Re:US drugmaker doubled price on potential coronavirus treat...
by jpster on Friday March 20, 2020 @08:33PM
(#22643179)
> If the money is being put to R&D or even just enabling the company to scale manufacturing, I'm pretty okay with that.
That makes sense. On the other hand, the government has deep pockets. They could buy the company, fund the R&D, and still keep the prices accessible.
In pandemics, this is what we want and need.
I’m also alive to all the ways in which these powers could lead to corruption and overreach in ordinary times. I oppose the Patriot Act and abhor the wars and states-of-emergency without-end. But I’m given to believe we are not in ordinary times.
Re:US drugmaker doubled price on potential coronavirus treat...
by dumbfoundded on Friday March 20, 2020 @08:47PM
(#22643262)
It's tough to know where to draw the line. There are roundabout ways like loans, grants, tax breaks and a variety of other tools the government has without nationalization.
Buying the company seems a little too much to me but it is an emergency. I don't know enough about the details to know the right decision.
Better than nationalization I think would be restrictions on executive compensation and dividends. Take away any personal upside from the decision-makers.