Healthcare The Capitalist Way

[Lounge Daddy]

[b][size=3]"Wal-Mart to Sell Generic Drugs for $4"[/size][/b]
[img]http://fcbcapparel.com/images/Halliburton-Walmart-vertica.gif[/img]

[quote]Wal-Mart announced today that it will start a test program in Florida, where it will sell generic prescription drugs for $4 for a 30-day supply. The test will start tomorrow in 65 Tampa Bay-area stores and is to expand to the whole state by January.

In a statement, CEO Lee Scott says the world's largest retailer intends to "take the program to as many states as possible next year."

On average, generic drugs tend to cost between $10 and $30 for a month-long supply.

The world's biggest retailer said that it will test the program in Florida that will make 291 generic drugs available, which are used to treat a variety of condition from allergies to high-blood pressure. It will also be available to the uninsured.
--- from article [url="http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060921/D8K9A7TO7.html"]HERE[/url] [/quote]

[Era Might]

No comprendo.

[Lounge Daddy]

My prediction:
Socialists and liberal politicians and activists who would rather have us all on government welfare programs will complain that Wal-Mart is now pushing their pharmacy to unfairly push other pharmacies out of business – thus claiming again the “evils” of Wal-Mart and capitalism in general.


[quote name='Era Might' post='1069217' date='Sep 21 2006, 12:59 PM']
No comprendo.


[/quote]
You might be able to buy generic prescription drugs for $4 rather than $10 - $30 at your local wal-mart store… insured or uninsured.
If this program works in Florida, and is opened to other states - this will be a great thing.

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

Competitors = Crushed.

[Lil Red]

Wal-mart = Evil

[PadrePioOfPietrelcino]

I work at Wal-Mart, and I must say that the more I work there and learn about the company goals ect. (I actually take time out of my day to do this) I become more and more impressed. Wal-Mart TRIES to do the right thing, however there is always a consequence to all actions, so unfortunately some people do het hurt by Wal-Mart's staggering size. (That's why they have those electric carts, vroom vroom)

[Lounge Daddy]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1069284' date='Sep 21 2006, 02:28 PM']
Wal-mart = Evil
[/quote]

Yes, beaver dam Wal-Mart and their influence and efficiency and competitive business practices
beaver dam them for their capitalist endeavors

Successful, big business is inherently evil ...so I am told

[Era Might]

So big government is evil, but big business is good?

I think that's what they would call a "conundrum".

[MIKolbe]

both have their drawbacks, but i would not define either intrinsically evil. (though the are more prone to evil)

[Lounge Daddy]

[quote name='Era Might' post='1069332' date='Sep 21 2006, 03:11 PM']
So big government is evil, but big business is good?

I think that's what they would call a "conundrum".
[/quote]

"Big business" ....It’s what I call practical and logical efficiency

As opposed to fat bureaucratic compartmentalized wasteful oblivion of a government pigsty

[MIKolbe]

[quote name='Lounge Daddy' post='1069361' date='Sep 21 2006, 12:38 PM']
"Big business" ....It’s what I call practical and logical efficiency

[/quote]


they may be their 'ends', but is definately not their means.....

[Era Might]

What would be more efficient, three thousand independent stores spread across the country, or one store with three thousand branches?

By any measure of logic, running one store locally is easier than running three thousand stores nationally.

Or some people would argue anyway. There are a lot of people who only like to shop in local stores, rather than huge conglomerates like Wal-Mart. It builds locally rather than feeding into a huge beast of big business.

[img]http://www.gloriadeo.com/galleries/products/large/1400050642.jpg[/img]

[MIKolbe]

sorry era, i do not follow.....

What would be more efficient, three thousand independent stores spread across the country, or one store with three thousand branches?

if i own all 3000 independent stores apread across the country, how is that different from the alternative 'one store w/ 3000 branches'?

i think i am missing what you are saying.. help.. explain. charitiably. thanks.

[Era Might]

No, all three thousand stores are independent, separate stores. Hence, they build community, because they're local, owned and supported by the local community.

When you have one big company, all the branches are part of that company, and for that reason, part of a business beauracracy.

In the hypothetical local stores, if you have a problem, you can go right to the owner, who is a part of your community. In the conglomerate, you'll never see the owner. The best you'll get is a response from someone in the beauracracy somewhere.

Personally it doesen't matter to me. I'll shop at Wal-Mart if I have to get something. But, theoretically, I think the local thing probably has some validity. That's definitely true about something like music. Local music stores can serve certain needs, and not a general market that wants mass produced garbage.

[Anomaly]

[quote name='Era Might' post='1069387' date='Sep 21 2006, 02:18 PM']
What would be more efficient, three thousand independent stores spread across the country, or one store with three thousand branches?

By any measure of logic, running one store locally is easier than running three thousand stores nationally.

Or some people would argue anyway. There are a lot of people who only like to shop in local stores, rather than huge conglomerates like Wal-Mart. It builds locally rather than feeding into a huge beast of big business.[/quote]
What is most efficient and what the majority of people want is being decided. Use logic and play out who is buy what from where?
You know nothing of business if you can't see the efficiency of running 3,000 branches compared to 3,000 independent stores.
Wal-Mart provides affordable goods at affordable prices so those people who make the least amount of money can afford the neccisities.

The choice is to buy a pair of Wrangler Jeans for $11 at Wal-Mart or pay $15 at Bob's Neighborhood Jeans Store. Especially if you can spend the $4 you saved on your generic blood pressure medicine at Wal-Mart.

Edited September 21, 2006 by Anomaly

[Era Might]

Exactly, it's all about consumerism. It's the same thing with big government. As long as someone has their welfare, who cares how they get it? As long as someone has their $11 dollar jeans, does nothing else matter?

The reason why local stores don't work is because they're not supported. Why? Because big business runs things. If people supported local business the same way they supported Wal-Mart, the prices would be the same. And there would be the added benefit of building local community, rather than a business beauracracy where you're just a cog in a national machine.

[MIKolbe]

[quote name='Era Might' post='1069396' date='Sep 21 2006, 01:28 PM']


The reason why local stores don't work is because they're not supported. Why? Because big business runs things. If people supported local business the same way they supported Wal-Mart, the prices would be the same. [/quote]

the third sentence contradicts the second.

the answer to the Why? is because the consumer decide. the consumer decides that 'big business runs things', big business does not 'decide' this any more than they 'decide' what brand of OJ i buy. they have an influence, yes, but they do not decide.

[Anomaly]

[quote name='Era Might' post='1069396' date='Sep 21 2006, 02:28 PM']
Exactly, it's all about consumerism. It's the same thing with big government. As long as someone has their welfare, who cares how they get it? As long as someone has their $11 dollar jeans, does nothing else matter?

The reason why local stores don't work is because they're not supported. Why? Because big business runs things. If people supported local business the same way they supported Wal-Mart, the prices would be the same. And there would be the added benefit of building local community, rather than a business beauracracy where you're just a cog in a national machine.
[/quote]That's just silly and emotional. Money that isn't spent on neccesities is spent elsewhere. You are taking one extreme view and magnifying. It isn't about consumerism unless [b]you[/b] want it to be.
What's better? Work 1 hour for a pair of jeans or work 45 minutes.
What's better? Have money enough money to put jeans on all your kids or just 75% of them?

Your assumption and conclusion is wrong. The reason why local stores sometimes aren't supported is because they don't meet the consumer's needs for how the consumer needs or wants to spend their hard earned $$.

I can't afford to clothe me and my family at the neighborhood clothing store or the Mall, but I can afford it by shopping at Wal-Mart or Ross. Does that make a slavish pawn of consumerism or big business? We can afford the necessities and don't have to have two full time wage-earners, two cars, etc., etc.

Work and feed yourself, a wife, and your children for 5 years and then see if you can generate the ideology that large discount stores are the plan of satan.

Edited September 21, 2006 by Anomaly

[Era Might]

[quote name='MIkolbe' post='1069398' date='Sep 21 2006, 03:35 PM']the third sentence contradicts the second.

the answer to the Why? is because the consumer decide. the consumer decides that 'big business runs things', big business does not 'decide' this any more than they 'decide' what brand of OJ i buy. they have an influence, yes, but they do not decide.
[/quote]
Well, by the same token, you can say the government does not choose to be big, the people do. If the people didn't want a big government, they wouldn't support it.

The fact is that when you make something available, and it's easier than something else, then people are going to eat it up. If you give out welfare with no conditions, then people are going to take it. If you establish a monopoly of big business beauracracy, then people are going to use it.

It takes effort to build locally, just as it takes effort to address the root problems behind welfare. People don't want that.


[quote name='Anomaly' post='1069400' date='Sep 21 2006, 03:37 PM']Work and feed yourself, a wife, and your children for 5 years and then see if you can generate the ideology that large discount stores are the plan of satan.
[/quote]
I'm the one being emotional?

There's no "ideology". I have no interest in economics. I'll shop wherever, although for certain things, I prefer local stores (music specifically, but books would be another one).

I'm just indulging the idea that big business is good, but big government is evil. As long as we're waxing poetic about economics, I decided to address that seeming contradiction.

[MIKolbe]

ok, i see.

yes, then, i could agree with you. yes, big government can be an evil as much as big business.

though i think you're analogy is a little off in terms of what the people choose jeans v. government...they choose big business and they choose big government....

I can't choose no government...but i can choose no jeans. (i know i am not taking into account monopolies, but most of those are governmental anyway)

plus the ability and effects of consumer choices normally have a faster impact by nature, than that of politcs and big government.

anomoly.. chill out.. it's just a discussion.