[ExI] Why is “cost of living” such a big problem?

[spike at rainier66.com]

From: John Clark <johnkclark at gmail.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, 4 November, 2026 6:14 AM
To: spike at rainier66.com
Cc: ExI chat list <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Subject: Re: [ExI] Why is “cost of living” such a big problem?

 

 

 

On Wed, Nov 4, 2026 at 8:59 AM <spike at rainier66.com <mailto:spike at rainier66.com> > wrote:

 

> John look at that list below.  If the developers of those medications have no way to make back the cost of development and qualification thru FDA many times over (to cover the risk) investors would not put money in those companies and none of those medications would exist.

 

 

>…And the cost for developing those drugs should be entirely paid for by United States citizens and by nobody else?! …..

 

No, the cost for developing the drugs should be paid for by investors, which can be from anywhere.  How the companies make back their money is a function of intellectual property law, which has merit.  Information wants to be free, but information producers want to be paid.  If IP law is not robust, investors will not dump piles of money into medical research.  That is always an inherently risky bet.  It is why it is called research, rather than refind.  It hasta pay off big if one chooses the right company.

 

>…Are you sure you're a libertarian? 

 

John K Clark

 

Of that, I have never been surer, but I will qualify my response: Libertarian is not one party, any more than either of the two mainstreamers are unified parties.  A perfect example of that will be seen in the next congress.  I confidently predict the new party in power will use most of its term fighting itself.  Its mainstream will fight its emergent socialist wing.  Eventually that will split the party.  We have seen this before.

 

spike

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


              Examples of Price Disparities (Estimated Out-of-Pocket / List Price)


Medication

Common Indication

U.S. Retail Price (Approx.)

Canada Retail Price (Approx.)


Ozempic (Semaglutide)

Type 2 Diabetes / Weight Loss

~$950 – $1,000 / month

~$300 – $330 / month


Eliquis (Apixaban)

Blood Thinner / Stroke Prevention

~$550 – $800 / month

~$130 – $150 / month


Lantus / Humalog (Insulin)

Diabetes

~$280 – $350 / vial

~$30 – $45 / vial


EpiPen (Epinephrine 2-pack)

Severe Allergic Reactions

~$550 – $650

~$100 – $150


Xarelto (Rivaroxaban)

Blood Thinner

~$590 / month

~$135 / month


Advair Diskus (Fluticasone/Salmeterol)

Asthma / COPD

~$350 – $400 / inhaler

~$80 – $160 / inhaler


Januvia (Sitagliptin)

Type 2 Diabetes

~$320 / month

~$165 /

 

 

I don’t use any of those, but I am glad they exist.  Are you?

 

spike

 

 

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