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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsObama's TPP coddles Big Pharma, strips the poor of Generics they need to live
This is so sad, so unnecessary, and so cruel. Why in the fuck is Obama doing this? He's got
no re-election to worry about. Is he being offered some sort of Post-Potus sweetheart deal,
or what? I like Obama, but this just pisses me off.
Latest TPP Draft Benefits Big Pharma By Slashing Access to Generics
In secret talks, the Obama administration is seeking to foist corporate-friendly policies on other countries that he has opposed in the United States, new reporting reveals
by Sarah Lazare, staff writer * Common Dreams * July 10, 2015
With another round of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations slated for the end of this month, the administration of President Barack Obama is aiming to force developing nations to adopt Big Pharma-friendly policies that are so bad for public health Obama himself has opposed them in the United States.
Citing leaked drafts of the agreement, as well as officials "familiar with the latest May 11 version," Bloomberg journalist Peter Gosselin reported Friday that the deal is likely to include provisions that are almost certain to hike medicine costs while slashing access to generic drugs around the world: "At stake: hundreds of billions of dollars or more in extra costs that consumers may have to pay if the proposals make it harder for cheaper generics to win approval."
In the negotiations, Obama is pursuing corporate-friendly policies he has rejected at home.
For example, "U.S. negotiators want to win makers of advanced drugs 12 years of exclusivity for data that might otherwise help competitors produce similar, cheaper versions," wrote Gosselin. However, the Obama administration has sought, within the United States, to reduce that period to seven years.
But it doesn't stop there. "Negotiators are also seeking language to make it easier for the big drugmakers to win 'secondary' patents to strengthen their control over products," Gosselin continued. But domestically, the administration "has proposed changing U.S. law to make it harder to get such add-ons," Gosselin explained.
Obama is poised to not only foist these policies on other countries, but to trap the U.S. in them as well.
MORE: http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/07/10/latest-tpp-draft-benefits-big-pharma-slashing-access-generics
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)He sold his soul for money, power and prestige. He's in bed with the powers of the PNAC and it is a sickening thing to watch being as he's a "Democrat" and all.
The Democratic PARTY needs to get back to FDR ideals or it's finished.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)Not to mention our constitutional democracy.
Go Bernie Go!!!!!
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Go Bernie!
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)And I am sure he took note of the blandisments and crates of money that have been lavished on the Clintons in the last 14 years in return for the immense services they rendered to the plutocracy, including NAFTA, bank deregulation and the dreadful Telecom Act.
He wants in on that action in his post-presidential years. He sure as shit doesn't want to wind up like Jimmy Carter, building houses for Hanitat for Humanity.
ConservativeDemocrat
(2,720 posts)Last edited Tue Jul 14, 2015, 10:22 AM - Edit history (1)
Who knew Democrats would betray peoples revolutionary 5-year plan made by what should be glorious leader? Their revanchism must be wiped out in reeducation camps, or they should be lined up against the wall, eh comrades?
- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community
/ I will wait until the outcome of the free trade agreement before deciding whether I am for or against it. Not that I expect that will make people who dislike free trade any happier. Drug companies are entitled to some profit on new research that they financed, lest they decide not to engage in it; the question is, as always, how much?
// Corrected a scrivener's error about "Stalin", just to make the communist kids happy
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)You're making even less sense with this post that usual and that's saying something.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Princess Sparklemoose.
whathehell
(29,110 posts)Snark works best with correct spelling.
Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,514 posts)Last edited Tue Jul 14, 2015, 12:56 PM - Edit history (1)
whathehell
(29,110 posts)Katashi_itto
(10,175 posts)Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,514 posts)gone into quite a bender. Must be some kick ass shit.
ConservativeDemocrat
(2,720 posts)I mean, it really says everything anyone needs to know about you.
- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community
Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,514 posts)you're still embarrassed about the last time you tried puling that shit with me. If you'll notice I haven't made any comments on this thread and haven't even expressed any opinion on this matter. I showed up just to mock your hysterical funny ass reply. Just like most everyone else has.
truebrit71
(20,805 posts)"communist kids"
What kind of fucked up bullshit is that?
Seriously dude, you're on the wrong fucking site...
This is still DEMOCRATIC underground, right???
ConservativeDemocrat
(2,720 posts)So nobody go bashing President Obama for being a... and I quote verbatim, "capitalist through and through", as if that's a bad thing.
Yes, President Obama is a capitalist. He believes in free trade, where private people are largely free to engage in commerce, subject to governmental safeguards against victimization, fraud, abuse, and overwhelming inherited privileges.
So you want to come on to a DEMOCRATIC website and bash a DEMOCRATIC President for engaging in an economic system that 99% of DEMOCRATS believe is the best? Then expect a Democrat to accurately label the ideology that you are espousing.
I mean it's really that simple. Democrats are capitalists. Not, as Teabaggers would assert, communists. We believe in equality of opportunity, not guaranteed equality of outcome.
And if you don't understand that, you're on the wrong site. Go to www.revleft.com otherwise.
- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community
ChazII
(6,207 posts)a word that is seldom seen or heard. Reminds me of Bartleby.
onecaliberal
(32,996 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)One must have one's priorities straight, now. mustn't one? Something as paltry as human life must never, ever be put before maximum profits.
brooklynite
(94,984 posts)...rather than accept a leftist-blog's interpretation?
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-10/obama-pushes-trade-partners-to-add-drug-rules-he-opposes-in-u-s-
FYI - this was the source cited in the Common Dreams article, which says the same thing.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)it al so mentions the Congressional rule structure that the negotiators are under...... frankly I don't know why you just didn't post the Bloomberg article it's not as subjective and is quite frankly better written on the issues.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)There's really no need to shoot the messenger. Common Dreams
is an A-OK reliable source to most peeps on DU.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Elwood P Dowd
(11,443 posts)You sound just like Bill O'Reilly.
A Simple Game
(9,214 posts)I once had one brag to me about being a conservative.
Elwood P Dowd
(11,443 posts)arcane1
(38,613 posts)I didn't get that memo.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Wonder why we've been slaughtered at the polls for 2 decades?
The Green Manalishi
(1,054 posts)I cannot even begin to take anything else you say seriously.
And 'Leftist' is a good thing, at least to anyone I respect.
Rex
(65,616 posts)I knew I was right about you all along. Don't you have a single ounce of shame in your body? None? SMH.
Bettie
(16,149 posts)but according to my beloved husband, who is smart and not usually likely to buy into conspiracy theories believes that the series of Secret Service failures were a reminder to him of how easily his family could be targeted if he doesn't play ball and do as he's told.
My own opinion? He's owned by corporate interests same as most everyone else.
Either way, these trade agreements have been bad for us, the people of the US.
GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)I cut him any slack on the pretense that "we really don't know if TPP will be bad for the country because we have not seen it yet." Those are both bullshit excuses for letting big corporations finally snuff out what little trace remained of our democracy.
I will, however, cut him some slack on the basis that there are billions, maybe trillions, of dollars in profits to be reaped by very, very powerful people. Considering that people have killed each other over a pair of track shoes, I am open to the possibility that someone might have made him an offer he can't refuse.
Bettie
(16,149 posts)sadly, we have very few who won't sell out...even fewer who haven't already.
The supporters of TPP know it won't be "good for America", but it will be good for a very few Americans who will add to their already obscene wealth.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)Telcontar
(660 posts)I get that there's tension between the White House and the military. That said, push comes to shove, I'd not want to be on the bad side of some pissed off Army rangers with an open hunting license.
GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)I trust the military rank and file. President says do, it gets done.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)CharlotteVale
(2,717 posts)Godhumor
(6,437 posts)Similar to the US government needing to defend laws in court it doesn't support, the negotiators are in a bind. That said, I don't think they will shed tears when other countries refuse to include the pharmaceutical language in the final draft of the agreement (The negotiators have to push for the rules, not actually win the votes to include them.).
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Mentions the Congressional laws and policy that bind the negotiators. They're asking for 12 I think they'll probably get 7 which is more in line of what are actual laws seem to reflect..
Godhumor
(6,437 posts)Never would have guessed that was a possibility...
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)It's an important legal point that if you're going to discuss the TPP you should have knowledge of. If you aren't being given basic legal info by your source then why you. You also note in the bottom paragraph of the article there's a whole lot of misinformation about big scary ISDS...... which is an utter red herring.
GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)or nice Mexican Sewer Swill raised T-bone.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Oh right we never have lost one and I'm not scared of Canadian or Mexican products. I find your exceptionalism Very interesting.
GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)and over.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)davidpdx
(22,000 posts)That doesn't speak well for them regardless of their other work. I'm going based on what you said as I haven't read either.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Your article conflates copycat and generic drugs and that's kind of a really sloppy mistake to make. further I'm not surprised the administration is asking for 12 years on the biologics I don't think I'll get it I think with all get it closer to seven..... but I think that's incredibly smart policy to follow.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)to buy the drugs they need at the inflated prices Big Pharma is pushing down
our collective throats, in virtual secrecy, behind closed doors.
I'm sure they will be comforted by your words.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)I would expect that you would know the difference between a copy cat and a generic.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)in either article.
As near as I can tell, both articles are solely about generics, but you're
welcome to show me otherwise, if you can.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Copycats and generics because copy cats are produced primarily in places like India and China and are of great concern for us and other trading partners.
http://m.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/01/1398388/-TPP-draft-of-intellectual-property-chapter-leaked-Obama-fighting-for-Big-Pharma-expensive-drugs
if you're going to be discussing the intellectual property aspects of the TPP then my suggestion is that you bone up on figuring out what those aspects are...... which means that you need to read more than two articles.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)"To pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer, Glaxo Wellcome and Aventis, which invest billions of dollars in research, Dr. Hamied (a huge producer of copy-cat drugs in India) embodies the enemy."
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/01/world/selling-cheap-generic-drugs-india-s-copycats-irk-industry.html
My heart does not bleed for a vampiric industry that routinely gouges the sick, the elderly, the poor, et. al. while laughing all the way to the bank.
Secondly, I frankly don't see what is so wrong with producing a drug at it's real cost PLUS a decent profit, as opposed to an indecently exorbadent price tag that only upper income peeps can afford. In fact I thank God that someone is doing that so those who can't otherwise afford the drugs they need, can get them.
How are the millions of dirt-poor people in India supposed to get the drugs they need, without something like this?
Oh On Edit: Thanks for the Kos article. It was helpful
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)I have an aunt who took copycat Vioxx. It didn't kill her it nearly crippled her and of course because she took the copycats there's no one to sue. there's no one to be responsible for the bad manufacture. and you know why she took the copycat Vioxx? because her libertarian son went online and found a pharmacy in Canada...... that was selling drugs from India.
I agree with you the drugs should be low cost but the fact is is that there's absolutely no way for an American citizen to hold a drug manufacturer in India responsible for bad manufacture....... and that's the danger of copycatting.....
I am extremely thankful that under Obamacare the extremely expensive drugs that I take to help my eyes is completely subsidized. sure I had to get online and scream in a couple of insurance companies but in the end I have exactly what I need when I need it.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)davidpdx
(22,000 posts)But some of the cost is front-loaded with R&D costs. Not every medicine that is developed goes to market, I'd guess the number that actually do as a percentage is pretty low.
The market for counterfeit drugs is pretty big and they are coming out of countries with very lax intellectual property right laws (think China). Someone mentioned Vioxx as one that is counterfeited. My guess is that Viagra and Cialis are also heavily counterfeited. I have a friend who lives in China who buys the latter online for pretty cheap (no it's not very smart) and uses them.
I also fear drug prices going up because that will raise insurance prices and co-pay. I'm on a handful of medications some of them brand name ones, most of them I'm not sure if they are brand name or not. I pay about $45 a month for my doctor's visit and the medication and my insurance is $80 a month here in Korea.
Logical
(22,457 posts)99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)I doubt you are serious, but rather are being sarcastic.
Here, since you forgot your smilie, you can have one of mine
GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)but shirk their obligation under their social contract to share their invention after the patent term ends?
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)As to the patents we've asked for 12 but I think we're going to end up getting is far closer to 7. 12 is a negotiating position and it's unlikely that other countries are going to agree.
GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)With some extensions if there is an "undue" delay at USPTO granting it. This treaty may be different but that's the usual.
restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)how about we have trained people in this country who need jobs to make these drugs instead of outsourcing this work to countries whose quality assurance we can't verify? That would at least fix the US is copycat problem and it would bring jobs back to the US. but unfortunately that would cut into big pharma profits.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)patent protection in some of these countries. Plus, drug makers usually sell drugs much cheaper in poorer countries. It's worth reading up on drug prices in poorer countries.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Which alleviates a lot of the pricing problems. Sure wish the US would hop on that bandwagon...
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)as effective as having all Medicare drugs in the process. Traditional Medicare seldom says no to any FDA approved drugs. But Advantage and Part D plans do, which helps when several drugs are similar.
Even traditional Medicare gets some advantage from others negotiating, in that they pay 95% of Average Wholesale Price.
I think it's time laws are enacted on how much and how long drug research and development costs can be recaptured, taking into account gains and loses on other drugs from the company.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)anything to help St. Obama.
You've killed the party, dear. Thanks alot for handing the party and the nation to PHARMA and their ilk.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)Should it be resuscitated and on life support Hillary will most certainly pull the plug.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)at what point do they pull out, since this entire partnership is evidently so unholy and evil?
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)until Obama told them he was cool with their slavery.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)And yet the kool-aid guzzlers ignore it.
erronis
(15,469 posts)Or are the other nations just as beholden to their "invested" interests as is the USofA?
My guess is that these niddlings are really being worked out in some of the ritzier spots around the world over fine food and drink. F the serfs!
GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)in other countries using TPP as a tool to rip off their populations also, but I think the big target is the U.S. because, notice, that ALL DISCUSSION regarding when the TPP text will be available is in the U.S., by the U.S.. They would have implemented the identical laws to screw the American public out of any hope of self-governance directly within the U.S. legislature process without couching it in a fake "trade agreement" if they could have. But then future congresses and administrations could simply undo the offensive and unconstitutional laws. But by pledging away our legislative sovereignty to multinational corporations under the terms of a sham "trade agreement" it makes it hard to undo the damage, which is precisely why they are doing it that way.
They know that there is going to be a public furor once the full extent of the TPP damage is known to the public, and they want to be able to play the "oh well, it's too late to fix it now" card.
MisterP
(23,730 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)AzDar
(14,023 posts)End of story.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)If we were aware of the extent of the damage they have done to the people of this earth we would string them up from lamp posts.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)be Mussolini and Ceaucescu moments coming for the tenth-percenters at some point. And it will be nothing more or less than justice when it finally happens.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)Faux pas
(14,713 posts)stain on all of his other achievements. So very sad and disappointing.
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)Who is going to pay more for those - Big Pharma, or poor people?
He knows on which side his bread is buttered.
riversedge
(70,454 posts)lark
(23,196 posts)waging war against the world's working class. It's impossible to reconcile the man I saw on the campaign trail with this treachery.
840high
(17,196 posts)at a store said today.
OnyxCollie
(9,958 posts)polichick
(37,152 posts)Obama lurves Big Pharma!
Elwood P Dowd
(11,443 posts)polichick
(37,152 posts)appeared many times, right from the beginning.