U.S. slams door on Canadian medicine

[DoYouEverWonder]

March 1, 2006

WASHINGTON - While the federal government struggles to implement a new prescription drug plan for seniors, it has begun cracking down on the importation of cheaper but illegal drugs from Canada.

U.S. Customs agents now are regularly seizing many of the prescription drug shipments to individuals that until recently were left alone.

Federal officials acknowledge the stepped-up enforcement but say it has nothing to do with the new Medicare drug program, known as Part D, which has been riddled with technical and management problems since it began Jan. 1. Enrollment in the voluntary program has been below government estimates.

But several members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, are calling for an inquiry or at least an explanation after receiving a flurry of calls from angry residents whose drugs were seized en route from Canada.

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/03/01/Worldandnation/US_slams_door_on_Cana.shtml

[cornermouse]

1. Impeach?

Dishonorable discharge?

Lock him out of the country?

[aquart]

2. We can't lock him out. The UAE would just smuggle him in.

Thru our ports.

[SoCalDem]

3. How ironic

A person who "could" afford drugs reimported from Canada, and was willing to take them, with NO opportunity to sue anyone, now is forced to buy the SAME drugs at much higher prices, or go without if they cannot afford them..

Freedom is indeed on the march in the US....Too bad freedom is dressed like a stormtrooper..

I guess they will be strip-searching grannies to make sure they are not smuggling diabetes meds taped to their midrifs :eyes:

Perhaps a whole new crop of sniffer dogs will find jobs now.. the ones who sniff out tagamet, insulin, prevacid, claritin etc:)

[Bassic]

9. Well, it's their own fault

Everybody knows that pharmaceutical profits are much more important than human life and quality of life. I mean, the health of the economy HAS to be a priority here! :sarcas:


:puke: :puke: :puke:

[lovuian]

22. They keep this up and people are going to get really angry

:argh: The word is out US Pharmaceuticals are screwing us...

[laruemtt]

4. bu - bu- but, didn't the fool just say

in his SOTU address how important it is to be part of world commerce? isn't that his argument behind the UAE port deal? so we're racist against canadians now? (his argument) :wtf:

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. So much for free trade

and NAFTA.

[Bassic]

10. NAFTA is one big farce

Though it forces us(Canada) to do pretty much everything Washington wants us to do, the US government stubbornly refuses to abide to rulings that go against them.

Canada should fucking break out of it. The WTO has more than enough power to settle any trade disputes in ways that are usually pleasing to profit whores.

[Nay]

5. The Canadians are pissed off now too, because there

are shortages of some drugs for Canadians because so many Americans are buying them. They very rightly believe that their drugs belong to them first, and if Americans want decent prices, then they need to negotiate with the drug companies like Canada does.

Of course, each American alone cannot negotiate with a drug company -- you need a working government like Canada's. Not only does the * regime not work, it doesn't even BELIEVE that govt should do things like negotiate with drug companies for lower prices, or ensure health care for all. So we're stuck.

[moondust]

6. Euthanasia plan goes forward.

The Bushcorp Euthanasia Plan, first of its kind since the demise of the Nazi death machine, continues to make big strides in America...

[area51]

16. "Euthanasia plan"

Yes, it's certainly going forward. It's a slow-motion, under-the-radar killing machine that republinazis hope will kill off those they consider "useless eaters". :mad:

[matcom]

8. i'm so sick of my country

if i renounce my U.S. citizenship can i send my tax payments to Canada? they deserve it more.

[greekspeak]

11. I don't beleive in one, but if there's a Hell, ShrubCo's going to the

Hitler wing. This is just ridiculous. Pay or die old woman. Pay or die. Ha ha ha ha ha!!!! What? Can't afford your medicine old man? TOUGH SHIT! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!

[VespertineIconoclast]

17. That was my first thought as well

I wish there was a Hell for * and his cronies because they have sentenced a lot of people to death with their actions. Pay or die indeed....:nuke:

-VI

[KAZ]

20. Not just Shrub, but the agents who carry this out.

Them and their families. Hopefully, some disease will wipe them out. Shrub can go to hell, along with his cabinet, and the agents who enforce this shit. It took me 40 years to discover the true meaning of "hate".

[FlaGranny]

23. I know what you're saying -

It took ME 60 years to learn the true meaning of "hate." Even though Nixon scared me and I was none too fond of Reagan and Bush Sr., I've never felt like this about my government before. I have no real words that can express what I feel for them. "Revulsion" and "hate" aren't sufficient.

[marmar]

12. I wish we could slam the door...

on his sorry ass!

Canada, will you adopt me? Take me in as a refugee from a corrupt and oppressive regime? :hi:

[400Years]

13. the federal govt. is a subsidiary of corporate interests

it's that simple

[DoYouEverWonder]

14. Reverse fascism

They never do anything that is in the best interest of the American people. In my book, that's treason.

[converted_democrat]

15. We can count on the UAE for our ports, but we can't count on

Canada to send us safe medicine.. The mind reels..

[Lorien]

18. Geez-my doctor even endorses getting meds from Canada

I just had an appointment yesterday and my new meds will cost $134 a month. My doctor suggested Canadian meds instead. Now that's not looking like a great possibility.

[noonwitch]

19. Yeah, but you can still go there and get 222s

Acetominophin or Aspirin with coedine, at a lesser dose than a Tylenol 3.

Junkies in Detroit go over there and get it when the smack market is undersupplied, or when they are trying to reduce their habits to a more affordable level. I used to go buy it when I had gallstones. It was just enough of a dose to get me to sleep when I was in pain, but not enough to give me a hangover feeling the next day.

[Up2Late]

21. Grrrrrrrrrr!

No words for this.:mad:

[reprobate]

24. Bright side of it: More Soylent Green will be available now.

As far as I'm concerned this sows up the senior vote for the dems this election. Now if they would just come out in favor of rolling this abortion of a part D into the full medicare plan, removing the insurance company profits, and negotiating with the Big Pharmas for the drugs, us Fogies could afford our meds.

And imagine if ALL americans could join the drug plan. With the buying power of 300 million of us, our drugs would likely cost half of what canadians pay. How's that for a turn about?