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Big Drug Companies Basking in the Sun |
Our friends at the Alliance for Retired Americans send us this.
Big drug companies remain cheerful about their election-year fate. Last week, Schering-Plough CEO Fred Hassan claimed that more than 50 percent of the American public has a favorable opinion of the pharmaceutical industry and that efforts to let Medicare negotiate drug prices have “died down” because seniors are so satisfied with the Part D prescription drug benefit.
However, a Harris Interactive poll conducted in October found that oil and drug companies tied at 53 percent, as the industries most needing additional regulation. Only 11 percent of respondents believe the pharmaceutical industry is “generally honest and trustworthy.”
Says Edward Coyle, executive director of the Alliance:
These big companies think that they’ve got us beat and we’re not fighting anymore, so let’s make 2008 the year we prove them wrong. Fred Hassan raked in more than $25 million in compensation in 2006. He’s not going to fight for negotiated drug prices.
AFL-CIO Executive PayWatch has details on Hassan here and our health care site has more info on the salaries of other drug execs here.
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No wonder people run to Canada and Mexico to get their meds.
Then the government instead of helping those who need meds, throws their spin in support of the pharmacueticals saying to stay away from “foreign” medications as they might hurt you. Hell!, drug prices are hurting Americans NOW! What are you doing about it Congress? That is right, we must wait until we get a new president in office. That way it will be business as usual…
The National AFL-CIO NEEDS to take a committing stand on health care! Single payer eliminates the profit and provides health care to all!
30 state AFL-CIOs have endorsed Rep. John Conyers’ HR 676. That’s 30 out of the 50 states, a majority!
If Hillary gets the nod for the Democratic nomination, we can look at more of the same as she continues to rake in campaign contributions from the drug industry, the oil industry and above all else Mr Murdock the king of corporate American slime.
But then what would you expect from a canidate who runs claiming experience based on 35 years of being either a corporate attorney, a first lady who’s husband spent more time in the oval office with interns than in the residence with her, or as a carpet bagger in New York City.
Now that is a resume only Rudy Gulliani can come close to meeting - but it appears we won’t be having the election between the canidates who wear dresses as the Republicans have finally realized the New York choice is the wrong choice. Hillary should have stayed in Arkansas so she could claim the favored state in her race against the ex-govenor.