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Originally posted by Tobiasly
You see, that's exactly what I was talking about when I started this thread. Why should pharmaceutical companies strive to break even? You think just covering their R&D expenses is enough? Do you devote your life to helping third world and developing countries? You obviously own a computer, you selfish bastard. Why didn't you give the money you used to buy that computer to a charity for sick children in a developing country? $800 goes a long way, you know.
That's exactly what you're asking a company to do if you think they should recoup their R&D budgets and nothing more. Those companies take risks. Many of them go bust, and their investors lose everything. Why shouldn't they get big rewards if they develop something useful? Why do you think someone in what you consider a developing company is entitled to have corporations work to cure their ills, with no profit? What motivation would these companies have in the first place to develop new medicine, if they didn't get any profits in return?
During the big antrhax scare, people were up in arms because XYZ Drug Company (I forget who it really was) had the only known anthrax innoculation, and they were charging more than people thought was fair. Of course some knee-jerk politicians were suggesting legislation to force XYZ to sell at a steep discount. XYZ just happened to take the risks necessary to see a need for an anthrax innoculation in the first place, and then develop it. And people want to punish them for taking those risks. Who would have bailed out XYZ if a natural cure were found for anthrax, and they went bankrupt?
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Oh crap, give me a break. There is a HUGE difference between the profits pharmaceutical companies make and the computer I purchased, which by no means makes me selfish.
I was talking about the enormous profits pulled in by drug companies that are not justified. Do you really think someone needs millions upon millions of dollars for personal use? Hell no. It's fine to take care of shareholders and executives, but we're talking about these people raking in cash while people die who cannot afford the drug they so desperately need. Yeah sometimes you can blame the regime these people live under, but I do not accept allowing these innocent people to die in the name of making a millionaire even richer. There is a difference between a respectable and honourable return for the great work they have done and true greed.
I'm a student and I give what I can to charity. A computer is necessary for my own advancement. A couple extra million for a man/woman who has tens of millions is not necessary if that money could potentially save millions of lives.
I was not asking for drug companies to just recoup their R&D budgets. I'm asking for empathy.
I really do not see how it is so hard to balance empathy and profit motivation.
Oh, and I do not blame just the drug companies, there is enough evidence to blame the intellectual property rights system, not just in the US, but also around the world. Lester Thurow has written extensively about IP and how it can be improved, and I agree with many of his points.
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You were talking about standard of living, not opportunity. I maintain my original position that the U.S. has more opportunity than any other nation.
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No, I used the Human Development Index, which is just that. It encompasses both opportunity and standard of living. Maybe you're talking about opportunity to work only, then yes the United States is the land of opportunity. But look at other opportunities, such as the opportunities to earn a good living, to be safe and secure, to live in peace, and above all be happy. I will not debate the United States is the place of opportunity for employment, but if it's the opportunity to earn a good living and live a good life, then I have to disagree. The opportunity is better in other places because the opportunity to live a good life contains many criteria, and many are listed above.
Currently I have opportunities to work in 5 countries, including the United States. Of that list, the United States is the last.