You nailed it Bob.

My daughter claims that I regard Obama "as a savior and he isn't". She has this all wrong. We are not talking about fish and bread here.

I agree with Bob, FWIW.

I've said it before, but it seems like if they turned back the clock and disallowed direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising, we'd see a big decrease in drug prices. Currently more is spent on advertising than R&D.

I'm not at all stressed over this deal. I like the big budget for an ad campaign; it gives our side credibility, visibility, and a chance to play offense. You don't win battles responding to the other side. You make them respond to you and keep them backing away on their heels.

This battle also needs to be about tort reform. I am compassionate toward people who have lost loved ones due to medical malpractice, or have suffered themselves because of it; but the days of winning the lottery because of honest mistakes need to end.

What folks are mad about is this was a backroom deal with Obama and a lobbyist-and mostly leaving out Congress. Which they are not happy about.

During the campaign he said about a hundred times that no lobbyists would be allowed in the WH. Now it's a revolving door.

And the fact that there is no negotiating prices. That's the big prize for Pharma. I'm sure they are more than happy to put out $150M in advertising-they'll just make it up by gouging us some more.

Unlike the insurance industry, big Pharma actually helps people without insurance. They have numerous programs to give moderate to low income uninsured people free medicine, and have done so for many years. That means this news really isn't that shocking, since big Pharma only stands to gain from real health care reform. Instead of giving product away for free they just might have to sell it less to the government.

Of course everyone seems to ignore the counter side of this as it currently stands. These companies are giving away millions a year in free drugs, so they have to make that cost up somewhere else. Tell the teabaggers to think about that next time they're paying $300 to get that prescription filled. Already they are paying for a gerry-rigged form of minimal universal healthcare.

I'm willing to wait and see. You make good points, Bob, but on it's face it just looks bad. They promised the government would have the ability to negotiate drug prices and now that's not the case. And the "not the case" is the result of a quiet deal kept secret from Democrats. Again, they did secure advertising and back-up from the industry, and another 80 billion in savings, but wasn't what was traded away was the ability for the government to save taxpayers many times that amount?

I realize the short term gains here, but I worry about the long term losses.

>>>And the fact that there is no negotiating prices. That's the big prize for Pharma. I'm sure they are more than happy to put out $150M in advertising-they'll just make it up by gouging us some more.

You'd rather they spend that $150 million on advertising against reform?

For those not paying attention, Congress is not cooperating and the President can't get anything done without them. It's not a perfect solution, but as long as it's better than what we have now get your panties unbound and support the man.

I'm not pleased with all his decisions, but I'm also not privy to all his information. If you've never been in charge of anything it's easy to throw your hands in the air, run in circles and scream, "Game over, man, game over!"

We hated the lock (goose?)-stepping of the other guys but the Ds in Congress should be ashamed of their behavior in defense of ripping off the people of this country. If they weren't such gutless assholes, this compromise wouldn't be necessary. Direct your anger there.

"If they weren't such gutless assholes, this compromise wouldn't be necessary. Direct your anger there."

Exactly! Let's not forget at election time. The blew dogs gotta go. I'll donate to whoever runs against them.

"Ask your doctor if Bullshit® is right for you."

I agree with you, Bob. thanks

focusing on the whole rather than one part is important

no change of large magnitude is going to have everything in it exactly how every person wants it

and Congress still has the power to regulate the pharmas