Oh, and note also that the bill SPECIFICALLY eliminated the right of
the federal government to NEGOTIATE prices in any fashion. So any
early savings will be wiped out in short order as drug prices in all
classes continue to escalate.

The pharmaceutical industry is completely out of control, quite
literally, which is why the bill was castigated as an ENORMOUS slush
fund/windfall for the industry. One that has more lobbyists on the
hill than Congressmen and Senators combined. An industry that has
purchased power, writes its own legislation, buys its representatives
and destroys democracy.

Count on it. The new cards will not address any of the problems people
on Medicare face in terms of access to medications. Going to Canada is
not the answer either. The companies stop selling some drugs there.
And MANY seniors can't afford the Canadian prices either.

So an industry that is ostensibly designed to help improve health
becomes one that serves the wealthy and allows the rest to suffer and
die. On a global scale, the effects, and their pernicious influence on
trade deals, results in even more widespread suffering and death to
the point I have no trouble calling it genocide. What is happening to
people with HIV/AIDS is indeed perhaps the most incredible, avoidable,
treatable tragedy but for the lies, distortions and nefarious
activities of pharma. They have murdered many of my friends around the
world and more will undoubtedly die.

        George M. Carter