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

Fri Nov 6 16:18:06 UTC 2026

From: John Clark <johnkclark at gmail.com> 
Sent: Friday, 6 November, 2026 5:13 AM
To: ExI chat list <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Cc: spike at rainier66.com
Subject: Re: [ExI] Why is “cost of living” such a big problem?

On Thu, Nov 5, 2026 at 5:43 PM spike jones via extropy-chat <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org <mailto:extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> > wrote:

> Medicine does cost a lot more in the USA, 

Yes, a LOT more.

> for reasons we already established:

No, you have never done that.  

 > the cost of the research and qualification must be paid back.  

>…But you have never coherently explained why US citizens and US citizens ALONE must pay for the ENTIRE research and development costs of every drug in existence, even though they are only 4% of the world's population. And even if the US had nothing to do with the R&D or manufacturer of the drug! 

Every manufacturer of anything will charge what the market will bear John.  If the market will bear higher prices in the USA, the manufacturers will charge higher prices in the USA.

If you consider a drug too expensive, don’t buy it.  Drugs are controlled tightly in the USA.  Of course they are expensive.  Developing drugs is risky and expensive.  A lot of research is done in the USA, funded by investors from everywhere.  If investors don’t make a lot of money on the winners, they will not invest in the losers.  Since investors don’t know which companies will win, they take a risk.  Without a payoff, investors will not invest in any of the companies.  New medications will not be found.

What you should be asking yourself is with all the unfair pricing structures, why does so much medical research happen in the states.  Why do you think it is, John?  

spike

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