Why are so many Senior Citizens so selfish?

Site Notices

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Why are so many Senior Citizens so selfish?

Posted: 10/27/2004 6:42:10 PM EDT

I was talking with my in-laws this evening and they want all their drugs for free or little cost. Drug companies make too damn much money. We should get them for free, just like the Canadians. They are greedy. No one should make money off of drugs. All they do is get free money from the government to delevop these drugs and then they patent them and make all kinds of money off of them.

I told them, maybe we should just put all the drug companies out of business. They asked if I ment that the government should take over them. I said no, just put them out of business. They are greedy entities and do not deserve to exist.

It got real quiet for a bit. My father in law has had quint by-pass surgery. My wifes uncle was there too. He has bad diabetes. What would they do without the big drug companies and their miracle inventions? Sometimes you have to ask yourself, how much is my life worth? Maybe I shouldn't be pissing and moaning about petty things like money when the alternative is being dead.

Something to think about.

Posted: 10/27/2004 6:44:21 PM EDT

[#1]

Quoted:
I was talking with my in-laws this evening and they want all their drugs for free or little cost. Drug companies make too damn much money. We should get them for free, just like the Canadians. They are greedy. No one should make money off of drugs. All they do is get free money from the government to delevop these drugs and then they patent them and make all kinds of money off of them.

I told them, maybe we should just put all the drug companies out of business. They asked if I ment that the government should take over them. I said no, just put them out of business. They are greedy entities and do not deserve to exist.

It got real quiet for a bit. My father in law has had quint by-pass surgery. My wifes uncle was there too. He has bad diabetes. What would they do without the big drug companies and their miracle inventions? Sometimes you have to ask yourself, how much is my life worth? Maybe I shouldn't be pissing and moaning about petty things like money when the alternative is being dead.

Something to think about.

when you get that old and start experiencing health problems, staying alive becomes a priority for some.

Posted: 10/27/2004 6:47:23 PM EDT

[#2]

I have noticed that too. I just think they need to be questioned more, like most liberals.

They need to find better answers to their health problems than drugs. My parents are on 10 different prescriptions and I know some people that are on more.
Mixing all those drugs can't be good.

Posted: 10/27/2004 6:47:51 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
Quoted:
I was talking with my in-laws this evening and they want all their drugs for free or little cost. Drug companies make too damn much money. We should get them for free, just like the Canadians. They are greedy. No one should make money off of drugs. All they do is get free money from the government to delevop these drugs and then they patent them and make all kinds of money off of them.

I told them, maybe we should just put all the drug companies out of business. They asked if I ment that the government should take over them. I said no, just put them out of business. They are greedy entities and do not deserve to exist.

It got real quiet for a bit. My father in law has had quint by-pass surgery. My wifes uncle was there too. He has bad diabetes. What would they do without the big drug companies and their miracle inventions? Sometimes you have to ask yourself, how much is my life worth? Maybe I shouldn't be pissing and moaning about petty things like money when the alternative is being dead.

Something to think about.

when you get that old and start experiencing health problems, staying alive becomes a priority for some.

What are you willing to pay for your life? Would you destroy the industry that might just keep you alive someday just to save a buck? That money doesn't do you much good when you are dead, now does it.

Edit: These two people I am talking about are not poor by any stretch of the imagination. They could easily be called wealthy.

Posted: 10/27/2004 6:51:49 PM EDT

[#4]

Did they exercise when they were young? Did they eat right? Smoke. drink too much? I bet your uncle has a nice beer gut to go along with that diabetes. Its time for people to take responsibility for their own actions. The future is scary. When the baby boomers retire, they will outnumber the young that are still working. Social Security and Medicare will become bankrupt. Youll hear the outcry then. What you see and hear now will be nothing.

Posted: 10/27/2004 6:52:04 PM EDT

[#5]

The greedy geezers.
They are willing to saddle their grandchildren, great grandchildren and so on, with the huge debt that socilaized medicine and cradle to grave programs would cost.
As long as they get their freebies and senior discounts at every business, all is well, screw everyone else.

Posted: 10/27/2004 6:53:11 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I was talking with my in-laws this evening and they want all their drugs for free or little cost. Drug companies make too damn much money. We should get them for free, just like the Canadians. They are greedy. No one should make money off of drugs. All they do is get free money from the government to delevop these drugs and then they patent them and make all kinds of money off of them.

I told them, maybe we should just put all the drug companies out of business. They asked if I ment that the government should take over them. I said no, just put them out of business. They are greedy entities and do not deserve to exist.

It got real quiet for a bit. My father in law has had quint by-pass surgery. My wifes uncle was there too. He has bad diabetes. What would they do without the big drug companies and their miracle inventions? Sometimes you have to ask yourself, how much is my life worth? Maybe I shouldn't be pissing and moaning about petty things like money when the alternative is being dead.

Something to think about.

when you get that old and start experiencing health problems, staying alive becomes a priority for some.

What are you willing to pay for your life? Would you destroy the industry that might just keep you alive someday just to save a buck? That money doesn't do you much good when you are dead, now does it.

Edit: These two people I am talking about are not poor by any stretch of the imagination. They could easily be called wealthy.

oh, don't get me wrong, i hate old people.

Posted: 10/27/2004 6:54:15 PM EDT

[#7]

My Aunt is spending $900 a month for drugs (90) and another couple we know have aged parents spending over $1000 a month.

When they believe (rightly or wrongly) that they need the drugs (as opposed to excercise and better diet) they become desperate. Advertising these drugs and marketing them through physicians is a piss poor way to spend health dollars compared to preventive care.

Posted: 10/27/2004 6:55:34 PM EDT

[#8]

Both are in their mid 70's.

I really think this is a boomer generation issue. I want mine and to hell with everyone else.

Posted: 10/27/2004 6:58:30 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
My Aunt is spending $900 a month for drugs (90) and another couple we know have aged parents spending over $1000 a month.

When they believe (rightly or wrongly) that they need the drugs (as opposed to excercise and better diet) they become desperate. Advertising these drugs and marketing them through physicians is a piss poor way to spend health dollars compared to preventive care.

So you think we should shut down the drug companies? No more marketing and advertising.

Posted: 10/27/2004 6:58:44 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Drug companies make too damn much money. We should get them for free, just like the Canadians. They are greedy. No one should make money off of drugs. All they do is get free money from the government to delevop these drugs and then they patent them and make all kinds of money off of them.

Back up the truck. Drugs are a lot of things in Canada, but they ain't free. Unless you are on welfare, you will pay dearly for your drugs. Maybe not at the pharmacy, but there is a 15% sales tax on all goods and services plus the highest income tax bracket is 58%, you have provincial and federal income tax and Ontario just instituted a separate Health Care tax. Are you starting to see a pattern?

You will pay. Also, many drugs are as expensive as they are in the U.S. I'm sick and tired of the fucked up liberal media misrepresenting life in Canada.

Quoted:
I was talking with my in-laws this evening and they want all their drugs for free or little cost.

Yeah, and I'd like all of my ammo for little cost or free.

This is the Greatest Generation. What a fucking joke.

Posted: 10/27/2004 6:59:14 PM EDT

[#11]

Remember what happen when Bill Clinton took the profit out vaccines? The result is that we have a flu vaccine shortage, and the sheeple are blaming it on GWB Jr. So do we want to take the profit out of drugs? Keep in mind that many of us baby-boomers are getting up their in age and we be in the same boat.

Posted: 10/27/2004 7:03:19 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
Quoted:
My Aunt is spending $900 a month for drugs (90) and another couple we know have aged parents spending over $1000 a month.

When they believe (rightly or wrongly) that they need the drugs (as opposed to excercise and better diet) they become desperate. Advertising these drugs and marketing them through physicians is a piss poor way to spend health dollars compared to preventive care.

So you think we should shut down the drug companies? No more marketing and advertising.

The fact was that they weren't allowed to market at one time, just like hard liquor. But my poorly made point is that it's counterproductive to increase the cost of drugs through advertising while at the same time making them more and more an entitlement. This is a false market that has nothing to do with supply and demand.

ETA, it's already a pretty strange market when costs vary so widely all over the world for the same items and we are the ones paying the highest prices.

This reminds me of the government mentality where we subsidize tobacco growers and then sue manufacturers of tobacco products for health care costs. Just doesn't make sense

Posted: 10/27/2004 7:04:56 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Remember what happen when Bill Clinton took the profit out vaccines? The result is that we have a flu vaccine shortage, and the sheeple are blaming it on GWB Jr. So do we want to take the profit out of drugs? Keep in mind that many of us baby-boomers are getting up their in age and we be in the same boat.

Exactly. No profits, no motive to invent new lifesaving drugs and treatments. Pharmacetical technology stagnates and the US looses the market.

Posted: 10/27/2004 7:08:17 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
My Aunt is spending $900 a month for drugs (90) and another couple we know have aged parents spending over $1000 a month.

When they believe (rightly or wrongly) that they need the drugs (as opposed to excercise and better diet) they become desperate. Advertising these drugs and marketing them through physicians is a piss poor way to spend health dollars compared to preventive care.

So you think we should shut down the drug companies? No more marketing and advertising.

The fact was that they weren't allowed to market at one time, just like hard liquor. But my poorly made point is that it's counterproductive to increase the cost of drugs through advertising while at the same time making them more and more an entitlement. This is a false market that has nothing to do with supply and demand.

The drug companies don't want to make their products and entitlement. If that happens, the US government will say they will only pay X amount for the drugs (just like Canada) and the profit in pharmaceticals disappears. No profit, no reason to innovate. Companies exist to make a profit. Governments exist to do what?

Edit: The reason why drug prices vary so much around the world is because in Canada, drug sales are completely regulated. The Canadian government tells the drug companies that they will only allow a drug to be sold if it costs X. Otherwise don't sell it. Drug companies have to recoup their costs and any sale is better then none. There is also the issue of the FDA...

Posted: 10/27/2004 7:12:58 PM EDT

[#15]

When our time is up, our time is up. Health care is not a right, and we have no moral obligation to collectively support someone's lifetime of unhealthy neglect.

Posted: 10/27/2004 7:15:00 PM EDT

[#16]

People in their mid 70's are NOT boomers. They come closer to being NEW DEAL and FDR.

Dennis Jenkins

Quoted:
Both are in their mid 70's.

I really think this is a boomer generation issue. I want mine and to hell with everyone else.

Posted: 10/27/2004 7:15:23 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
when you get that old and start experiencing health problems, staying alive becomes a priority for some.

If you aren't planning now for being able to afford to stay alive then, then it will be nobody's fault but yours.

Posted: 10/27/2004 7:16:04 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
People in their mid 70's are NOT boomers. Come closer to be NEW DEAL and FDR.

Dennis Jenkins

Quoted:
Both are in their mid 70's.

I really think this is a boomer generation issue. I want mine and to hell with everyone else.

Well that explains a lot.

Posted: 10/27/2004 7:16:46 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
My Aunt is spending $900 a month for drugs (90) and another couple we know have aged parents spending over $1000 a month.

When they believe (rightly or wrongly) that they need the drugs (as opposed to excercise and better diet) they become desperate. Advertising these drugs and marketing them through physicians is a piss poor way to spend health dollars compared to preventive care.

So you think we should shut down the drug companies? No more marketing and advertising.

The fact was that they weren't allowed to market at one time, just like hard liquor. But my poorly made point is that it's counterproductive to increase the cost of drugs through advertising while at the same time making them more and more an entitlement. This is a false market that has nothing to do with supply and demand.

The drug companies don't want to make their products and entitlement. If that happens, the US government will say they will only pay X amount for the drugs (just like Canada) and the profit in pharmaceticals disappears. No profit, no reason to innovate. Companies exist to make a profit. Governments exist to do what?

Well, that will be an interesting battle for drug companies to market their drugs and also convince people to keep the government out of things, all the while US citizens are paying the highest prices, which ironically may be in their best interests.

Posted: 10/27/2004 7:23:09 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
My Aunt is spending $900 a month for drugs (90) and another couple we know have aged parents spending over $1000 a month.

When they believe (rightly or wrongly) that they need the drugs (as opposed to excercise and better diet) they become desperate. Advertising these drugs and marketing them through physicians is a piss poor way to spend health dollars compared to preventive care.

So you think we should shut down the drug companies? No more marketing and advertising.

The fact was that they weren't allowed to market at one time, just like hard liquor. But my poorly made point is that it's counterproductive to increase the cost of drugs through advertising while at the same time making them more and more an entitlement. This is a false market that has nothing to do with supply and demand.

The drug companies don't want to make their products and entitlement. If that happens, the US government will say they will only pay X amount for the drugs (just like Canada) and the profit in pharmaceticals disappears. No profit, no reason to innovate. Companies exist to make a profit. Governments exist to do what?

Well, that will be an interesting battle for drug companies to market their drugs and also convince people to keep the government out of things, all the while US citizens are paying the highest prices, which ironically may be in their best interests.

Now you are starting to understand how screwed up this can get!!! Everyone else pays low prices but we pay high so we actually have a drug industry. We pull a freebie for everyone under regulation and the drug companie tell the gov to get wet. We aint't gonna make any new drugs. What does that do for anyone? Will the US Government take over drug research? That is a truly frightening thought...

Posted: 10/27/2004 7:23:29 PM EDT

[#21]

It's not so much that older folks are intentionally selfish. They just tend to get wrapped up in their own little world's. They worry about thier medication because it may or may not make them feel better, but it may keep them alive, alert/sane, bloddpressure down etc depending on what the meds are for. My father is 84 and my mother is 72, they worry about what effects them personally. They are aware of the events going on around them, and are concerned about events like politics, crime, and education for children like my daughter, but that all comes second after, the daily dose of meds, what's for breakfast, lunch and dinner, what doctor do I see today, and the refriderator repair man is coming at 10:00 am. My dad had triple by pass surgery last year, and he has his own pharmacy in the bathroom. He doesn't like many of the meds he takes, because they make him feel "dopey", but they keep him going.

Posted: 10/27/2004 7:29:43 PM EDT

[#22]

I'm not saying people should go without their drugs if they really need them. There are many ways this could be taken care of for those who are truly needy. I am saying if you can easily afford to pay them, why the hell do you think you should get them for free or really really cheap? Just because you are old?

My wifes uncle still works as a CPA during tax season. He said tonight he has no income. I asked him what he does with the money he makes working during tax season (has to be a ton). He puts it all in a 401K. The guy is 72 and retired!!!