THE REAL NEEDS IN HEALTH CARE REFORM

SPECIAL REPORT

The Justice Department has finally done something right for America. Remember, they dropped charges against the Black Panthers for election interference after the Court found the Panthers guilty, and they’ve now decided to investigate and prosecute CIA officials and agents for their roles in protecting America after 9/11. But now, finally, they’ve done something right.

The Justice Department has forced Pfizer, a pharmaceutical research and manufacturing company, (don’t thank God for Viagra…thank Pfizer), to pay $2.3 billion in fines and penalties for engaging in illegal fraud in their drug promotions. Pfizer was luring doctors to golf tournaments, vacation resorts, and providing other “payola” in massive amounts in order to get them to prescribe Pfizer products. And, they’ve been paying enormous commissions and bonuses to their drug reps who sell their products.

Such practices, of course, drive the costs of prescription drugs up, and it’s about time the feds stepped in. If we could also cap malpractice awards, investigate price-fixing between hospital management companies, and encourage students to get into the medical field, we can resolve the problem of the high costs of medical care without costing the taxpayer one dime, let alone $1 trillion. Driving the costs down will lower insurance premiums and make health care more affordable. The fact is, our illustrious government should already be pursuing these avenues.

The fact that they are not, and that they are seeking a “cram down” of their health care plan at a cost to the taxpayers of $1 trillion plus whatever mistakes they’ll uncover later, is simply proof that this is all about a massive power grab and depriving you and I of the ability to make our own health care decisions.

That’s MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.