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Company hires lobbyists to ensure Medicare isn't allowed to negotiate drug prices, then convinces the public it's Medicare's fault. I can't believe we're still

Company hires lobbyists to ensure Medicare isn't allowed to negotiate drug prices, then convinces the public it's Medicare's fault. I can't believe we're still falling for this shit.

AndrewBissell 5y ago
"Blame Medicare." No, no I don't think I will. Most shameless propaganda headline since "Don't blame Blackrock for the housing crisis, blame your neighbors."
- Dracophoenix 5y ago
  I don't see how that last statement isn't true. Blackrock isn't putting guns to people's heads nor is it abusing eminent domain to get these houses.
  - AndrewBissell 5y ago
    Yes, let's just pretend that the whole context in which they're operating is entirely dependent of their lobbying efforts, connections to the government and Federal Reserve, etc
    - Dracophoenix 5y ago
      How do those factors affect the seller's due diligence? I'll agree with the potential conflict of interest, but conflict of interest on its own doesn't stop anyone else from buying homes for their own purposes, even those among the highest levels of government. Unless such a sale is accomplished through an abuse of eminent domain or fraudulent representation, any transactions ought to be between buyer, seller, and contractually relevant parties. And as side note, lobbying is not a bad word. Anyone who vouches for, or on behalf of one's interests before government is a lobbyist by definition. That goes for John Q Public as much as it does for Blackrock.
throw123123123 5y ago
I truly don't understand this reasoning. If lobbyists buy politicians, the sell out are the politicians, and then healthcare administration must be taken away from government..
- 10000truths 5y ago
  So you hold both parties accountable. Neither is being held at gunpoint here - both are mutually consenting to an exchange, and thus both are responsible for the consequences thereof.
  - throw123123123 5y ago
    The tax payer is being held at gunpoint by the government: he must pay for this exchange involuntarily. The private enterprise does not hold that privilege.
- Ericson2314 5y ago
  Getting rid of medicare could fix this price gouging, but not price gouging in medicine in gneeral. Look at insulin: The efficient market response to jacked up insulin prices is...um...mercy kill your diabetic relatives and procreate new ones in their stead. Yeah, no thanks. The only solution is public healthcare and unfucked voting systems. Say it to yourself until you get it.
  - dantheman 5y ago
    Or perhaps allow competition and not government granted monopolies through patents and approvals?
    - Ericson2314 5y ago
      Did you read my insulin example? The patents expired, at least. Don't get me wrong, markers are good for some things, but healthcare is not among them.
  - reedjosh 5y ago
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
ParoxysmalVigor 5y ago
There is nothing with business protecting their interests with lobbysts or without. Only people who you could blame are lawmakers. They are the people with real power and your interest representatives.

Company hires lobbyists to ensure Medicare isn't allowed to negotiate drug prices, then convinces the public it's Medicare's fault. I can't believe we're still falling for this shit.

AndrewBissell 5y ago

"Blame Medicare." No, no I don't think I will. Most shameless propaganda headline since "Don't blame Blackrock for the housing crisis, blame your neighbors."

Dracophoenix 5y ago
I don't see how that last statement isn't true. Blackrock isn't putting guns to people's heads nor is it abusing eminent domain to get these houses.
- AndrewBissell 5y ago
  Yes, let's just pretend that the whole context in which they're operating is entirely dependent of their lobbying efforts, connections to the government and Federal Reserve, etc
  - Dracophoenix 5y ago
    How do those factors affect the seller's due diligence? I'll agree with the potential conflict of interest, but conflict of interest on its own doesn't stop anyone else from buying homes for their own purposes, even those among the highest levels of government. Unless such a sale is accomplished through an abuse of eminent domain or fraudulent representation, any transactions ought to be between buyer, seller, and contractually relevant parties. And as side note, lobbying is not a bad word. Anyone who vouches for, or on behalf of one's interests before government is a lobbyist by definition. That goes for John Q Public as much as it does for Blackrock.

throw123123123 5y ago

I truly don't understand this reasoning. If lobbyists buy politicians, the sell out are the politicians, and then healthcare administration must be taken away from government..

10000truths 5y ago
So you hold both parties accountable. Neither is being held at gunpoint here - both are mutually consenting to an exchange, and thus both are responsible for the consequences thereof.
- throw123123123 5y ago
  The tax payer is being held at gunpoint by the government: he must pay for this exchange involuntarily. The private enterprise does not hold that privilege.
Ericson2314 5y ago
Getting rid of medicare could fix this price gouging, but not price gouging in medicine in gneeral. Look at insulin: The efficient market response to jacked up insulin prices is...um...mercy kill your diabetic relatives and procreate new ones in their stead. Yeah, no thanks. The only solution is public healthcare and unfucked voting systems. Say it to yourself until you get it.
- dantheman 5y ago
  Or perhaps allow competition and not government granted monopolies through patents and approvals?
  - Ericson2314 5y ago
    Did you read my insulin example? The patents expired, at least. Don't get me wrong, markers are good for some things, but healthcare is not among them.
- reedjosh 5y ago

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

ParoxysmalVigor 5y ago

There is nothing with business protecting their interests with lobbysts or without. Only people who you could blame are lawmakers. They are the people with real power and your interest representatives.