The reality of corporate mentality, and control: During the campaign, Obama proclaimed, “We will break the stranglehold that a few big drug and insurance companies have on the health care market. . . . “ Multitudes followed/believed in his progressive pledges. Then, we get this: Drug price negotiations with Big Pharma? “They’re off limits, as is reimportation of cheaper drugs from Canada.” Who set the terms? Our President? Congress? : “Ken Johnson, PhRMA’s senior vice president: ‘with respect to health care reform, the line in the sand for us was price control.'” “There were reports that Obama had promised to oppose any congressional attempt to exact further money from the massive pharmaceutical industry, which would include allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prices or import cheaper drugs from Canada.” “Senators are free to push for drug-price negotiations or reimportation, but they may have to do so without administration support.” The latter makes a Threat clear, as well as Obama’s primary stance on whose “line[s] in the sand” he will fight for.
Here is the present (talking points) mantra: “shared goals” and “access” (which adds to the previous outrage of “affordable”). Ken Johnson (PhRMA): “All of the questions about what was in the agreement distract from our shared goal of making sure everyone has access to health care coverage.” It is purely corporate salivation, upon guarantees of fulfillment. The enemies (those who were supposed to be aggressively reformed because of their longstanding abuse) are now looking forward – as grinning allies. This truth directly corresponds with the following, as an answer: “(The) administration’s multibillion-dollar deals with hospitals and pharmaceutical companies have been made in private, and the results were announced after the fact.” “Both industries promised Obama cost savings in return for an expanded base of insured patients.” That would be US, the base – expanded (into their unreformed monopolies) – by compulsion.
AP: “Major insurers will accept a rollback of the industry’s restrictive practices only if they’re guaranteed that all Americans would be covered . . . a potential financial boon to the industry.” Those who set the terms reap the benefits. “‘They’ll get a big new market with millions and millions of new customers,’ said Gary Claxton, a health policy expert with the Kaiser Family Foundation.” New York Times headline: Drug Industry to Run Ads Favoring White House Plan. Once again, ultimately revealing. “The drug industry has authorized its lobbyists to spend as much as $150 million on television commercials supporting President Obama’s health care” plan (sellout). As previously questioned, “Will the common people be ‘Provided’ for? Or, will they be herded like rebellious cattle into a ‘mandated’ slaughter by way of corporate pens (Policies)?” From this, the answers, we have firm realization, which is beyond what Frank Rich described as “fear.” “The larger fear is that Obama might be just another corporatist, punking voters much as the Republicans do when they claim to be all for the common guy.”
Public Options, Single-Payers, and Bootstraps
Health Care Solved! Are You Poor? Sorry
Posted by WindHarps 
Awakenings 