Toward a More Perfect Union: A Prescriptive Approach — Big Pharma
Big Pharma
Intimately related to the healthcare issue is that of the pharmaceutical industry (Big Pharma.) Alongside the insurance and gun lobbies, the drug lobby is one of the most powerful in our country. Unsurprisingly, we have the highest costs for drugs in the world, and the weakest oversight on the industry.
The fact that our Medicare system (CMS) is forbidden by law to negotiate drug prices beggars common sense. The fact that our pharmaceutical companies are allowed to set and inflate their prices without limit also makes no sense. The fact that our northern neighbor Canada is able to obtain and market its drugs at a fraction the cost of ours is evidence that our system is broken.
All this has happened because so many in our congress have been derelict in their duty to work on behalf of their constituents. Too many of our so-called “representatives” are effectively owned by and mouthpieces for Big Pharma.
The solution for this should be obvious: oust the members of congress who take money from Big Pharma and elect candidates who openly pledge to not take any of that tainted money or allow their influence to dictate one’s vote. Then, with sufficient numbers in congress to change the rules, the rules need to be changed to allow competitive bidding for pharmaceutical drugs and to keep a close watch on the industry to squelch attempts to corner markets and inflate prices. Failure of a company or CEO to comply would lead to massive fines and/or prison.
Continued in Part 13 — Environment
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Return to Part 2 — Voting & Election Issues
Return to Part 3 — Gerrymandering & Courts
Return to Part 4 — Congress
Return to Part 5 — President and DOJ
Return to Part 6 — Campaign Financing
Return to Part 7 — Lying and Ethics
Return to Part 8 — Sexism and LGBT
Return to Part 9 — Abortion & Church/State
Return to Part 10 — Guns
Return to Part 11 — Healthcare & VA
Go to Part 14 — Energy
Go to Part 15 — Education
Go to Part 16 — Economics
Go to Part 17 — Unions, Safety Net
Go to Part 18 — Homelessness
Go to Part 19 — Trade, Tariffs
Go to Part 20 — Media
Go to Part 21 — War, National Security
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Above is the twelfth of numerous submissions wherein I suggest ways our country, our government, and the world can be made better. I am an old fart in my 70’s and have seen much: the turmoil of the 1960’s; Vietnam (where I served as an infantry officer and was awarded a purple heart and other medals); the anti-Vietnam protests (in which I participated while still in uniform); Watergate, the rise of the right wing attack on the poor and powerless during and after the Reagan years; the continued wars in Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan and pretty much everywhere else; the Clinton years, the invasion of Iraq in 2002 and the never-ending war since; the brief glow of sunshine during the Obama years; and now Trump. While my dog in this fight is getting long in the tooth, I still deeply care about three things: my country, my country’s honor, and the future we leave to our descendants. My personal history, other than military service, includes college teaching, computer support, hospital IT supervision, consulting, and now — in my retirement — substitute teaching.
I make my recommendations in all seriousness, recognizing that most of them are not immediately attainable. Nevertheless, if we elect people who share our values as our representatives at all levels of government, we can accomplish much.