Thread: Obama Deal With Big Pharma

Other interests trump the interest of the American citizen. This transcends party. The Republicans have essentially denied the same things the Obama Admin/Democrats have. The town hall fiascos have served as a distraction, imo.



But, health care reform has to happen.



No matter how many things we disagree on, we need to help and watch out for each other.



While there are conflicting stories coming from the Obama Admin and PhRMA, this memo has now been circulating, after initially being posted on the Huffington Post:







What do you think?

What does "Oppose repeal of non-interference" mean?

[quote name='PoliticalHotwire' date='15 August 2009 - 09:17 PM' timestamp='1250385440' post='5777']

"Oppose Importation" is the HUGE one here.



I'm generally a fan of free trade (as long as it's reciprocated of course), so I'd be vehemently against this. I'm talking out of my ass here, but Canada is our largest supplier of oil. Generally hits to free trade are "tits for tats", so it's looking like to another line-item to consider will be the increased oil prices which will come along with any such deal. And that's just oil... just consider the price of beaver pelts after this as well!



Not a knock against it either way, but part of a holistic view of the program these things have to be considered.



Good catch on that Bluegrass... hadn't seen it.

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A few weeks ago I was listening to a hearing or something on CSPAN about this. Sherrod Brown and a few others were talking about getting rid of the re-importation restrictions. I thought the timing was weird, but they sounded like they were actually going to do it....now I think it was just put out there as a bargaining chip/threat.

[quote name='Bluegrass' date='15 August 2009 - 05:21 PM' timestamp='1250382104' post='5763']

Other interests trump the interest of the American citizen. This transcends party. The Republicans have essentially denied the same things the Obama Admin/Democrats have. The town hall fiascos have served as a distraction, imo.



But, health care reform has to happen.



No matter how many things we disagree on, we need to help and watch out for each other.



While there are conflicting stories coming from the Obama Admin and PhRMA, this memo has now been circulating, after initially being posted on the Huffington Post:







What do you think?

[/quote]



I have a thread on this issue, in the front, it will cost $80 billion, but in the end the cost will be much larger. Another thing to look at would be the meetings between Obama and the insurance co.s, this is nothing more than another bailout under another name....sort of like "cash for shit"!

[quote name='PoliticalHotwire' date='15 August 2009 - 09:26 PM' timestamp='1250386009' post='5787']

"Non-interference" is essentially the status quo. This means that government-driven price negotiations are prohibited [ as it would theoretically affect the market by driving prices for pharma lower ]



I don't know what to think on that one to be quite honest. Probably need to chew on it some more. The intriguing part of that is that if this is going the way of single-payer as most think Obama ultimately wants, it means that the Pharmas will be able to basically set price unchecked [outside of medicaid/care] ----- although it quite certainly is more nuanced than that.

[/quote]



How far away is "ultimately" and do you think Obama will still be president then?

[quote name='Bluegrass' date='15 August 2009 - 08:21 PM' timestamp='1250382104' post='5763']

Other interests trump the interest of the American citizen. This transcends party. The Republicans have essentially denied the same things the Obama Admin/Democrats have. The town hall fiascos have served as a distraction, imo.



But, health care reform has to happen.



No matter how many things we disagree on, we need to help and watch out for each other.



While there are conflicting stories coming from the Obama Admin and PhRMA, this memo has now been circulating, after initially being posted on the Huffington Post:







What do you think?

[/quote]





I think the pharmaceutical industry is a necessary evil (I don't really believe in evil, that's just an expression). It probably needs to be private enterprise, but the unfortunate outcome of this is that patients are mere marketing demographics. Also, the industry, I THINK, heinously runs counter to the notion of wellness, since their profit incentive is based on having sick people and maintaining them in a state of dependence, not curing them.



That said, to date, I have no reason to think that Obama doesn't have my interests ultimately at heart.



And all of this neither accepts or rejects if the memo shown is a hoax or not.

[quote name='Davocrat' date='15 August 2009 - 07:00 PM' timestamp='1250388010' post='5795']

I think the pharmaceutical industry is a necessary evil (I don't really believe in evil, that's just an expression). It probably needs to be private enterprise, but the unfortunate outcome of this is that patients are mere marketing demographics. Also, the industry, I THINK, heinously runs counter to the notion of wellness, since their profit incentive is based on having sick people and maintaining them in a state of dependence, not curing them.



That said, to date, I have no reason to think that Obama doesn't have my interests ultimately at heart.



And all of this neither accepts or rejects if the memo shown is a hoax or not.

[/quote]

You dems have rallied against big pharma and the insurance companies, now you learn that the health care is a bailout for them and you defend it.



Man the hypocrisy is getting deep.