US puts Thailand on its watch list

[Fidel]

You make an awful lot of assumptions there bibblies, like you've already put me into a box with all the other liberal "Champagne Socialists" that you probably have such a chip on your shoulder about.

 

"$3 Cappucinos"? "..talking revolution with my "backpacker mates"? Get over it, you don't know me, you don't have a clue who my friends are, or what I choose to drink (100% Colombian coffee, Murree Beer, Bia Chang or Irish Whiskey by the way, in case you ever have the chance to buy me a drink ), yet the easiest way for you try to discredit what I say is to paint me as a hypocritical, trendy, lay-about, wannabe Socialist who talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk. And your comments about charity? Well, let's just say you're well off the mark there.

 

I'm simply expressing my opinion that the right to life with dignity is more important than the right to profit.

 

You, on the other hand, seem to be concerned only with "people working for pharmaceuticals who work their guts out trying to find cures for things". Of course, there can only be one motivation for this can't there bibblies, profit, and not just a little profit, as much f**king profit as they can possibly wring out of the people who need the medicines.

 

They hardly got into the business of developing medicines to HELP people, now did they? Jesus, nobody does anything to help anyone. How f**king Communist is helping people?

 

Say a cure for HIV/AIDS is developed by a private drug company, most of the victims of HIV/AIDS are poverty stricken people living in poor parts of the world. The drug has been developed, costs have been recouped, and a tidy profit has begun to flow in from sales in developed countries. What do you do bibblies? I guess your answer would be "whatever is most profitable".

 

Oh, and my tag, "Fidel" was a random name chose when registering on this board 5 years ago. Having said that, the Cuban health care system is in pretty good shape, considering the embargo and all, and it is something the Cubans should be proud of.

 

Of course, I agree that corporations need to be able to make some profit from the products they develop, but it's a question of getting the balance right to ensure that people are not dying simply because drug companies are more inclined to let them die than forgo profit.

 

I'll give you an example to spell out what I'm getting at bibblies. Lesotho has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the world, over 30% are infected with the virus. Almost 60% live on less than US$2 a day (not enough to buy a $3 Cappucino). Abbott initially set the price per patient for the drug in question at US$2,000 per year, ($5.4 per day). Now, I believe that in such a situation, drug companies are acting unethically, and that it is the duty of the government to step in and engage in compulsory licensing. F**k IP law.

[Flashermac]

<< 100% Colombian coffee, Murree Beer, Bia Chang or Irish Whiskey >>

 

What a horrible combination!

 

 

[sanddawg1]

Without the Big Bad Western Corporations dumping BILLIONS of $$$$$$$$$$$$ into research and development of technology and pharmaceuticals the 3rd world would have nothing to steal!!! Sometimes it takes decades to recoup the cost. Your saying just give it away to countries that canâ??t develop it themselves.

 

BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Fidel]

Yes, Dawg, I'm saying that if a person is dying and is too poor to buy medicine to treat their illness, they should be given it for free.

 

Flasher, you're right , if mixed, that is a rough combination.

[Fidel]

"the Third World would have nothing to steal"

 

Well technically, stealing someone's property entails depriving them of its use. So technically, a Third World country engaging in compulsory licensing isn't stealing.

 

Also, under the WTO Trips agreement, compulsory licensing is legal, under loosely defined conditions.

[bibblies]

Exactly, sanddawg. It's bullshit. And, as before, he COMPLETELY AVOIDS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE MAIN POINT.

 

Fidel, if you think that way, get off your arse and do something about it. Instead of posting crap on internet boards like this, study chemistry and biology, work in medicine OR GIVE MORE OF YOUR MONEY TO CHARITIES. You're free to do that at any time.

 

That way, companies can research cures and, if at their own risk, they find some, governments or charities can buy from them, therefore SUBSIDISING those that can't afford it.

 

As I said before, you won't do that. You prefer OTHER PEOPLE to find and pay for such things.

 

Basically, you're a hypocrite. :thumbdown:

[Fidel]

I said it earlier, and I'll say it again. You don't know me. For all you know I make my own god damned AIDS cures in my basement and give all my money to charity :nahnah: (When it comes to this type of thing, I actually do get off my ass and do something other than posting on message boards BTW).

 

This is stupid. I've outlined my opinion already. Pharmaceutical companies should, like any other company, be entitled to profit from their research. However, a balance needs to be struck between profit and common decency.

 

I can think of far worse crimes than breaching IP law.

 

Tell me, have you ever installed unlicensed software on your computer, bought a DVD from a stall in Thailand, downloaded music without paying for it, bought branded clothes in a market in Thailand?

 

You have? You bastard!How dare you deprive Western countries of their rightful profits! Shame, Shame, Shame.

 

Hypocrite.

[bust]

Tell me, have you ever installed unlicensed software on your computer, bought a DVD from a stall in Thailand, downloaded music without paying for it, bought branded clothes in a market in Thailand?

Hypocrite.

Beat me to it. I think it's a small price to pay. Most pharmecutical companies make huge profits every year yet how many people from developing countries die from easily treatable diseases anually? What a greedy world we live in.

[Flashermac]

 

This is a fun thread. We haven't had folks calling each other names in a long time.

 

 

 

[sanddawg1]

I said it earlier, and I'll say it again. You don't know me. For all you know I make my own god damned AIDS cures in my basement and give all my money to charity :nahnah: (When it comes to this type of thing, I actually do get off my ass and do something other than posting on message boards BTW).

 

This is stupid. I've outlined my opinion already. Pharmaceutical companies should, like any other company, be entitled to profit from their research. However, a balance needs to be struck between profit and common decency.

 

I can think of far worse crimes than breaching IP law.

 

Tell me, have you ever installed unlicensed software on your computer, bought a DVD from a stall in Thailand, downloaded music without paying for it, bought branded clothes in a market in Thailand?

 

You have? You bastard!How dare you deprive Western countries of their rightful profits! Shame, Shame, Shame.

 

Hypocrite.

 

Yes thanks, we give you cures for fatal diseases, microprocessors and global communications and you give us rubber dogshit.

 

Fair Trade