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Comment by hypeatei

6 hours ago

I'm assuming you're European and just want to make an "America bad" post because this is comically ignorant. There wouldn't be mountains of federal code to adhere to if that was the case.

This is a trope among populists: pass legislation around <thing>, observe consequences of doing so, blame the "free market", repeat.

What other countries could teach the U.S. about bringing down drug prices

A look at how European governments negotiate with pharma companies helps explain why Americans pay more for prescription drugs.

https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2024/11/what-other-countri...

  • Sure, but that article literally contradicts your original point about Americans wanting a "free market" as it lists the complicated nature of existing laws, Medicare, PBMs etc. and the incentives those create.

    You could just say "Americans need to vote better and cleanup their laws around this" and yes, that would be ideal, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. It's part of why some want the government to not involve themselves at all: no matter how good the politicians you elect, others can come into office and fuck it all up while everyone is forced to deal with it because they have the monopoly on violence. Not to mention the glacial pace at which our legislative bodies move.