Who said anything about removing patents? I don't have a solution but there is a flaw in the current system that leaves America holding the bill for drug R&D, it needs to be researched beucase there is a problem with helathcare costs in this country and we need other solutions than a National Heathcare System.
The problem with healthcare costs is that nobody wants to die, and nobody wants to pay alot to not die.
Increase the supply of doctors and hospitals, and costs will drop. It's that simple. Until then you are stuck with $80 trips to the doctor for him to tell you that you have fucking Chicken Pox.
"America" is not holding the bill for anything. Other nations also pay through the nose, but the costs are hidden due to the nationalized subsidies.
I'm not sure how to make this any clearer: There is no way you are going to make drugs cheaper with a government program. You will either pay the pharmacist, or pay the IRS. Take your pick. I prefer to pay the pharmacist, as at least then I am paying for my own medications and not the meds for other people.
The same motivation that keeps every one of the thousands of Prius's presold as it comes off the assembly line certainly applies to fuel cell cars.
Prius's actually have value. Fuel cell cars will not for a very long time. By very I mean grandkids.
Key Initiatives in the President's State of the Union Message
President Bush announced a $1.2 billion hydrogen fuel initiative to reverse America's growing dependence on foreign oil by developing the technology for commercially viable hydrogen-powered fuel cells to power cars, trucks, homes and businesses with no pollution or greenhouse gases.
This is so sad it's laughable, and I snorted at it when he said it during the speech.
Fuel cells are not pollution free. Oh, sure, when you burn the hydrogen in the cell, the end result is magically water! And water is clean!
But whatever you do, do not ask how the hydrogen gets into the cells, or what voluminous reserves of hydrocarbons (that means fossil fuels) get burned in the process.
The hydrogen fuel initiative will include $720 million in new funding over the next five years to develop the technologies and infrastructure to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen for use in fuel cell vehicles and electricity generation. Combined with the FreedomCAR (Cooperative Automotive Research) initiative, President Bush is proposing a total of $1.7 billion over the next five years to develop hydrogen-powered fuel cells, hydrogen infrastructure and advanced automotive technologies.
Right right.
They can research it over the next 5 years all they want, and they will produce some damn fine laptop batteries. Every expert I've heard or read on this subject (and that includes the oft-raving oil-haters on NPR) say fuel cells will be impractical for cars for at least 25 years.
The people who benefit from this will not be people who want fuel-cell cars. It's people who use cellphones and soldiers with HUDs in their helmets.
