The Big Muscle

  • by: |
  • 12/08/2006
On the same topic of “it’s all about the way you ask the question.” How do you think Americans would respond to these polling queries:

Q: Do you want the government to use its muscle to lower the price of gasoline?
Q: Do you want the government to use its muscle to lower the price of foreign imports?
Q: Do you want the government to use its muscle to lower the price of cars?
Q: Do you want the government to use its muscle to lower the price of meat?
Q: Do you want the government to use its muscle to lower the price of box seats at Yankee Stadium?

It’d be pretty easy to get an 85% “yes” rate to any of those questions – unless, per the last one, you’re a Red Sox fan.

So, rather than asking, as the Kaiser Family Foundation did, “Do you think the government should use its buying power to negotiate drug prices,” perhaps we should ask …

Q: Do you favor government price negotiations if it means you will not be able to receive the medicine your doctor has prescribed?

Q: Do you favor price negotiations if it means reducing investment in stem cell research and cures for cancer?

or ...

Q: Do you favor price negotiations even though the non-partisan GAO has reported that government price negotiations will not lower drug prices?

Field our own survey? Maybe we’ll do just that.
CMPI

Center for Medicine in the Public Interest is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization promoting innovative solutions that advance medical progress, reduce health disparities, extend life and make health care more affordable, preventive and patient-centered. CMPI also provides the public, policymakers and the media a reliable source of independent scientific analysis on issues ranging from personalized medicine, food and drug safety, health care reform and comparative effectiveness.

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