General Discussion

Xipe Totec

(44,590 posts)

25. Not all problems can be solved by a free market

Sun Apr 15, 2018, 09:08 AM

Apr 2018

In fact, there are many cases where a good product can destroy it's own market.

That is why there is a certain class of problems that require government intervention for the good of the public. This is one of them. From the point of view of the people, the return on investment would be enormous; a little bit of tax expenditure to develop a cure for a disease, a little more to deliver the cure, and the problem goes away forever.

CDC should be in the business of developing permanent cures for diseases. In fact, it should be renamed CDE; The Center for Disease Eradication.

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Goldman Sachs issues report: Curing diseases is a bad business-model. [View all] DetlefK Apr 2018 OP

It is oberliner Apr 2018 #1

As a diabetic, I know exactly what you mean... Wounded Bear Apr 2018 #33

My husband has Type 2 and peggysue2 Apr 2018 #45

Would inventing diseases help the bottom line? Throck Apr 2018 #2

Hmm, that's a good question. ck4829 Apr 2018 #7

Yes, provided they are chronic, debilitating, and a very expensive patented palliative is owned FarCenter Apr 2018 #13

invented deseases mmbrevo Apr 2018 #29

The primary problem there is advertising... Wounded Bear Apr 2018 #34

You're right about that. Especially with something like ADHD. Aristus Apr 2018 #40

I'm not sure that this is incompatible with very liberal thinking janterry Apr 2018 #3

Especially if out tax dollars are going to fund that research... Volaris Apr 2018 #49

Isn't this just standard business analysis? Blue_Adept Apr 2018 #4

ITA janterry Apr 2018 #9

International Telegraph Alphabet, also known as Baudot code . . . . .nt Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2018 #11

I had to look it up myself, I don't see ITA used often Blue_Adept Apr 2018 #12

Sure. And as Janterry says. How many promising lines of Hortensis Apr 2018 #10

And the GOP always wants to cut the budgets of the NIH TexasBushwhacker Apr 2018 #18

Yup. Imo, STRONG conservatives are not competent Hortensis Apr 2018 #43

Excellent post. Thank you. Silver Gaia Apr 2018 #44

Agree. My company is in the transportation industry. Lochloosa Apr 2018 #15

That sounds intriguing...can you give us a hint...? First Speaker Apr 2018 #42

There's no cure for greed. nt oasis Apr 2018 #5

Yes, the Salk vaccine was bad business for iron lung makers bronxiteforever Apr 2018 #6

The Salk vaccine was bad for business in a couple of ways. dflprincess Apr 2018 #53

Otoh, "disease maintenance" is very profitable. Nt shanny Apr 2018 #8

I have a first-hand example of that--anyone ever have lower back pain? Read on! DFW Apr 2018 #14

Thank you SO much for posting this. Duppers Apr 2018 #20

My dad was treated at Johns Hopkins, too, but they couldn't save him DFW Apr 2018 #23

You never cease to amaze me DFW! Duppers Apr 2018 #24

My dad was the really amazing one DFW Apr 2018 #28

OhMyGoodness Yes! Duppers Apr 2018 #31

I only got as far as my book DFW Apr 2018 #38

Safe travels, by the way! DFW Apr 2018 #41

What the heck was in that pill? Do you remember? Would it be easily duplicated Nay Apr 2018 #46

I'm no pharmacist DFW Apr 2018 #47

Thank you! I will ask my relative to get me some when she goes back home. Nay Apr 2018 #50

GS just implicitly called out the anti-vaxxers. BadgerKid Apr 2018 #16

Yep - when the antibiotic regime for curing ulcers was developed ehrnst Apr 2018 #17

I had GILD in my portfolio Bob Loblaw Apr 2018 #19

An example of why the cause is doomed. Duppers Apr 2018 #22

I don't know about that. I don't see anything 'nature'-related about it. ck4829 Apr 2018 #26

Money is an abstract concept, but stocks are not. Lucky Luciano Apr 2018 #37

I hope you aren't calling me greedy Bob Loblaw Apr 2018 #48

We've all got to remember though, the "greatest healthcare system in the world" is a deadly joke ck4829 Apr 2018 #21

Not all problems can be solved by a free market Xipe Totec Apr 2018 #25

The NIH does help fund drug trials BadgerKid Apr 2018 #30

Spot friggin On! Martin Eden Apr 2018 #32

+1 mountain grammy Apr 2018 #35

Well, there's still Turbineguy Apr 2018 #27

I read this GS BS when... floWteiuQ Apr 2018 #36

How much money did they waste BootinUp Apr 2018 #39

End stage capitalism HopeAgain Apr 2018 #51

This is why. Snackshack Apr 2018 #52