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EducateWorthington.org

The 912 Project - Glenn Beck

912 Group of Central Ohio

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[We could say [Democrats] spend money like drunken sailors, but that would be unfair to drunken sailors. It would be unfair, because the sailors are spending their own money. --Ronald ReaganAl Gore didn't invent the internet, he invented global warmingThe welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants - CamusThe person who advocates government planning of the economy always assumes that it is his plan that will be put into effect. --Hayek]

Drugmakers must consider both public good and profit
Saturday, August 21, 2004

As a physician, I understand Robert Martin’s antipathy toward government regulation of the health-care industry ("Drug companies aren’t much good if they go bankrupt," letter, July 31).

It is often frustrating to have invested years and tens of thousands of dollars to provide a service that many people consider a right but few people want to pay for. But Martin’s attempt to apply pure free-market economy principles to the debate leads him to some misinformed conclusions.

Martin’s argument that "the government should never be used as a tool to disrupt the free-market system and seize private property from one group and give it to another" rings as hollow as that of the isolationists who refuse to pay taxes because it violates their God-given individual rights but then depend on the roadways, sewer systems and emergency medical services that the government provides with that tax money.

http://www.dispatch.com/editorials-story.p...821-A11-00.html



 

[Edmund Burke]

Actually, I'd say the truth is somewhere between "Mr. Martin" and "Dr. Vaughn."  I doubt many people want medical laissez-faire in this country (unless they want to bring back the "snack-oil" days), nor do most people want socialized medicine (unless they want to die waiting for that bypass surgery!).  Conservatives understand it is stupid to put one's faith in either the market or government...both are run by human beings.  We generally are more kindly disposed toward the market because it DOES NOT have a monopoly on coercion (as government generally does), but that's not the same thing as believing that everything works out for the best under a market approach.  Sometimes it doesn't.

My view is that, if government is enforcing patent laws, then corporations have certain obligations to be responsible in dealing with the public.  Seems fair to me.

My view is that, if government is enforcing patent laws, then corporations have certain obligations to be responsible in dealing with the public. Seems fair to me.

Creating new lifesavings drugs is a pretty responsible thing for me. Why treat drugs any differently from any other product? I would argue we should let them charge even more. Drug companies save lives, not Governments, and we shoudl reward the Drug compaines as much as possible.  Drug compaines simply offer choices. If you don't create the drug, then you don'e even have the choice to pay a high price for it. Can you show any case studies around the world where the free market doesn't deliver the highest standard of living? Let the market decide what is fair, not some voter. Also, why cry about drug proces when Movie and Rock Stars and Athletes get paid millions? We demonize CEOs and Drug Companies, but they contribute far more to society than the people that get paid the same or more, but we give them a pass.
 

[Edmund Burke]

I agree with most of what you say (I'm a free-marketer for the most part).  However, patents are a way of using the power of government to restrict competition over a period of time.  It is also a way the state recognizes ownership.  Seems to me if you expect "the people" to enforce your ownership rights, then some obligations (beyond the bottom line) come into play.  One obligation is not to use monopoly to gouge the population (and I can cite lots of rightwing economists who would agree).

So...I'm willing to recognize a company's ownership over something and protect them from competition for a period of time, but not forever, and not if they abuse that privilege (which is what it is...in a laissez-faire world ... such as Asia...screw your ownership rights!).

The problem with drug prices can be traced to three  government restrictions:

1. there's a ten year waiting period before a drug can be used in the US, and those 10 years are counted against patent protection even though the drug can not be sold.  (Thus effectively taking 10 years off the patent)

2. No imports allowed.

3. Prescriptions

And don't forget Medicaid and Medicare who never pay full price for anything, and this jacks up the price of medical care for everyone else, especially the uninsured.

 

[Edmund Burke]

I'm not claiming that government regulation is perfect or desireable.  I am not an idealist on that score, but then again we should also be leery of corporations...they are capable of greed, deceit, and underhandedness just like government.

Perhaps we should do away with "patents" altogether and just award permanent ownership to whomever develops a new process/technology/drug.  I'd be OK with that, and as Apple computer aptly demonstrated, holding on too tightly to your ownership of a thing means you lose out to competitors.

Also...it's OK to get rid of the FDA and all those regs...but I would insist on jailtime for executives who market products they know are defective and of course bankruptcy for their organizations.  If the market is to guarantee responsibility, then "hardball" becomes the way to go.  No sacred cows here!