I have been asked what my argument against measure 44 is. It is simply that I do not like government "negotiating" in private sector dealings. It's like Vinny "negotiating" with a baseball bat.
While in this case the "negotiating" may not be coercive in nature (even though they can condemn your property, seize your assests, audit you, fine you, or just target your industry *cough* pay day lenders *cough*) doesn't mean that this still isn't government interference.
Here is the "about us" page on the OPDP. They "negotiate" lower costs for state agencies much like companies do for their employees by purchasing in bulk as one entity. This is free market. But once you let everyone have these "negotiated" lower costs when they should be individual purchasers then you have stepped outside the market. Let supply and demand determine price not artificial demand made by government. Or maybe we should let government "negotiate" prices on LCD tv's at a bulk rate...
Actually my best argument against measure 44 (and all government drug plans) is this: WAL-MART! Can you really beat a $4 prescription?
19 comments:
Yeah, I posted on this a bit earlier:
Measure 44 allows any Oregon "resident" without prescription drug coverage to participate in the Oregon Prescription Drug Program.
Note: the language in the measure doesn't specify "Citizens". It specifies "Residents". Given that there are around 170,000 illegal aliens presently "residing" in Oregon, just how much do you think this measure, if passed, will cost you?
Do you really think that adding a couple hundred thousand illegal aliens into the program won't break your piggy bank?
Daniel-Max, Gentlemen:
I believe that your candidate, Saxton is in favor of M44.(check the v-pamphlet)
I know - I know, but just another reason why I'm skeptical of the guy...very-very skeptical.
RW
RW, This is one of several areas in which I disagree with Saxton.
However, I voted twice for Bush, yet disagree vehemently with him on things like the illegal alien problem.
The application for the OPDP is available in Spanish, you know, for those American citizens who don't speak English even though it's a requirement when you get naturalized...
Daniel, dude, are you retarded or something?
I read through your posts and I just wonder what you're so paranoid about?
Daniel you are way off base on this one. no one should have to pay retail
Anon-boy:
Socialism has already been tried.
It resulted in 50+ million casualties.
Go peddle that shit elsewhere.
kristopher-
Socialism has never been tried. Socialism has always been a political guise to consolidate power.
Sorry to go off on a tangent.
Socialism has never been tried.
So that's the problem.
Well then, the bright, as yet untested promise of socialism burns undiminished.
If only we were deserving of its many benefits. Abase yourselves that you may receive the wisdom. Pray (oops) for enlightenment.
...the only trouble with socialism is that it's unattainable by mere mortals; denying, as it must, human nature.
daniel, 99% of time you are right on target but don't you realize that WalMex sits on the board of la raza? if you can overlook that for a $4.00 Rx then disregard this note.m
Ricky-
I would have to agree with you that in our current state of humanity (which I personally beleive to be a spiritual issue) a socialist government is impractical. However, there are many European and some Asian countries with socialist programs that are quite successful. Take, for instance, public transportation, which has greatly reduced the number of vehicles on the roads in Europe while still being remarkably reliable.
Wait...
Socialism hasn't been tried...
...but it's alive and well in Europe??
bryan, I think you infer that mass transit run by the state is successful because it's run by the state. In fact, given the political environment in most of Europe, no private company would be allowed to compete with your hallowed "public transit".
Mass transit makes sense in most of Europe because of MARKET FORCES and artificial government mandates - not because the government runs it.
It's easy to be a winner when you disqualify all the other competitors.
Nice try.
Ricky-
A) My bad. Let me clairify. Complete governmental socialism (also known as communism) has never been implimented. General contemporary socialist theory does not call for a complete overhaul of governmental structure. Instead, it may call for certain programs to be socialized.
B) The transportation system in many European (and some Asian) countries is socialized. Everyone pays for it, and any citizen can use it.
C) Most Japanese are very proud of their public transportaion system (particularly the trains that are rarely so much as a minute late). I know, you're going to say "they don't know better," but the fact of the matter is the program highly benefits the lower and middle classes, which constitute most of Japanese society. They're still free to buy cars.
D) Most (perhaps even all) European states where these programs are implimented are free, democratic societies. Public transportation was voted in by the people.
E) So should medicare, a public service that many low income families need, be privatized?
F) Good luck convincing political/economic scholars that the aformentioned programs are not socialist.
bryan,
you can get some sleep now...
you're going off the deep end.
Oh come on! You give up?
Interesting Anon 12:58pm that you should mention that. I also noticed that Wal-Mex also sets on the board of the SPP. The same people that want the NAFTA SuperHW, and the North American Union (NAU). If Bush and the CFR get their way we'll all be using the Amero instead of the dollar.
Anon 8:04 pm, can you tell me where you found a list of the board of directors for SPP? I looked on the website but can't find a list. As it is a government agency I don't think they have a board of directors. The Nafta superhighway is a dream come true for Walmart and all those that specialize in selling Chinese goods. The highway must be stopped now. It will cut this country in half. It will eliminate thousands of port and trucking jobs.
Also for anyone interested, Wal-Mart has also decided to join the Ford Motor Co. in reaching out to the homosexual community in a huge way.
Wow. If only they'd have a corperate epiphony to go with their social epiphony...
bobkatt... The first place to look is at http://www.whitehouse.gov
/news/releases/2006/03/20060331.html . This is the website of the White House and mentions the creation of the North American Competitiveness Council (NACC) and how it relates to the SPP. Then I had to go to the official website of the NACC at http://www.americas-society.org/coa/
NACC/indexNACC.html . On that page you can find at the bottom the list of NACC members. You'll be amazed at how many American business's are willing to sell us out. This used to all be available on the SPP's website... interesting how it disapeared. Hope this helps.
Dan
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