“Socialism stifles creativity! Profit and the free market are why we are number one in drug research.”
You’ve heard it OR some variation of it from faux patriots waving faded flags, right?
Turns out it never was true and never will be unless we get our sciences back on track…
It is widely believed that the United States has eclipsed Europe in pharmaceutical research productivity. Some leading analysts claim that although fewer drugs have been discovered worldwide over the past decade, most are therapeutically important. Yet a comprehensive data set of all new chemical entities approved between 1982 and 2003 shows that the United States never overtook Europe in research productivity, and that Europe in fact is pulling ahead of U.S. productivity. Other large studies show that most new drugs add few if any clinical benefits over previously discovered drugs. I discuss ways in which Congress, employers, and insurers can increase the value of drugs and revitalize the U.S. pharmaceutical industry.
Fact is we never caught up to those socialists in Europe and – probably because they base decisions on science a little more than the average American – they are pulling out further ahead now… I am truly shocked to find out that what the right wing teabaggers/birthers/deathers have been screeching about is the exact opposite of reality. Not really surprised, either, are you?
And yes… I know it is not really all because of science… It is just one of many disasters in America, right now, that have collided to kill good research.
