Dogmush, why do drug companies sell to other countries at rates that aren't profitable??? I find it hard to believe they're just eating those losses as a charity and making it up on America. Something tells me there's a commercial reason they sell to countries besides the US...
I'm an American, so that's what I mean by "we."
Because the gov'ts got the guns, when you get down to it, and the drug companies don't.
OK, here is some detail:
1. DrugCo develops DrugX, a revolutionary treatment for the world-wide bane of ear-worm infestation.
2. To recoup R&D costs for successful DrugX before the patent runs out (and everybody & their brother can produce generic copies), R&D costs for unsuccessful DrugA through DrugV, and to make a profit, DrugCo wants to charge a price of $500 for a month's supply.
3. The gov't of Sugardaddyland says, "You will sell DrugX in Sugardaddyland for no more than $50."
4. DrugCo says, "Screw you, hippy. I won't sell you or your thieving *expletive deleted* countrymen one damn dose of DrugX."
5. The gov't of Sugardaddyland says, "Look, I gots the guns. How's about I get my hands on a sample of DrugX, have my less-competent chemists (who would never have been able to develop it on their own) replicate it, and sell it for $50 in Sugardaddyland. Hey, maybe we'll even produce so much, we'll sell it all over the world and maybe, with a few bribes, get it into the US market. How would you like your greatest triumph to be your ticket to bankruptcy? What are you going to do about it, DrugCo?"
6. DrugCo says, "OK, we will sell it to your population for $50 as long as you do not allow it to be re-imported back into the USA, which is the last place we can recoup R&D & operating costs. We will charge Americans $1500. For $1500, Americans get to support the R&D for nearly all the world of ungrateful, good-for-nothing, socialist, slug-fellating turds and their gov'ts"
7. The gov't of Sugardaddyland says, "Great. We'll put the guns away. Whoops, I forgot! Where does the time go? I need to write and deliver a condescending speech about how barbaric America is the last industrialized country not to completely socialize its medical sector and control drug costs. Gotta run."