Woodshop Capitalism

We Americans are a funny lot. The Medicare bill promoted by the administration cost 40% more than they said it would. That's a tremendous windfall for the pharmaceutical industry.

Bush and company lied about the costs of the program to our own congress! Cost? About $140 billion extra. We pay for that. Those are our tax monies shuffled over to the pharmas. But that doesn't upset us. Why? Because they're doing it. Why? Because they can.

Our prescription drug costs put the squeeze on elderly, poor, the underinsured and uninsured. The same drugs cost 10-50% less in Canada. Our government represents the best interests of the drug industry over our own. Why? Because it doesn't upset us all that much.

Many Americans go through Canada to procure their U.S. drugs at cheaper Canadian prices. But that's in the process of changing. Canada is beginning to clamp down on drugs exported to U.S. citizens. Why? They fear shortages for Canadians. Why? Because 8 U.S. pharmaceutical companies have already placed limits on the amount of drugs sold to Canada knowing some have been getting back to Americans, at cheaper prices!

I anticipate some of us getting upset by our loss of these cheaper drugs, but I suspect nothing will be done to stop it. Why? Because the pharmaceuticals can do it. Why? Because we allow it!

So what will be the end result? Will we blame Canada? Will we find somewhere else to get cheaper drugs? Maybe Moldova or Malawi? But how long will it be before our government backed pharmaceuticals shut those off too? Don't worry, it'll be okay. It's just gonna cost us a little more, that's all. Let's just put our heads back in the vise clamp and tighten a little more. Once the pain subsides, repeat step 3 above, again.