Rick Santorum Rick Santorum Tells Sick Kid Market Should Should Set Drug Prices, Spread it!

[AngryCanadian]

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/rick-santorum-tells-sick-kid-market-set-drug-004745384--abc-news.html

WOODLAND PARK, Colo. - GOP contender Rick Santorum had a heated exchange with a mother and her sick young son Wednesday, arguing that drug companies were entitled to charge whatever the market demanded for life-saving therapies.

We either believe in markets or we don't."

Rick Santorum Unfit to be president after that exchange he should just drop out and boy the comments on Rick aren't good.

Hmmm...I cannot pay $900 for an ipad. I do have health insurance and I pay almost $500 a month for but somehow I can't still afford to go see my doctor because I can't afford the copay. Need a surgery for a bone fragment in my ankle? Tough luck, can't afford the 3K deductible. Now I want your advice, Mr. Santorum. My tuition has more than tripled, my work cut my hours and now what. Can't get a job where I have to walk because of my ankle and can't get a surgery I need so I can get a job where I have to walk. Magic circle.

Spread this article on to drudge and elsewhere.

 

[swissaustrian]

Healthcare companies are his biggest donors...

 

[Godmode7]

Good to see Santorum showing his true colors. Guess the FREE meds he was on finally wore off. Guy is a psycho.

 

[Sola_Fide]

What was wrong with what he said as quoted in the article? Sure, I certainly would have explained why prices are so high (government is the buyer of health care instead of the individual), but what was wrong with what he said?

 

[Jtorsella]

That answer sounds fine....

 

[EaSy]

This is a tough one from my point of view. Santorum is right about one thing. The drug companies must cover their expenses on research or they won't do research at all. On the other hand this is something some of us cannot live without. So there is a unique conflict of interest. Santorum explained it very badly. Comparison between ipad (is not saving lives) and medicine (is saving lives) is extremely stupid.

I wonder how RP would explain this problem.

 

[Sola_Fide]

He got the explanation wrong and I would have given the real answer as to why prices are so high (its not R and D, its because there is no market in health costs anymore), but the answer that we either believe in free markets or we don't is true. Unfortunately he doesn't, but anyway...

 

[SCOTUSman]

What's incorrect about this. Paul would agree. A private company can charge whatever they want for a product. This is no different. Of course Paul would talk about why prices are high and how they could be lower, but there really is nothing wrong with the answer if we do believe in free markets and private enterprise.

Does Angry Canadian believe that companies can't set their own prices?

 

[Godmode7]

Whats funny is he is pro life and doesn't care if you can't afford to purchase meds to live.

Also they are talking about 1 million a yr. I don't think bringing up an ipad to compare is a good idea. Like them deciding to buy one or not is gonna make things worse.

 

[IDefendThePlatform]

Santorum voted for the largest government intrusion into prescription drugs ever with Medicare part D. He's just another politician saying whatever he thinks the conservative base wants to hear. And he doesn't really understand why prices are high anyway and how to fix them. Yet another reason I can't stand the guy.

 

[IDefendThePlatform]

Since I accidentally double posted I'll just add that I guarantee Santorum is not talking about getting the FDA out of the way and actually lowering prescription drug prices. At most he'd say we need "reform."

Not sure about the politics of it, but I would personally love to see some kind of press release from the campaign on how slick Rick thinks the govt ought to buy prescription drugs for seniors (the wealthiest subset of Americans) but not sick little kids. Then explain all the stuff govt has done to drive up those prices in the first place.

Santorum = hypocrite.

 

[realtonygoodwin]

He is right, the market should set drug prices...

 

[qh4dotcom]

Now I want your advice, Mr. Santorum. My tuition has more than tripled, my work cut my hours and now what.

He should drop out and watch this Schiff video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIcfMMVcYZg

 

[RforRevolution]

That headline is horrendous.

 

[IDefendThePlatform]

To be clear I would have no problem with what he said except


1) He doesn't really believe
2) He doesn't really understand it
3) He doesn't vote that way






This is like if Mitt Romney came out and said states have no right to mandate health insurance.

 

[erowe1]

The thing is, Santorum voted for Medicare Part D. So he doesn't really care about having the market set drug prices.

 

[matt0611]

To be clear I would have no problem with what he said except


1) He doesn't really believe
2) He doesn't really understand it
3) He doesn't vote that way






This is like if Mitt Romney came out and said states have no right to mandate health insurance.

LOL, this.


And to the OP: Yes, the market should set drug prices, who do you want to set drug prices? Nancy Pelosi? Harry Reid? Barack Obama? Some unelected bureaucrat?

No, the market should set prices.

 

[rambone]

Free markets FTW

 

[Lishy]

Doesn't Paul have the same exact view?

 

[Mckarnin]

Doesn't Paul have the same exact view?

Santorum says the "market" should dictate the price while simultaneously voting for legislation that allows the government to interfere with prescription drug coverage, causing higher prices that are not based on the free market.

Ron Paul wants the market to dictate the price, for real, and does not vote for government interference. Also, even though Ron Paul believes that federal involvement in health care (medicare/medicaid) is technically unconstitutional his plan will continue to care for those who are dependent on government provided healthcare. It will simultaneously work to fix the underlying factors that have made prices so high and the economy bad in the first place so that people can afford to take care of themselves again.