Bridging the political divide

[AGRforever]

I thought in the effort to bridge the political divide I would try to find someone or something the "opposite side" has done that is positive or that I admire.  Maybe some of the others on here could do the same?  Try to forget all the hate for just a few minutes. 

I fall pretty squarely in the Libertarian quadrant of the political spectrum but certainly lean further Right then Left.  Reddit turned me onto a Democrat from California essentially going against all my inner belief systems of free market capitalism.  Yet I agree with her on this issue:
Cost increase of prescription drugs/life saving medication:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katie_Porter
&feature=youtu.be

[Guest]

Yep, I saw that this morning. It is disgusting how much billionaire CEOs have exponentially increased the price of their drugs for no reason other than to increase their salaries, while seniors and families dealing with cancer and diabetes go bankrupt and lose homes. 

[Guest]

Something we can all agree on.  The profit system in healthcare/drugs given the green light by our collective congressional leadership is disgusting, absolutely disgusting.
Good post

[Guest]

@MaroonBells said:
Yep, I saw that this morning. It is disgusting how much billionaire CEOs have exponentially increased the price of their drugs for no reason other than to increase their salaries, while seniors and families dealing with cancer and diabetes go bankrupt and lose homes. 

Its such a crapshoot.  I get it, drug companies need to make money.  There's a ton of R&D and on and on but I feel that the current model of taking an old drug and adding something from a different drug and rebranding to get it off the generic list is bullshit.  Then they run Superbowl ads to tell us how their new mouse trap might be slightly better. 

Its like herbicides in agriculture.  There hasn't been a new "herbicide" in what, probably 30 years but that hasn't stopped the companies from creating dozens of new ones each year by mixing two or three together. 

[Guest]

R&D costs are inflated, the universities used to lead in this, but the defunding of education has removed that resource.  Pharmaceutical production is very efficient/lean and profitable.  My opinion R&D costs are a self created market cost.

[Guest]

I'm definitely more liberal on social issues, role of govt, and remarkably conservative when it comes to foreign policy. I do lean towards globalist vs nationalist. 

The thread is a nice sentiment for this microcosm of the universe...But there is so much anger and divisiveness out there today, its crazy. 

Haven't seen the country this divided, maybe ever. 

I really do wonder what will happen post election. Conservatives I know fear what will happen to our cities and suburbs from Antifa and the crazy libs if Trump gets re-elected. And many are concerned what the current Potus will try and do if he's not re-elected. 

I fear for a dark time ahead - on top of Covid. 

https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/10/0...ome-to-me/

Carry on, I really didnt want to thread-jack this. 

[Guest]

Good on you AGR. There are things that people can agree on. There are things that congress should be working on for the better of the common good. I appreciate the thread!

Also Katie Porter is awesome. When she brings her white board out you are goibg to get uncomfortable real quick if she is talking to you.

[Guest]

I love Katie Porter and her whiteboard. She is doing great work. And people wonder why some people go to Canada for medicine, it's just ridiculous how much some things cost here. No one should be going bankrupt treating a sick child. That is completely unacceptable. 

[Guest]

My friend is on the board of directors and the VP of Tax for a large global company based out of Miami. He gets obscene bonuses based on profit and if he were to ever leave (on his own or being fired) he'd get an amazing exit package that quite frankly he doesn't deserve. This was all worked out prior to his starting work there. The large company he left prior to this because they were downsizing and a failing business model (think Office Depot) gave him a MASSIVE package on his way out the door. For no reason whatsoever other than its how they do it at the top. And this is when they were in the process of letting go 40% of their workforce. Its unreal. He feels he is just playing the game, working the system and deserves every penny. He's a very good friend, but when you are the one benefitting from this corporate malfeasance, you care a whole lot less about the collateral damage. This is capitalism in a democratic society and if you can't get what he's getting, then that's your fault (his rationale). 

Ultimately, the President of that company in the video just has to fade some heat from various elected officials, but otherwise he can sit in the back of his limo on the way out of that meeting, snorting coke off $5,000 a night prostitutes and drinking Dom Perignon Rose Gold and laughing the whole time. There are no repercussions. No accountability. Its a big 'fuck you' to everyone, he got his. And we watch that video, indignant......and wash, rinse and repeat. Soon to be forgotten as the next 'thing' happens in the 24/7 news cycle to distract us.