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

[Ben Zaiboc]

On 05/11/2026 22:46, spike wrote:
> Medicine does cost a lot more in the USA, for reasons we already established: the cost of the research and qualification must be paid back.


No, spike, we did not establish that. You claimed that, which is a different thing.

>From https://www.goodrx.com/drugs/savings/why-are-prescription-drugs-more-expensive-in-the-us-than-in-other-countries:

"People in the U.S. are regularly paying more for prescription medication than most places around the world. One of the major hurdles to lowering drug costs has been not allowing the government to negotiate prices with companies. But that will change soon because of the Inflation Reduction Act. Starting in 2026, the U.S. is set to negotiate prices on select high-cost drugs for Medicare beneficiaries."

This should be a good test of your claim. According to you, it should precipitate the collapse of the drug companies, because they will no longer be able to charge the high prices they have been doing, which, according to you, is essential for them to make back what they spend developing the drugs.

If your claim is wrong, and the high prices are actually a result of profiteering, then they will not collapse, they will just have poorer shareholders.
-- 
Ben
"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything." - Pablo Casals, via Albert Einstein