanae1

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Trade agreements. TPP stands to restrict development, manufacture and distribution of cheaper generics to underdeveloped countries. Patents for biologicals also restricts research. If a country can't afford the patented strain to research for a cure, too bad. What that means for public health (in the case of the last flu outbreak) is that instead of 250,000 researchers looking for the vaccine, there were about 250 that could buy the approved patented strain to research. Many times outbreaks occur in poorer countries, so what this opens up is a black market of more dangerous strains being used for research in the name of public health.

It's complicated. Patents on biologicals should never have been accepted. International trade agreements are developed behind closed dooors, in secret, usually among corporations, and have effects that neither Congress or the President can change. If anything, legislation will be introduced later stating 'this must pass to honor ______ agreement' and it usually will pass with a unanimous vote for something few have read or understand. It doesn't matter who is in office or who we vote for.

If your interested in learning more about various international trade agreements, eff.org and public knowledge do their best to keep an eye on some of them. Wiki has a good entry on TPP which does affect medicine; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Pacific_Strategic_Economic_Partnership
 
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Whosback

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I think it's a middle ground we really need here. Yes the ability for something to be profitable is a great motivator. Honestly ask yourselves would your favorite e-cig company exist if the owners could not make a living from it? Probably not. Would they be able to grow and improve on quality, selection and distribution if they were not profitable? No. It's not the ability to make a profit that generates the corruption we see in BP, it's when the only motivation is to maximize that profit.
 
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