Patricia, James, Jim - we're with you. Not that Big Pharma is the only exploiter of the public's basic needs, but it is by far the most egregious. This just has to stop!!!
This fight with the drug oligarchs is important. It's success can be a life-changer for millions of people. Made me think about the 2016 Presidential election. Enough voters passed on Hillary in November because they 'didn't like her'. Well, how's that working for ya? Pissed about all sorts of stuff (most personal) and willing to forget about Michael Cohen, Trump's partner in crime, who taught The Donald to attack attackers (never mind their truth, his bogus claims), deny, deny, deny; no finger-prints. Back to Hillary. Angry about Bill's filandering. Didn't like her pant-suits. Well, we had a full-fledged national disaster and very nearly a constitutional breakdown on January 6 (a day that shall live in Infamy). Why? Because a growing number of our countrypeople have become lazy, self-absorbed, uneducated, blah blah blah, etc. Think politics and voting is for other people....
[I know a woman who bought a glass-front armoire to display every knick-knack available in honor of Princess Diana, and who's children were heathens. Of course she doesn't have time to vote!].
In high school, my civics teacher talked about the holocaust; he passed out magazines and photographs of Auschwitz. I never got those photos out of my mind. Schools slowing lost any mojo they may have had and are increasingly in the hands of right-wing nincompoops and kids are getting dummer than ever. (Generation upon generation.)
So, back to Biden and Big Pharma. Let's say the 2024 Presidental choice is Biden or Trump; Biden or Nicki; Biden vs. Sir Woke; Biden vs. Rumplestiltzkin. I don't care if Biden forgets what he's saying, falls down the stairs of Airforce #1. I'm. voting for him because BIDEN is our ONLY CHANGE TO STOP THE CRAZIES. And he is the only chance we have to pursue our goals. BUT, if for any reason Biden is not on the ballot, I will vote for the Democratic nominee, whoeveritmaybe. And so should you! Everybody! VOTE! Otherwise the White House will look like the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives, as Marjory and Company stripped everything, including McCarthy's facade of character, and took over! Do you think ANY Republican elected to the White House can withstand that violent, vicious, vacuous mob? And should Biden achieve success or progress with drug pricing, with public lands management, with women's rights, (forget NATO, et al) -- if it can be undone, destroyed, a Republican administration WILL DO IT!
Damnit, everybody! Stop agreeing that Biden is TOO OLD. Stop kicking Harris around. You are abetting people who, IF THAT IS THE TICKET, will stay away from the polls! (We also need the House of Representatives back! More Dems in the Senate! We need people to go to the polls, not stay home watching "Survivor" while the country goes straight to hell!)
Be positive! There are horrendous consequences of a Republican victory in 2024.
I know this is a tad off Jim's subject, but not really.
Structural inequities are not just the fault of the horrifically awful Repubs. When the so-called centrist Dem elite succeeded in their late '70s-early '80s unfriendly take-over, they pushed the D party to the right, ditching the New Deal and abandoning labor. I know--I fought them at the time and I've done the research to back up my claims. This same political strategy also helped enable the Rs to go full out fascist.
Consider just who sponsors the D party--corporate donors, including Big Pharma. Whose interests are likely served?! These same "Dems" may use New Deal words, but watch what they actually do. Or don't do. They did for the Rust Belt working class victims exactly what they did to the Wall St. vultures who caused the '08 crash--NOTHING! The impact of which was to hit yet more blue collar working people by wiping out retirement funds and mortgages. But who cares about that declasse' "basket of deplorables" as Hilary Clinton so eloquently put it.
The Dem "leaders" are neolibs; apologists for the deeply unfair trickle-up econ system. A system of econopathy predicated on endless growth, ignoring the very real limits to the carrying capacity of the planet. The underlying theory makes corporate accounting where devastation of human communities and destruction are dismissed as externalities; in plain English, they don't count.
Furthermore, this admin has allied itself with the neocons. The PNAC (look it up) group founded by such stellar people as Dick Cheney and Robert Kagan, husband of the current under sec of State Victoria Nuland. They're into empire by any means necessary, the cover term for which is "unipolar." Translated into plain English, domination and power by the few for the few. Thus a military budget that is above all else, which is coincidentally really, really good for business. And why there is so little money left to support the common good.
To any Dem apologist out there: please explain why these are good ideas. Never mind that the D party never points with pride at this ugly reality. How is the Dem elite not part of the ruling oligarchy? Why are these Ivy Ds, the 2.0 version of D. Halberstam's Best and Brightest and their war folly, at all acceptable? So how exactly is any of this workin' for ya?
Thank you Jim Hightower. Your important column spoke to the point about much-needed reform to finally bring the huge pharmaceuticals to heel. They have lined their pockets for so many years. You also made the crucial point that much of the basic research to develop new medicines is conducted in Government funded laboratories before pharma gloms onto the research and patents it for big profits.
Who is responsible for our outrageous pharmaceutical woes? We have found the enemy, and it is us. We have allowed political patronage, (legalized thievery), to control our lives, not just drug costs. How do you think the explosion of billionaires came about? The dumbed down citizenry deserves what we get. It's time to quit whining and abolish the lobbyists and the their present day robber barons.
You are correct. WE are responsible! Like I said, stupid and too lazy to care. To vote.
The people who represent us, each of us, in the House and the Senate, have power because they got more votes and the special intereset lobby have more money!.
Let's also realize that most of the risk in new drug development is shouldered by small innovative biotech companies who if showing real promise , end up being controlled by hedge fund moguls who funded them for half the company. Thus big pharma risks virtually nothing, with their R&D efforts largely motivated by tweaking existing proprietary drugs so as to extend patent rights over competitors.
Sep 7, 2023·edited Sep 7, 2023Liked by Jim Hightower
I'd like to read about "...most basic drug development is done by tax-funded medical researchers, not brand-name market hucksters.". What are your sources? The current structure of the patent system for medications is a significant contributor to their cost. You alluded to it, but didn't elaborate on it. I'd like to read more about that, too.
There is no competition for business for big pharma - their lackeys have bribed, swindled, and lied their way to squeeze every last nickel out of the average citizen. Senator Bernie Sanders has been screaming about this for years now and I thank him for his tireless work for the American people! President Biden is making real progress with real RESULTS for the good of ALL it’s citizens! It’s been a long time coming but IT’S COMING!
I have been told there are THREE 'lobbyists' per Congressman! But let not call them 'lobbyists' because there true name should be bribery agents! Too bad our elected representatives do NOT represent US! The Bible says the love of money IS the root of all evil and our Congress has a lot of LOVE in it (for money not service to and for the people)!
I am a pharmacists daughter(Dad retired in 1960) and we grew up using the older remedies rarely going to the doctor, in his day people called my father Doc and spoke with him because doctors were too expensive. Now it's all about insurance and what they will pay for. I take homeopathic remedies which are OTC and l consider it to be my good health insurance, Humana doesn't have any of the supplements that l get from my chiropractor and l am paying a premium penalty because l didn't take the Medicare F to pay for prescription drugs, but l don't take any and haven't needed to either.
American medical care is corrupt from the ground up. From the drug companies to the for profit hospitals, medical practice companies, etc. Single payer (i.e. medicare for all) is a beginning to cleaning up the system.
I have heard many stories from folks about the doctor prescribing a drug and the pharmacist telling them they can not mix it with their other prescriptions, or a general practitioner prescribing psychotropic medication for a mental health issue that a psychiatrist should have been consulted for. I had a bumper sticker that said " Ask your doctor if a drug recommended by a television commercial could be right for you!"
Patricia, James, Jim - we're with you. Not that Big Pharma is the only exploiter of the public's basic needs, but it is by far the most egregious. This just has to stop!!!
This fight with the drug oligarchs is important. It's success can be a life-changer for millions of people. Made me think about the 2016 Presidential election. Enough voters passed on Hillary in November because they 'didn't like her'. Well, how's that working for ya? Pissed about all sorts of stuff (most personal) and willing to forget about Michael Cohen, Trump's partner in crime, who taught The Donald to attack attackers (never mind their truth, his bogus claims), deny, deny, deny; no finger-prints. Back to Hillary. Angry about Bill's filandering. Didn't like her pant-suits. Well, we had a full-fledged national disaster and very nearly a constitutional breakdown on January 6 (a day that shall live in Infamy). Why? Because a growing number of our countrypeople have become lazy, self-absorbed, uneducated, blah blah blah, etc. Think politics and voting is for other people....
[I know a woman who bought a glass-front armoire to display every knick-knack available in honor of Princess Diana, and who's children were heathens. Of course she doesn't have time to vote!].
In high school, my civics teacher talked about the holocaust; he passed out magazines and photographs of Auschwitz. I never got those photos out of my mind. Schools slowing lost any mojo they may have had and are increasingly in the hands of right-wing nincompoops and kids are getting dummer than ever. (Generation upon generation.)
So, back to Biden and Big Pharma. Let's say the 2024 Presidental choice is Biden or Trump; Biden or Nicki; Biden vs. Sir Woke; Biden vs. Rumplestiltzkin. I don't care if Biden forgets what he's saying, falls down the stairs of Airforce #1. I'm. voting for him because BIDEN is our ONLY CHANGE TO STOP THE CRAZIES. And he is the only chance we have to pursue our goals. BUT, if for any reason Biden is not on the ballot, I will vote for the Democratic nominee, whoeveritmaybe. And so should you! Everybody! VOTE! Otherwise the White House will look like the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives, as Marjory and Company stripped everything, including McCarthy's facade of character, and took over! Do you think ANY Republican elected to the White House can withstand that violent, vicious, vacuous mob? And should Biden achieve success or progress with drug pricing, with public lands management, with women's rights, (forget NATO, et al) -- if it can be undone, destroyed, a Republican administration WILL DO IT!
Damnit, everybody! Stop agreeing that Biden is TOO OLD. Stop kicking Harris around. You are abetting people who, IF THAT IS THE TICKET, will stay away from the polls! (We also need the House of Representatives back! More Dems in the Senate! We need people to go to the polls, not stay home watching "Survivor" while the country goes straight to hell!)
Be positive! There are horrendous consequences of a Republican victory in 2024.
I know this is a tad off Jim's subject, but not really.
Stop Blaming The Victims!
Structural inequities are not just the fault of the horrifically awful Repubs. When the so-called centrist Dem elite succeeded in their late '70s-early '80s unfriendly take-over, they pushed the D party to the right, ditching the New Deal and abandoning labor. I know--I fought them at the time and I've done the research to back up my claims. This same political strategy also helped enable the Rs to go full out fascist.
Consider just who sponsors the D party--corporate donors, including Big Pharma. Whose interests are likely served?! These same "Dems" may use New Deal words, but watch what they actually do. Or don't do. They did for the Rust Belt working class victims exactly what they did to the Wall St. vultures who caused the '08 crash--NOTHING! The impact of which was to hit yet more blue collar working people by wiping out retirement funds and mortgages. But who cares about that declasse' "basket of deplorables" as Hilary Clinton so eloquently put it.
The Dem "leaders" are neolibs; apologists for the deeply unfair trickle-up econ system. A system of econopathy predicated on endless growth, ignoring the very real limits to the carrying capacity of the planet. The underlying theory makes corporate accounting where devastation of human communities and destruction are dismissed as externalities; in plain English, they don't count.
Furthermore, this admin has allied itself with the neocons. The PNAC (look it up) group founded by such stellar people as Dick Cheney and Robert Kagan, husband of the current under sec of State Victoria Nuland. They're into empire by any means necessary, the cover term for which is "unipolar." Translated into plain English, domination and power by the few for the few. Thus a military budget that is above all else, which is coincidentally really, really good for business. And why there is so little money left to support the common good.
To any Dem apologist out there: please explain why these are good ideas. Never mind that the D party never points with pride at this ugly reality. How is the Dem elite not part of the ruling oligarchy? Why are these Ivy Ds, the 2.0 version of D. Halberstam's Best and Brightest and their war folly, at all acceptable? So how exactly is any of this workin' for ya?
Bravo!! It's not off Jim's subject, it's expanding it, and YOU ARE RIGHT ON TARGET!
It's odd that we can have corporate entities that have the same rights as citizens and yet they--by definition--have no conscience.
A clever bumper sticker says: "I'll believe corporations are people when Texas executes one."
Since as a real person I do have a conscience, I'm against the death penalty...but I'd sure make an exception here.
Great comment! Thanks Ravi😂👏🏻🥰
Rafi.... my phone only went to kindergarten
Amen, Rafi! Amen.
Thank you Jim Hightower. Your important column spoke to the point about much-needed reform to finally bring the huge pharmaceuticals to heel. They have lined their pockets for so many years. You also made the crucial point that much of the basic research to develop new medicines is conducted in Government funded laboratories before pharma gloms onto the research and patents it for big profits.
Who is responsible for our outrageous pharmaceutical woes? We have found the enemy, and it is us. We have allowed political patronage, (legalized thievery), to control our lives, not just drug costs. How do you think the explosion of billionaires came about? The dumbed down citizenry deserves what we get. It's time to quit whining and abolish the lobbyists and the their present day robber barons.
You are correct. WE are responsible! Like I said, stupid and too lazy to care. To vote.
The people who represent us, each of us, in the House and the Senate, have power because they got more votes and the special intereset lobby have more money!.
Let's also realize that most of the risk in new drug development is shouldered by small innovative biotech companies who if showing real promise , end up being controlled by hedge fund moguls who funded them for half the company. Thus big pharma risks virtually nothing, with their R&D efforts largely motivated by tweaking existing proprietary drugs so as to extend patent rights over competitors.
Keep it up, please!
I'd like to read about "...most basic drug development is done by tax-funded medical researchers, not brand-name market hucksters.". What are your sources? The current structure of the patent system for medications is a significant contributor to their cost. You alluded to it, but didn't elaborate on it. I'd like to read more about that, too.
There is no competition for business for big pharma - their lackeys have bribed, swindled, and lied their way to squeeze every last nickel out of the average citizen. Senator Bernie Sanders has been screaming about this for years now and I thank him for his tireless work for the American people! President Biden is making real progress with real RESULTS for the good of ALL it’s citizens! It’s been a long time coming but IT’S COMING!
Way overdue,I think.
Big Pharma had too much power. It should never had happened.
Does anyone remember when Republicons cared about anybody?
(Neither do I….)
I have been told there are THREE 'lobbyists' per Congressman! But let not call them 'lobbyists' because there true name should be bribery agents! Too bad our elected representatives do NOT represent US! The Bible says the love of money IS the root of all evil and our Congress has a lot of LOVE in it (for money not service to and for the people)!
I am a pharmacists daughter(Dad retired in 1960) and we grew up using the older remedies rarely going to the doctor, in his day people called my father Doc and spoke with him because doctors were too expensive. Now it's all about insurance and what they will pay for. I take homeopathic remedies which are OTC and l consider it to be my good health insurance, Humana doesn't have any of the supplements that l get from my chiropractor and l am paying a premium penalty because l didn't take the Medicare F to pay for prescription drugs, but l don't take any and haven't needed to either.
First, negotiation is the essence of capitalism.
Second, if other countries are paying less, does that mean that Americans are paying for the R&D and thus subsiding everyone else?
American medical care is corrupt from the ground up. From the drug companies to the for profit hospitals, medical practice companies, etc. Single payer (i.e. medicare for all) is a beginning to cleaning up the system.
I have heard many stories from folks about the doctor prescribing a drug and the pharmacist telling them they can not mix it with their other prescriptions, or a general practitioner prescribing psychotropic medication for a mental health issue that a psychiatrist should have been consulted for. I had a bumper sticker that said " Ask your doctor if a drug recommended by a television commercial could be right for you!"