Comments on: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/09/comments-corrections-clarifications-and-cckups/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:14:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: alex can http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/09/comments-corrections-clarifications-and-cckups/#comment-15982 alex can Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15982 The recommendation by the NPS to use generics is clearly aimed at saving money for patients. Pharmacists would dearly love to supply brand name products (the producers of which apparently either own or license generic versions anyway). The fact that pharmacy chains find ways to increase profits is in fact good business and not bad medicine. Patients in hospital have no choice of which generic they receive. The real issue I believe is what is the true cost of a drug? Hospital contracts, PBS contracts, mark-ups, lack of competition, small buys, large buys, private scripts, insurance scripts can see the price of the same medication differ by as much as 10 fold. That is where the real problem lies.<br /><br />And as for journalist PR tours to Israel, perhaps they could ask to see some of the former Palestinian villages which were ethnically cleansed over the last 50 years and ask how is it that Australians employed by the IDF (a foreign army) continue to maintain Australian citizenship? The recommendation by the NPS to use generics is clearly aimed at saving money for patients. Pharmacists would dearly love to supply brand name products (the producers of which apparently either own or license generic versions anyway). The fact that pharmacy chains find ways to increase profits is in fact good business and not bad medicine. Patients in hospital have no choice of which generic they receive. The real issue I believe is what is the true cost of a drug? Hospital contracts, PBS contracts, mark-ups, lack of competition, small buys, large buys, private scripts, insurance scripts can see the price of the same medication differ by as much as 10 fold. That is where the real problem lies.

And as for journalist PR tours to Israel, perhaps they could ask to see some of the former Palestinian villages which were ethnically cleansed over the last 50 years and ask how is it that Australians employed by the IDF (a foreign army) continue to maintain Australian citizenship?

]]> By: JamesK http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/09/comments-corrections-clarifications-and-cckups/#comment-15983 JamesK Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15983 I notice Brian Allen "take exception" to Richard Farmer and the basis of his displeasure is the old 'disproportionate response' nonsensical argument. The notion of 'proportional' response in war is a non sequitur and the only palatable means of victory come from a disproportionate use of force. Unlike Hamas, Israel's goals are not genocidal.<br /><br />Hamas should garner no international sympathy simply because it made the poor decision of engaging an enemy of far-superior military might. Hamas has nothing to be proud of being illiberal, misogynistic and violently religiously fanatical and happy to hide and murder behind the 'shielding' skirts of women and children. The Left's quixotic dream that antagonists can just kiss and make up for peace costs lives and in Israel's case specifically the lives of their people. It was rocket-firing, suicide-bombing Hamas that broke a six-month-long truce by raining missiles down on southern Israel, necessitating this Israeli military response. And it is Hamas who is now refusing the UN sanctioned call for ceasefire.<br /><br />It's telling that Egypt and Palestinian Authority have blamed the Hamas terror gang that rules Gaza for the Palestinian lives that have been lost. And at least some Gazans suffering in this war know also the truth of Hamas' treachery. I notice Brian Allen “take exception” to Richard Farmer and the basis of his displeasure is the old ‘disproportionate response’ nonsensical argument. The notion of ‘proportional’ response in war is a non sequitur and the only palatable means of victory come from a disproportionate use of force. Unlike Hamas, Israel’s goals are not genocidal.

Hamas should garner no international sympathy simply because it made the poor decision of engaging an enemy of far-superior military might. Hamas has nothing to be proud of being illiberal, misogynistic and violently religiously fanatical and happy to hide and murder behind the ‘shielding’ skirts of women and children. The Left’s quixotic dream that antagonists can just kiss and make up for peace costs lives and in Israel’s case specifically the lives of their people. It was rocket-firing, suicide-bombing Hamas that broke a six-month-long truce by raining missiles down on southern Israel, necessitating this Israeli military response. And it is Hamas who is now refusing the UN sanctioned call for ceasefire.

It’s telling that Egypt and Palestinian Authority have blamed the Hamas terror gang that rules Gaza for the Palestinian lives that have been lost. And at least some Gazans suffering in this war know also the truth of Hamas’ treachery.

]]> By: Richard McGuire http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/09/comments-corrections-clarifications-and-cckups/#comment-15984 Richard McGuire Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15984 Tamas Calderwood makes the point that companies like Chrysler and General Motors should be allowed to fail. Fair enough. If the same logic was applied accross the board to financial institutions, such as banks, the world would be headed for a downturn as severe as the Great Depression. Now I question whether today's generation, would accept the associated deprivations of a severe depression, with the same stoicism their forbears did. Governments world wide not only need to consider their own political survival, but need to be mindful of the political and civil stability of the countries they govern.............................................Yesterday I put the question as to why our privatised telecommunications industry cannot supply high speed broadband without a 4.7 billion dollar leg up from the government ? Maybe you can answer that one Tamas, no one else seems able to. Tamas Calderwood makes the point that companies like Chrysler and General Motors should be allowed to fail. Fair enough. If the same logic was applied accross the board to financial institutions, such as banks, the world would be headed for a downturn as severe as the Great Depression. Now I question whether today’s generation, would accept the associated deprivations of a severe depression, with the same stoicism their forbears did. Governments world wide not only need to consider their own political survival, but need to be mindful of the political and civil stability of the countries they govern………………………………………Yesterday I put the question as to why our privatised telecommunications industry cannot supply high speed broadband without a 4.7 billion dollar leg up from the government ? Maybe you can answer that one Tamas, no one else seems able to.

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