tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post1391828614473085289..comments2024-03-28T14:52:13.218-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: The Latter Days of a Better Nation, Part IVJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger236125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-87081412359483266702016-09-13T01:00:27.042-05:002016-09-13T01:00:27.042-05:00My comment will be visible after approval? ...that...My comment will be visible after approval? ...that's hilarious and something from 1940's Germany...keep up the good workUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07483815610756592986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-51812306878287157132016-09-07T14:35:35.624-05:002016-09-07T14:35:35.624-05:00Very late note on this. From former W. Clinton ec...Very late note on this. From former W. Clinton economic advisor Rob Reich we have: "In 2014, pharmaceutical company Mylan put in place a one-time stock grant worth as much as $82 million to the company’s top five executives if Mylan’s earnings and stock price met certain goals by the end of 2018. But the executives would get nothing if the company – whose star product is the EpiPen allergy treatment – failed to meet the target. Almost immediately, Mylan began stepping up the pace of EpiPen price increases. The price of an EpiPen two-back doubled to $600 – a move Hillary Clinton has rightfully called 'outrageous.'"<br /><br />This is part of an blog post on corporate deductions of executive compensation; you can read it there: http://robertreich.org/post/150082237740Raven Onthillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06634556869209594389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-65980754577025992142016-09-01T22:57:37.226-05:002016-09-01T22:57:37.226-05:00Mr. Wright, I would be a very interested observer ...Mr. Wright, I would be a very interested observer of a conversation between you and David Michael Greer of the Archdruid blog.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15988959842022958785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-49670902490819977412016-09-01T22:56:58.916-05:002016-09-01T22:56:58.916-05:00Mr. Wright, I would be a very interested observer ...Mr. Wright, I would be a very interested observer of a conversation between you and David Michael Greer of the Archdruid blog.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15988959842022958785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-33757860664792048952016-08-31T15:24:44.151-05:002016-08-31T15:24:44.151-05:00ENMAX Energy Corporation of Calgary, Alberta has a...ENMAX Energy Corporation of Calgary, Alberta has a publication called "Principles of Business Ethics." Without discussing the company and how it does or doesn't live up to the principles, I think their points for evaluating a potential ethical problem are apropos, to wit:<br /><br />› Is this legal? <br />› Is this fair? <br />› Would I want other people to know I did it? <br />› How would I feel if I read about this in the newspaper? <br />› How will I feel about myself if I do it? <br />› What would I tell my child or close friend to do in a similar situation?<br /><br />Of course, if one lacks any ethical grounding, the questions are immaterial.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-18600818262891874832016-08-31T13:30:40.210-05:002016-08-31T13:30:40.210-05:00And $300 would still be 3x what they were charging...And $300 would still be 3x what they were charging 7-10 years ago. Hardly a bargain, considering the epi-pen costs less than $10 drug and all.Jerry A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01835584492326180042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-36438570447908256682016-08-31T13:27:48.038-05:002016-08-31T13:27:48.038-05:00I agree with BadTux that Jim is wrong about this p...I agree with BadTux that Jim is wrong about this point. We (the USA) are doing healthcare the wrong way. We're paying 2x more per person than any other industrialized country, yet not covering 99-100% of our population (meaning the real price per person covered is even higher). We have several working models to choose from, but are allowing fear and money to block the fixes. Corporations are fictional entities, not human beings. They are created by laws, regulated by laws, and can be fixed by laws. Our hidebound inflexibility is not a reason not to change the way they work, yet Jim thinks this custom of unfettered profit is somehow a principle of our country like freedom or liberty. Jim is correct that it will take Congress to fix those laws.Jerry A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01835584492326180042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-13701015369967355162016-08-31T12:57:38.979-05:002016-08-31T12:57:38.979-05:00The Epi-pen is sold in Canada for $113 for a pack ...The Epi-pen is sold in Canada for $113 for a pack of two. They cost no more than a few dollars to manufacture, so at worst Mylan has a 90% profit margin. There is no "subsidy" required. They make a high profit already. <br />(Don't tell me that they need the money to do R&D. That's a lie they tell. I do research and have friends who went to big Pharma co's. They're swimming in cash. The companies spend more on admin and advertising than on R&D.)<br />Furthermore, Medicare pricing for doctors has nothing to do with drug pricing, so I don't know why that was brought up. More relevant is the fact (which both commenters do know) that Congress blocked Medicare from negotiating drug prices and even from using existing lower drug price schedules like the VA's. Former Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La) put that part into the Medicare Part D law, then retired and went to work for PhRMA (drug company lobby) for $2M per year. Jim is right, not only does Medicare and the PPACA Obamacare) need improvement, but Congress as a whole needs to be fixed.Jerry A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01835584492326180042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-60991538721744321392016-08-31T12:52:30.467-05:002016-08-31T12:52:30.467-05:00Look here, this is my party and I'll allow in ...Look here, this is my party and I'll allow in whoever I want and nobody else gets a vote. That said, I have provided clear rules for commenting here and Anonymous at the top of this subthread adhered to those rules. I might not agree with their position, but it was stated in manner that adhered to my general guidelines. NOT to publish it would be a violations of my own integrity. <br /><br /><br />Are we now clear on this? <br /><br />You may address the content of the comment as you please, so long as it adheres to the commenting guidelines and doesn't attack the poster, but we are now done arguing about who can and cannot post here. // Jim<br />Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-44401385268135678222016-08-31T12:28:32.485-05:002016-08-31T12:28:32.485-05:00This Apis Mellifica product is homeopathic, which ...This Apis Mellifica product is homeopathic, which means it is not a tested drug and has never been proven to be effective by doctors or scientists. Homeopathy goes against all scientific and medical principles. If the anonymous commenter can take this product, then this person does not have a severe allergy. In any event, Jim can allow advertising of for-profit quackery on his blog, though I do not see why, as it detracts from his reality-based blog messages.Jerry A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01835584492326180042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-16715524403252463932016-08-31T09:46:06.568-05:002016-08-31T09:46:06.568-05:00After following you for a while on Facebook, and t...After following you for a while on Facebook, and then reading this blogpost,I have come to the conclusion that you are one of the most balanced, intelligent people in this country. Thank you for your wisdom. Katrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09656147607042777871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-57655883422838180362016-08-30T23:25:29.228-05:002016-08-30T23:25:29.228-05:00Great story about Colin Kaepernick. Great story about Colin Kaepernick. E. V. Debshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11670344564899317914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-14394347338248097622016-08-30T17:17:59.762-05:002016-08-30T17:17:59.762-05:00(Very late comment; I was busy dealing with more l...(Very late comment; I was busy dealing with more lovely fun health problems while thinking out a response.)<br /><br />Bravo!<br /><br />Civic responsibility and political participation are fine old <a href="http://www2.idehist.uu.se/distans/ilmh/Ren/civic-start.htm" rel="nofollow">civic humanist</a> values. One of the biggest post-1980 changes in US business culture is the abandonment of the ideal of civic responsibility on the part of corporations. While written law does not require it, courts <a href="http://www.litigationandtrial.com/2010/09/articles/series/special-comment/ebay-v-newmark-al-franken-was-right-corporations-are-legally-required-to-maximize-profits/“>often hold that corporations are required to maximize profit</a>. I would like to see civic responsibility brought back into business practice.<br /><br /><br />Raven Onthillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06634556869209594389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-58277134734907051272016-08-30T12:03:10.679-05:002016-08-30T12:03:10.679-05:00Hello, don't know if you will see my message, ...Hello, don't know if you will see my message, but thought I'd let you know you got a mention on MPR (Minnesota Public Radio). They were taking calls re: the Epipen and someone named Jackson called in and specifically mentioned you, Jim Wright, and your blog, Stonekettle Station, as having some good writing about this issue. I will also see if I can message you via your FB page in case you can't see this one. Susannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-7318287688793435492016-08-30T10:49:35.452-05:002016-08-30T10:49:35.452-05:00Jim, as always, I enjoy reading your posts because...Jim, as always, I enjoy reading your posts because you state so well what people need to hear. As the daughter of a Veteran, and the wife of a Veteran, I thank you for your intelligence and ability to put some much needed information out to the masses about what the Constitution gives us as Americans, and what it expects of us as patriots. Thank you for telling the truth about the history of our Country, and how much work we all still need to do to make it a great Country for EVERYONE!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16018351644991688975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-29410148492200630212016-08-29T20:51:10.832-05:002016-08-29T20:51:10.832-05:00Research shows that when legislators accept outsid...Research shows that when legislators accept outside campaign contributions, the less they represent their constituents. <br /><br />It's along the lines of "Research proves that water is wet," yes, but it's finally been clearly proven that when rich men buy legislators, democracy suffers.<br />https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/08/17/members-of-congress-follow-the-money-not-the-voters-heres-the-evidence/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-24066192794176102412016-08-29T20:45:41.725-05:002016-08-29T20:45:41.725-05:00Insurance companies -- which should be not-for-pro...Insurance companies -- which should be not-for-profit, by the way -- pay out the money that they take in. They do not have a printing press in the basement, cranking out twenties. They work hard to set their rates at a level that will cover all the claims coming in. <br /><br />There are some ways they can keep costs down -- limit coverage, limit drugs, raise copays, etc -- but in the end, if their costs go up sharply, their rates have to go up. Pharma's raving greedheads are a big reason for a lot of the rate hikes in the last several years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-9593068809735402522016-08-29T20:38:57.829-05:002016-08-29T20:38:57.829-05:00Somehow Darleen missed a lot in the essay. As in,...Somehow Darleen missed a lot in the essay. As in, she missed the point of said essay.<br /><br />I do not see how a corporate grab for more money in repeatedly jacking the price of life-saving drugs can possibly be described as "a problem with its roots in government interference."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-21123259149066248842016-08-29T20:33:32.207-05:002016-08-29T20:33:32.207-05:00"Mylan’s CEO has every right to set her salar..."Mylan’s CEO has every right to set her salary at whatever the shareholders will accept."<br /><br />Please understand that Mylan's shareholders have no say -- zip, nada, none, nyet, nothing -- in the CEO's salary. The shareholders don't have any say in choosing the person who holds that position.<br /><br />It is the corporate board who makes those decisions, and if you think the shareholders have any influence on that, you're dreaming.<br /><br />There have been some small moves recently toward paying a tiny bit more attention to the shareholders, but unless you're Sam Zell and you hold 48% of the stock, you might as well save your breath and postage. The board's not interested.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-30505747789985351742016-08-29T18:52:34.922-05:002016-08-29T18:52:34.922-05:00There is an alternative to the Epipen. It is calle...There is an alternative to the Epipen. It is called Adrenaclick. The cost is around $100.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-16405723697351189852016-08-29T10:54:07.148-05:002016-08-29T10:54:07.148-05:00What Jim is referring to is Shareholder Capitalism...What Jim is referring to is Shareholder Capitalism, and it has been an unmitigated disaster for everyone except the rich.<br /><br />In Shareholder Capitalism instead of a company making long term decisions about what is best for the company, shareholders DEMAND short term profits often to the detriment of the company. Thus, instead of strong, self-reliant companies that look to remain viable, we get weak organizations lead by greedy, overpaid CEOs that exist merely for short-term profit. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-12356719580010905682016-08-29T00:03:39.002-05:002016-08-29T00:03:39.002-05:00I view one of the roles of government as a sort of...I view one of the roles of government as a sort of referee between the competing interests of parties that cannot be resolved by economic means. When it comes to health care, the common model of supply and demand breaks down because the consumer is not capable of exercising free will.Steve McGadynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-11863501867478950382016-08-28T23:57:28.563-05:002016-08-28T23:57:28.563-05:00Why is the reader supposed to "look up" ...Why is the reader supposed to "look up" the corroborating evidence for your argument? It's your argument, finish making it. Presumably you looked it up at some point.Steve McGadynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-60450447804248246032016-08-27T22:04:02.834-05:002016-08-27T22:04:02.834-05:00I think the model that might work would be the Pub...I think the model that might work would be the Public Utility Commissions that regulate the electric utilities in the various states. They sometimes are too much in the pocket of the industry, I know that because I have 8.8 kW of Solar on my roof, and I know that even with regulation, those utilities make good money, I know that because I have stock in a few. Yet there is almost nobody in the US who cannot afford to have electricity to the degree that they need it. Before they can get a massive price increase they would need to show the commission why the price has to go up, and padding the executives pockets won't cut it.Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-901687836102995712016-08-27T19:12:52.838-05:002016-08-27T19:12:52.838-05:00Like most things in our lives, Congress critters n...Like most things in our lives, Congress critters need to be replaced from time to time. It is our choice to either vote the rascals to leave or go. For the past few decades those who have retained office have not represented our interests very well and yet, we as a nation continue to return many of them to office.<br /><br />Choices are difficult however on some states and congressional districts. I live in one of those my Congress Critter is running unopposed this November as he was 2 years ago. So For me, it is all about primary choices in this district. Which is not much of a choice in this district. It is either the man we have or someone who makes Trump seem like a modern-day clone of George Washington. I live in the same district that happens to be the global HQ of Walmart; need I say more? <br /><br />I advise that if they are an incumbent, vote them out, every time. that is much more shocking and effective than term limits.Steve Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11287788029233210901noreply@blogger.com