[PLUG-TALK] Re: Socialist Facism

[Jeme A Brelin]

On Tue, 16 Nov 2004, Darkhorse wrote:
> It may be that drugs are underpriced in socialist countries and
> overpriced here where they're researched mostly.  If you set uniform
> international prices for drugs, Americans would pay less, but drug costs
> in socialist countries would rise.  Socialism's goal of making everyone
> equal can have a chilling effect on the quality of medicine and care.
> If you want good medicine, there is a base price that you have to pay.

You're under the false impression that drug companies are footing the bill
for the research and not getting additional massive subsidies in the form
of patent protections.

Publicly funded research results in patents filed by drug companies.
That's right, the tax payers pay for research and some privateer claims
exclusive dominion over the results of the work.

Research and development can be done in the academic system where it is
being driven by the morals of science and the search for knowledge rather
than the morals of commerce and the search for new ways to exploit people.

Jonas Salk cured polio.  Gone.  He didn't seek patent protection.  He
shared his discover with the world because it is just not right to keep
people from health so that you can make a profit.

The profit-driven drug industry seeks to develop maintenance medicines to
keep people buying the drug for as long as the patent can be extended.
And so long as a drug is selling well, there is no drive to develop new
drugs that will end dependence and cure the illness.

J.
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     Jeme A Brelin
    jeme at brelin.net
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