tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post6523490167292453290..comments2024-03-28T10:08:06.291-05:00Comments on Give2Attain: The Villain and DaraprimJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-60980261011893790562015-09-29T10:56:51.292-05:002015-09-29T10:56:51.292-05:00"Are not cash"... You must be kidding....."Are not cash"... You must be kidding... They are paid out by the government and free up the recipient's other cash so it can be used as they wish.<br /><br />I would also argue that medicaid is also welfare though it does not quite fit Laurie's definition. I mean it is paid out by the government, that free health insurance saves the recipient a lot of cash and it is means tested.<br /><br />Please tell me about the tax credits that are available to rich people? I know of none. All of our tax credits phase out at some income level.<br /><br />As far as I know, all rich people get are deductions that require them to spend money or give money away to get some reduction in their tax bill. And those same deductions are available to all of us.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-80641213337578339152015-09-29T10:31:41.224-05:002015-09-29T10:31:41.224-05:00Food stamps and housing/heating assistance are not...Food stamps and housing/heating assistance are not cash. You can't use them to buy other things.<br /><br />It's fascinating, though, that tax credits to poor people are "welfare", but tax credits for wealthy people aren't.Seanhttp://brickcityblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-33319333259800904632015-09-29T10:19:04.494-05:002015-09-29T10:19:04.494-05:00What do you think food stamps are? Stamps?
Or tax...What do you think food stamps are? Stamps?<br /><br />Or tax credits that often result in a sizable tax refund check?<br /><br />Or housing / heating assistance?Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-88496288965893028072015-09-29T09:41:09.324-05:002015-09-29T09:41:09.324-05:00I believe Tanf is the only cash benefit. Do you ha...I believe Tanf is the only cash benefit. Do you have any other examples of cash benefits?Lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780590153257411142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-35684864282569106112015-09-29T08:38:07.375-05:002015-09-29T08:38:07.375-05:00"I am neutral on ACA, however I am happier if..."I am neutral on ACA, however I am happier if Liberals actually admit that for many it is a form of welfare like medicaid that is being paid for by people and companies who pay for non-subsidized policies, and the wealthy."<br /><br />I don't think folks have really denied that, to be honest with you. Seanhttp://brickcityblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-14019299696000650992015-09-28T22:40:31.313-05:002015-09-28T22:40:31.313-05:00"means-tested cash benefits" - that appl..."means-tested cash benefits" - that applies to tons of government handouts, since most phase out some income level.<br /><br />Please remember my comment above...<br /><br />"By the way, I think this hedge fund guy is just a slimy opportunist. Not like the serious companies who take huge risks and spend a fortune on R&D."<br /><br />This could apply to the nitropress medication, however I would need to know more before I was qualified to make a call.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-83375855006994233562015-09-28T21:25:06.707-05:002015-09-28T21:25:06.707-05:00I was using this definition of welfare:
"In ...I was using this definition of welfare:<br /><br />"In the United States, depending on the context, the term “welfare” can be used to refer to means-tested cash benefits, especially the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program and its successor, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant"<br /><br />and my number of 4,000,000 is accurate for the current number of people in the TANF program. Did I mention this number is way down from previous years?<br /><br />also, what do you think of raisng the price of a generic blood pressure medication 1700% ? this increase is so extreme I am not sure of the math to calculate percent increase. I am sure with these types of pricing decisions we can all look forward to more increases in the cost of our health insurance (and many people will blame Obamacare rather than pharmapeutical companies.) The the higher insurance costs may even increase more than the value of your investments. And don't even bother with any more of your corporate apologist drivilLauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780590153257411142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-87071270162637064992015-09-28T19:52:06.607-05:002015-09-28T19:52:06.607-05:00I am neutral on ACA, however I am happier if Liber...I am neutral on ACA, however I am happier if Liberals actually admit that for many it is a form of welfare like medicaid that is being paid for by people and companies who pay for non-subsidized policies, and the wealthy.<br /><br />Remember when Laurie said only ~4 million were getting freebies from the tax payers. When it is closer to 100 million people.<br /><br />My heartburn usually only rises when Liberals say that the successful are not paying their fair share... When they are actually paying their own governmental costs and those of multiple to hundreds of other citizens.<br /><br />Or when they say that these programs are not welfare or a gift to the less fortunate / less motivated.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-18515942485789415832015-09-28T18:17:35.224-05:002015-09-28T18:17:35.224-05:00It's Really Hard Not to Hate the Pharmaceutica...<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/09/its-really-hard-not-hate-pharmaceutical-industry" rel="nofollow">It's Really Hard Not to Hate the Pharmaceutical Industry</a><br /><br /><br />"Another day, another drug. Today comes news of Nitropress, a generic blood pressure drug that was priced at $44 per vial way back in 2013. Then it was sold to Marathon Pharmaceuticals, which raised the price to $257. A few months ago it was sold yet again, this time to Valeant Pharmaceuticals, which raised the price to $806."Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09905073449150541750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-34685537274379409362015-09-28T11:47:37.258-05:002015-09-28T11:47:37.258-05:00The length of times shown in this report is the ti...The length of times shown in this report is the time until final treatment occurs. You can easily find long treatment times in many specialties around here. Yet, despite those waits, Canada has better health outcomes across most metrics and they spend far less doing it than we do. But I guess it's "freedom" or something to die earlier and spend more on your way out the door.<br /><br />Heck, you can't even stomach the ACA, which takes serious steps towards this: "What policies will discourage every American from acting irresponsibly and taking advantage of the efforts and charity of others?" by reducing the number of health care free-riders.Seanhttp://brickcityblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-86092652162398838382015-09-28T11:37:39.475-05:002015-09-28T11:37:39.475-05:00Maybe I just don't like waiting in lines...<a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canada-must-offer-private-options-along-with-universal-health-care-to-combat-long-wait-times-report" rel="nofollow">Maybe I just don't like waiting in lines...</a>Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-3780683769877003622015-09-28T09:17:22.696-05:002015-09-28T09:17:22.696-05:00It's interesting that despite all these proble...It's interesting that despite all these problems that other countries have, they manage to produce better heath results and spend less money doing so. And yet you revel in our system's clear inefficiency and waste!Seanhttp://brickcityblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-73433039198912004462015-09-28T08:13:08.807-05:002015-09-28T08:13:08.807-05:00I have no doubt that those systems are more equita...I have no doubt that those systems are more equitable.<br /><br />However being someone who can afford better and after talking to my peers from those countries, I would have no desire to have a system like those here in America.<br /><br />Poor availability of equipment, long waits for procedures, limited max benefits, etc...Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-29805872812376440442015-09-27T23:54:11.759-05:002015-09-27T23:54:11.759-05:00specifically we spend twice as much per capita on ...specifically we spend twice as much per capita on pharmaceuticals ($1000 compared to $500 OECD average)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.oecd.org/unitedstates/Briefing-Note-UNITED-STATES-2014.pdf" rel="nofollow">OECD Health Statistics 2014<br />How does the United States compare? </a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09905073449150541750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-84505220025488692552015-09-27T23:34:57.742-05:002015-09-27T23:34:57.742-05:00USA spends from 30-50% more on healthcare than oth...USA spends from 30-50% more on healthcare than other countries, so it would make sense that we might make more medical advances. On the other hand we still rank 11 out of 11 overall in quality of our healthcare system compared to other countries, so perhaps our capitalist system is not that great after all.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2014/jun/mirror-mirror" rel="nofollow">Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, 2014 Update: How the U.S. Health Care System Compares Internationally</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09905073449150541750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-57257333760875984122015-09-27T21:55:30.817-05:002015-09-27T21:55:30.817-05:00If your proposed system is better... Why is it th...If your proposed system is better... Why is it the American /Capitalistic system that creates most of the ground breaking medications in the world? And not the research systems in those price fixing countries?Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-80839768035022443592015-09-27T20:57:43.709-05:002015-09-27T20:57:43.709-05:00You have far more faith in governmental bureaucrat...You have far more faith in governmental bureaucrats than I do.<br /><br />Please remember that these are the folks who brought us our public school system where a large number of students make it to 18 years old without being academical competent.<br /><br />I don't think putting our lives in their hands is a very good idea. Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-69428760642080166252015-09-27T18:51:32.044-05:002015-09-27T18:51:32.044-05:00What if you had a rare, life threatening condition...What if you had a rare, life threatening condition that could be treated effectively with a medication manufactured by only one company and the cost of your treatment was $1,000,000 not covered by your insurance, (previously this medication was available for $250,000) What would you think of our capitalism based health care system then?<br /><br />I think socialized medicine makes much more sense. The govt could fund research and I bet most research scientists would do a good job working for about $150,000, we could pay them more if need be. We'd have a much more sensible, cost effective, and inclusive healthcare system. The losers would be the CEOs who would no longer be making their billions by over charging patients.Lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780590153257411142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-48129405733197256422015-09-27T15:13:00.639-05:002015-09-27T15:13:00.639-05:00I am not the one proposing change. I think our soc...I am not the one proposing change. I think our society is already funding adequately and putting bounds on medical research with Medicaid, Medicare and Insurance policy rules.<br /><br />You are the one who is proposing that these rules are not fair. And that people should be forced by the government to sell their efforts / product for less than they currently can.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-13011828544309207322015-09-27T14:41:42.669-05:002015-09-27T14:41:42.669-05:00Maybe you would be infavor of paying $10,000 more ...Maybe you would be infavor of paying $10,000 more per year for insurance to fund even more medical research, who can put a price on life saving treatments, right. Why not even $20,000 more per family.Lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780590153257411142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-76643704611158991582015-09-27T11:30:47.751-05:002015-09-27T11:30:47.751-05:00Laurie,
You seem to have no problem driving my tax...Laurie,<br />You seem to have no problem driving my taxes up another couple thousand of dollars per year...<br /><br />Now answer my question, what drugs would you want to delay the introduction of?<br /><br />Please remember that if it wasn't for "big pharma" you would not be even discussing who had access to these drugs... Because no one would. They would not have been discovered.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-5796630462381858882015-09-27T10:11:34.704-05:002015-09-27T10:11:34.704-05:00What if your health insurance went up by another c...What if your health insurance went up by another couple of thousand a year to support pharmaceutical research, would you be in favor ot this? As for me I 'd rather spend the money on a spring break vacation.Lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780590153257411142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-90787949207954457342015-09-27T09:14:04.774-05:002015-09-27T09:14:04.774-05:00" I would prefer about 50 percent less and le..." I would prefer about 50 percent less and less innovation and less profits and greater access."<br /><br />Which of these would you prefer not have been developed?<br /><a href="http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/DrugInnovation/UCM430299.pdf" rel="nofollow">FDA Report</a> <br /><a href="https://www.centerwatch.com/drug-information/fda-approved-drugs/year/2000" rel="nofollow">CenterWatch 2000</a><br /><br />How would you decided?<br /><br />Being that I am a huge beneficiary of the 1980's anti-anxiety / anti-depression medications, I am a big fan of innovation to help the many...Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-58886820234703592412015-09-26T19:51:50.664-05:002015-09-26T19:51:50.664-05:00Gilead could continue to make reasonable profits, ...Gilead could continue to make reasonable profits, develop new drugs, pay thir employees well and save the lives of thousands of more patients by reducing the price of Sovaldi by 25%.<br /><br />Or maybe they should jack up the price more, as this is a life saving drug and those who can will pay any price. Also, it seems billions are not enough for their ceo and you need to further pad you IRA. So thousands more would die, but at least you could enjoy a more upscale retirement.Lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780590153257411142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-79720887045359684242015-09-26T14:11:13.384-05:002015-09-26T14:11:13.384-05:00Is there any level of earnings or profits that you...Is there any level of earnings or profits that you would consider excessive in health care field? I believe I read That drugs I the USA cost about $1000 per person I would prefer about 50 percent less and less inovation and less profits and greater access.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09905073449150541750noreply@blogger.com