WASHINGTON (CNN) – Republican Sen. Bob Corker suggested Wednesday that when it comes to health care, Canada and France have a "parasitic relationship" towards the United States.
During a hearing of the Special Committee on Aging, the Tennessee Republican told Canada's former Public Health Minister, Dr. Carolyn Bennett, that her country is "living off of us" because they set lower prices for health care and "all the innovation, all the technology breakthroughs just about take place in our country and we have to pay for it."
"It is not really our country so much is the problem, it's sort of the parasitic relationship that Canada, and France, and other countries have towards us," Corker said. "...You benefit from us, and we pay for that. And I resent that, and I want to figure out a way to solve that."
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Oh my God. Another truethful statement.
I wonder if Obama has taking these costs into consideration in his multi-trillion dollar income redistribution scheme.
What an idiot. Pfizer, Merck, J&J, and the rest of the big pharmaceutical and device makers (e.g., Boston Scientific) make tens of billions of dollars every year selling their products around the world, including Canada and France.
How is it again that they are being parasites?
That's true, but Obama will assume that the US is at fault and apologize for it (if Iran and Russia let him).
Some politicians are an embarrassment because they don't know when to shut up. These are allies that he's talking about. Any wonder why the world hates our arrogance. Every time they make these comments they make it even more difficult for the State Department to find other countries willing to work with us on all the global problems we are expected to solve.
Put a cork in it Corker.
My guess would be Bob Corker also has a parasitic relationship with big corporations and corrupted Washington lobbyist!
Sit down Bob!
Sen. Bob Corker, national embarrassment.
I can hardly wait to hear what the CBC make of this this evening - they're already pretty pissed at the way Americans keep on forgetting or undervaluing their help (and losses) in Afghanistan. Or, I seem to recall, their former help. Insulting your friends isn't a very good way to get them to contribute more troops. Au contraire...
Have all gop politicians been infected with hoof in mouth disease? Every time one of these jackals opens there mouth, they show how out of touch they are. No reality exists in the world where they live.
Yeah, they might. So what?
Are you going to keep the technology from them, and let the people who need it get sicker and die? Awesome.
This man is a Republican, and an idiot. God help us!
We Canadians are quite used to the total ignorance that comes out of right wing Americans. He should really look at where new developments are made rather than making assumptions. It is amazing that the United States gives such reverance to ignorance.
The only parasitic relationship I know of is republicans and america. They live off of us and we pay for it. They do no good, come up with no solutions, democrats fix all their disasters, and I RESENT THAT!
Vote out all of the republicans and replace them with ONLY yes votes for the Public Option.
Research in a vacuum room! problem solved right? No, or may be Canadanians and french knows how to separate greed from capitalism?
And the GOP as the gall to criticize the Obama administration for how they handle foreign affairs?
This has got to be one of the stupidest things I've ever heard!
What an idiot. But then, he's a Republican. Because Canadians and French people who might come here do not have insurance coverage, they pay out of pocket. They are paying customers. I'm sure the insurance companies the Republicans are beholding to are just fine with that.
Yes, some of the wealthier foreigners come here to get non-essential stuff done quicker. Less waiting. My the inconvenience of it all. It just doesn't compare though – to the inconvenience many Americans have who lose their homes due to illness, or who get dropped when they become terminal, and then lose their homes....
Maybe Corker should focus on that...
Corker, who provides your health insurance? Who pays for it? And why can't we have the same? That's the real issue at hand. You're just distracting people by pointing elsewhere outside our borders.
Hmmmm sounds just like the same relationship a Senator has with the American people, they tax and take our money away and give it to the rich in bailouts.
The ignorance of your politicians. All the "innovation" and Technology breakthroughs" come from the States. Give me a break – all countries have innovation and technology skills that have been developed through their own countries and then sold their patents to the US (so the US can claim to be the "inventor") which doesn't make these other countries "parasites". Heart transplants, lung transplants, polio vaccines, etc. weren't invented in the U.S. – they might have been advanced in the States, but they certainly weren't "invented" in the States. If your statement was to give the impression that your Health Care costs were exhorbitant because of research and development – check your figures – you guys don't allot very much towards actual research and development. Furthermore, the Canadian and French population in total wouldn't even cover the amount of uninsured in your country. Parasites indeed!!
The REAL parasites: Blubbering ConservIdiot Sniveling Morons known as the Gutless Obstructionist Party = GeeNopee.
PELOSI is the Best.
PELOSI is the Speaker because we Majority elected her.
PELOSI is Doing a Great Job.
PELOSI is a Great Leader.
To all those who do not Like a Democratically Elected Leader:
—————– You can have your PASSPORTS and Leave the Country.
———————– Because America is Democratic Country.
This guy is a moron aspiring to become an idiot. Well over half of the
"technology" that is utilized in medicine today come from places other than the U.S. And the ones that do, to whom do you think the profits go. This gentleman has no other interest greater than to protect the lofty profits the drug companies have enjoyed. Mr. Corker will quickly learn the hard way that a closed mouth gathers no foot. Us parasites worldwide are also the largest consumers of your technology fool.
To our friends north of the border: We aren't all loutish boors, so please don't let mr. imbicile cloud your opinion of all citizens of the United States.
poor Ignorance
If you take a look at this so-called Political Ticker, it's really just one story after another of a Republican going completely over the top.
Another example is the story about Michael Steele REACTING to Thomas Friedman's well-reasoned column about the threats to President Obama. Note that the story wasn't about the hostile environment stoked by the right wing, it was about a wing nut spouting off at the mouth.
Now we have this Corker spewing off like he has Tourette syndrome about Canada and France. Elsewhere today we've had a right-wing columnist calling for a MILITARY COUP to remove Obama from office. For some reason CNN doesn't have a story on it yet.
This is getting very ugly. It's time to hold these idiot Republicans to account for their hate speech, regardless of whom it is directed.
Is he seriously blaming Canada for our health care problems? Is a low IQ the only requirement for being a Republican? Mr. Corker try using your head for more than keeping your ears apart.
Sir, have you ever heard of a little country called "China?"
WE ARE MORE PARASITIC TO THEM THAN ANY OTHER NATION IS ONTO US.
Our country would literally be in shambles if it weren't for China. (India, to a slightly lesser degree, as well). If it weren't for China and India, where else would we get all of our goods that are oh-so-readily available in Wal-Marts and Targets across the nation?
Bring the manufactoring base back to the United States, and then maybe I'll listen to your whining about other countries riding off of our success.
I think it's because, the US has always had this "go it alone" attitude towards the world. We want to send our troups out to protect our interests, without cooperation from other countries. It's high time the US realized we are all in this together, and not place ourselves on a pedistal above everyone else.
Canada and France are not parasitic. They're being smart... smarter than us. Deal with it, Senator... intelligently, not egotistically.
Bob Corker ..."You lie!!!!
Little Bob is a dimwitted moron. He needs to shut his pie hole.
not wrong, but counterproductive
Typical overly-Republican xenophobia. "The foreigners benefit from us!" First off, there are plenty of medical breakthroughs and research from foreign countries that we've used to. Second, the AMERICAN companies that fund the research are the ones who sell it in France and Canada, so our companies are the parasites living off the Canadian dollar. Third, who CARES if their citizens can get healthy off our research? We're all human, except for this Corker moron.
Let me get this straight...it sounds to me like Corker wants to prevent American business from exporting their medical technology that they spent money on for R&D? Wow!
Oh God...sometimes you really need to just stop talking...and this would be one of those times.
I can't wait until they show us how deep this politician is in the pockets of the Pharms and Insurance industries!
I seem to remember another Tennessee Republican who was not a real bright feller... but he played one on TV.
Actually, we've been lagging in innovation for years now and can no longer claim status as the leader of the pack in many areas of medicine. For example, France performed the first face transplant. But hey, this is a GOPer we're talking about here, what in god's name do facts have to do with anything if we can stir up a modicum of xenophobia?
This has got to be one of the dumbest comments I've heard in this "debate" so far.
PS-I personally have met people who have traveled to these evil places with socialized medicine and have been treated. For Free.
And this is a slap to the face of every doctor/hospital abroad who has treated an American patient.
Corker really has no brain whatsoever. And we wonder why so many countries detest us? Corker is an embarassment to our great country!
FACT
The United States is a leader in medical innovation. The nonindustrial sector spent three times as much as Europe per capita on biomedical research.
Check your facts!
Really. I think they had a break through in AIDS research just last week. That research was done in Asia.
The U.S. has continually helped nearly every country in the world only to have most of them kick sand in our face. It's cost us taxpayers billions of dollars to help people in other countries when the taxpayers could have kept that money in their pockets. This is the same problems with paying welfare and healthcare to those who refuse to go out and work, to go out and exercise to stay healthy, to quit having babies by the basketfull. The taxpayers is simply tired of raising one generation after another of people who do not contribute in any positive fashion whatsoever to this countries good health. This is the problem with the Dems healthcare plan, they want to keep these lazy people on the welfare and healthcare plans when they should have run out of benefits. Why does an unemployed person run out of benefits yet someone on welfare does not? Good question for someone to answer --- put limits on these moochers.
Someone put baby's binky back in baby's mouth...he's talking crazy and starting to cry again.
Is this guy serious? What an embarrassment!
The United States spends three times as much as Europe per capita on biomedical research!
This is the truth! Research it yourself.
Dear France and Canada...
Please forgive the public embarrasment that Corker and the other rethuglicons are causing this country and it's citizens.
Corker and the rest of the GOP don't play well with others and are given to fits of mouth diaherrea. They think offending our most trusted allies makes them look patriotic – Go figure.
I'm sure you have your village idiots as well but fortunately you don't elect as many of them to public office like we do. We're doing our best to clean things up but it's a slow process. In the mean time please judge real Americans by how Pres. Obama and company treat you and ignore these cornpone politicians waving Confederate flags – they are morns all...
So lets here an educated response LIBERALS!
Ever been a business leader, invested capital in R&D? No I thought not! Hey Pete – For every one pharamceutical patent that results in a viable product there are over forty that fail. Who do you think has to pay for the research? That success percentage is less than 2.5% for you Liberals that can't do math because you were educated by a teachers Union School. I doubt any of you have any business accumen, you are all too busy crying about what you don't have, everything should be a "right" and standing in line for your handout to be "invested" in anything but yourselves.
What has CANADA or FRANCE ever invented?
Are either of them current industry leaders in anything?
Name a large medical university in Canada?
How about a cancer research facility? Seattle WA has eleven!
When is the last time a Canadian or a Frenchman spoke out an any UN conference? Nope they are silent and in the back hiding behind whatever country they can find!
Real health care reform that the GOP should help with instead of use lies to try to stop. Corker is just mad because Canada and France has a better system. I think the GOP owes all Americans an apology for lies that they have spread about health care..
"an organism that obtains nourishment and shelter on another organism", "Parasites can cause harm or disease to their host. They are generally much smaller than their hosts." Sounds exactly like the idiot Corker!
They're all parasites ~ all the rest of the republicans, tea-baggers, birthers, Fox media, hate radio, etc.
I love how GOPers are citing our overinvestment in redundant pharmaceutical research (the greatest portion of biomedical research because it's a get-rich-quick type thing) as proof we're somehow accomplishing more than the rest of the world when (a) there is no correlation between how much is spent and how much is accomplished and (b) redundant pharmaceuticals are one of the greatest contributors to the skyrocketing inflation of health care costs.
Irony 1,000,010: GOP 0
Senator Corker, the only parasitic thing here is your shameless support of insurance companies and their policies that kill thousands of Americans every year. Passing the buck to other countries is not only dishonest, it's down right slimy.
I am impressed with all of the innovation that comes out of Corker's home state, and not to mention the education level and high test scores. No wonder they elected this guy.
Too bad politicians noses don't grow when they tell tall tales!
Corker–put a Cork in it! What a total embarrassment. I ask you two questions: have you ever been to Canada? and do you pay for your own health care?
Bet the answers are NO and NO.
One word – Penicillin.
If you like France and Canada so much why not move their.
They have pretty lax immigration laws!
He is simply wrong. Scientific breakthoughs rely on communal efforts and knowledge–scientists invent something based on inventions of other scientists. This means that medical innovations depend on the amount of money spent on research in each country, including Canada and France. In this country, from 2000 to 2008, republicans decreased money for medical research (because there is not money left except for war). France and Canda, on the other hand, maintained funding for research.
Corker simply appeals to republican morons who don't know facts. All republicans are whining brats who think they were robbed by someone.
Gee, Corker, maybe if we could import drugs from Canada, then maybe we wouldn't be "subsidizing" them, huh? And, also, gee, don't the profits from selling all those drugs end up with American companies? Do you think maybe Pfizer and Lily should move to Canada and France? You know, France could use a good pharmaceutical since, of course, they don't have one - I believe Aventis makes wine and cheese or something.
Actually the problem is the FDA that makes the companies pay to do test after test to ensure the drugs are safe while other countries are already allowing the drugs to be used. It is these costs that get past down to us.
MT said: Name a large medical university in Canada?
The College of Medicine at...
The University of British Columbia
The University of Calgary
The University of Alberta
The University of Saskatchewan
The University of Manitoba
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine
The University of Toronto
Memorial University
...just to name a few
Yeah because of idiots like Sen. Porker.
Smoke and Mirrors, Corker, that's all you have. Not that it matters but you should know that pasteurization was invented by and Frenchman. so much for parasites
First, lets' make sure we don't hire this guy to work in the Diplomatic Corps.
While we have invented many things, many others things we use are made overseas, like Cellphone Technology, Dry Chemistry Blood Glucose and Urine testing in Germany; Automated Lab Blood Analyzers in Japan; Electron Scanning Microscope in Switzerland. etc I could go on forever and bore the reader but I won't
Mr. Corker is not very well informed. I suspect Mr. Corker is a Porker of the Health Insurance Industry like someone already stated here.
This sounds like the Big Insurance Industry is afraid that the days of raking in profits with very little responsibility if any, are over, and they're reaching for straws through their Law Firm, the Republican Party.
I'm glad to hear that, because it heralds that the start of a new era brought about by the present administration.
So, let me get this straight? When you cannot find a logical reason to provide basic medical services to every adult and child in America, you blame it all on Canada and France? Did I get that right? Is Senator Corker the long-lost brother of Sarah Palin, by any chance? He sure sounds like it. Photogenic, but stupid as a bag of rusty hammers and crazier than a homeless outhouse rat. Scuse me, I have to run off and pay my $50 medical plan bill for next month. Let's see, that gets me everything I need to have regular checkups, support for my diabetes, and complete medical coverage of any form of cancer or heart disease I might get. However, here's a simple truth Canadians don't talk about much: if I don't want to wait in line for treatment back-logged due to huge demand, I can go to the US, and the government of my province will pick up a significant portion of the tab, while those people in your country who cannot afford the treatment–get sicker and eventually die. God bless America, and all the stupid inbred GOP fascist pigs who make it such a fascinating study in the lost art of socio-economic hypocrisy.
Its this kind of ignorance that makes people outside the US hate America so much. Canada and France are two of our closest international friends and we shouldn't be treating them this way. People like this make Americans look bad and Americans should be embarassed by this man!
"The United States spends three times as much as Europe per capita on biomedical research!" How much of that is in advertising dollars to sell us drugs we don't need or want? There is a direct relationship on research dollars spent for advertising and marketing drugs. How many varieties of viagra does a man need? How many varieties of cholesterol inhibitors? They spend it on research to market it as the next new miracle drug, when real research shows, its all a scam.
I am Canadian and my Father is American. I can tell you... I love the USA, love the people and love the culture. This idiot's rant will not change that.
I respect Obama's position on health care and hope the USA wins and gets public health care... that is what this is all about.
I feel sorry for politicians that deflect the issues, blame others for the problems they create and try to sway the public in the wrong direction with distraction tactics.
I am supportive of free speach when it comes to this politician and all americans but I am appalled at his obvious attempt at misdirecting the government's failure to provide basic health care through blaming other countries.
Come on people... you need health care, start pushing your politicians to do the right thing.
Canada and France are light years ahead of America with their Universal Health Care, and everyone knows it! It appears that Corker is just another GOP loon who does not know what he is talking about. Obviously, this man sides with the insurance companies in this country. This is, also, another example of the GOP having NO DIPLOMACY SKILLS. He, Corker, just embarrassed not only himself (probably doesn't evern realize it), but America and the American people as well.
This guy has no clue. I wonder if this guy has even BEEN to France or Canada, his views are so isolationist.
He is simply basically right.
Canada and France etc. also rely on the US defense budget and afford spending less on it, while complaining about the US. (In fact, complaining is even becoming a way of life for the leftists in these and similar countries, they do not have to live in reality: the US is protecting them and they complain about it... what is right on defense is right on innovation in health!).
Wonder if he is concerned about the parasitic relationship we have with Saudi Arabia or China...nawwwwww....
As a Canadian I don't feel offended. On the other hand if you get the GOP talking trash about you, you must be doing something right!!!
This guy is out of touch with reality.
Bill O'Reilly sounds much liberal nowadays compared with other republicans.
A follow up. As an American, I am embarrassed by some of the comments here from the ignorant people who think that America does everything, the rest of the world does nothing. Spending alot of money means nothing. And for the person who wanted to know what France has done lately. How about win the Nobel prize in 2008 for discovering the virus that causes AIDS. Of course, Republicans believe that AIDS is a disease that they couldn't catch, because they live the RIGHT life. Just don't get a blood transfusion.
Goodness I wish these republicans would crawl back into the slime from wince they came...can they get any more rude, crude and common.
What an absolute brainless idiot!
8 years of the republicans sucking the american peoples morals lifes and moneys dry is enough!
Let's try to make sense of what Bob Corker is saying with this Palinsque speak!
So the USof A is creating all the innovation, all the technological breakthroughs for healthcare and Canada and France are just adopting or using those or innovation to lower their healthcare cost!?!
So why can't the USA use the same technolgies to lower healthcare cost here in the United States?!...beats me!!! – is this dimwit Bob Corker aking sense; or this is just one of those southern drawl...can't really understand his logic!!!!
PS: McGill is in CANADA, if you couldn't figure that one out.
Oh, and I'm a liberal and I do stem cell research for a company that is eons behind its European and Asian counterparts due to years of NO federal funding because I "kill babies." Right on!
OMG! Did he have a stroke or something? This man is a Senator? Wow, just Wow!!
A counter point,
much medical R&D also takes place in Germany and Switzerland, countries that have the "evil" universal health care and the "parasitic" lower costs.
Corker needs to do more research before he calls other countries parasites, oh wait, that research would destroy his argument.
Bayer, a german company, makes much more than just Asprin, they conduct research both here and in Germany, so his argument just doesn't hold much water. Just because the French and Canadians don't conduct much medical research, doesn't mean that it only takes place in the US. there are many other advanced countries in the world
Gee, I wonder if he has ever visited Canada? Probably not, or he wouldn't make such an ignorant comment about another country. For his information, Canadian medical researchers are recognized around the world. Finally, at least Canadians don't have to declare bankruptcy if they get sick!
that statement is simplistic and nonsensical, Senator Corker, what the majority of American expect from the GOP is the get on with the health care issues and help Pres OBAMA to bring about decent health care in the USA not cheap shot toward other countries, i was born in France, that said, the health care system in France is universal as well as state run, is also better and cheaper than the current American system.
One final point, take a look at any MRI, CT or X-ray machine, chances are quite good that the name on them is Siemens, a German company.
More lies from a Republican. Nothing new here. Sheesh, these guys couldn't tell the truth or a fact if it hit them in the face!
People actually fall for this level of shameless ignorance? Is this the best the Republicans can come up with? Blame France for our health care problems? I have yet to hear one Republican say something tough to one of the insurance companies that are bankrupting people every single day. Yet they want to yell at France. Shameless.
I wonder if it has something to do with you likening their healthcare systems to Nazi Germany... hmm.
Parasitic?
Mr. Corker, who I am sure has a very good and secure health care package courtesy of the good people of America, seeks to deflect focus on the health care problems facing many Americans by creating a "boogeyman" in either Canada or France. I in Canada work very hard and knowing my tax dollars go towards education and health care (among other things) to benefit ALL CANADIANS makes me proud. You should try and ensure that ALL AMERICANS have access to at least some form of basic care.
No, Mr. Corker, I do not benefit from YOU. But YOU, certainly, benefit from your fellow Americans.
Wow... nice neighbours.
For my money, the bottom line in health care is who lives longest. Check out the CIA World Fact Book on longevity. Why is it that:
a) the American average life expectancy is 78.11 (50th in the world)
b) the French average life expectancy is 80.98 (9th in the world)
c) the Canadian average life expectancy is 81.23 (8th in the world)
Has anyone ever wondered what the added economic benefit would be if the US population lived an additional 3.1 years longer. If you're looking for a 'right-wing' reason to 'invest' in health care... I'm thinking you might want to start there.
The inmates are definitely in charge of the republican asylum!
Is this what happens when the Circus has no ring master to control these freaks?
Could someone put a cork in his mouth. When it comes to health care he is clueless about healyh care in Canada and the Western world.I really don't envy the American healyh care system.
i believe this moron's opinion is exactly why most countries around the world grew to hate the USA when bush,cheney and the other republican retards were in charge.Could you imagine the republican uproar if a Canadian offical made such a remark towards Americans. This idiot should apoligize.
Cut to the chase, Simmy........Vous etes jealous of P. Sarko, PM Harper and President Obama.....Policies have nothing to do with it.....Stop using issues as covering for your mass inadequacies.....They're a dynamic trio....All you've got is Hong Kong Sue with her non writing self.....We, the intellectuals, know that she reads and delivers pre-written text okl......I dare them to let Katie Couric loose on her again (laughing)....
are their any NORMAL republicans out there?
What kind of STUPID idiotic comment is that?
Isn't Canada one of our allies on the war on terror?
Haven't Canadians lost their lives fighting the cause with America?
Who in the hell voted for him? Oh, Tennessee. That is the South. Right??????????
Considering the 'cross-pollination' that goes on in academia and in industry a country can rarely claim responsibility for an invention...any development builds upon previous discoveries and usually involves collaboration with others. People who claim otherwise are showing their ignorance.
CNN thanks for printing that classic, I just had the best laugh in a long time. I'm not sure about health care technology, I think ours probably is the best, but we are certainly leading the world in idiocy. The sad thing is the idiocy of our elected officials is symptomatic of the decline of our culture, society, and nation.
America's white lower middle class is angry that countries like France and Canada have better health care. Look at the protesters shouting down health care reform at townhall meetings – what a bunch of lardasses. There's less of that in France or Canada. As for Sen. Corker, he's like a Walmart salesman tossing hogjowls to a fat angry mob.
What a moron this Corker fellow is. But then again, he's a Republican, so what do you expect?
This guy is a moron and needs immediate help.
Of course, Corker has no such qualms about his own masters, the parasitic Japanese auto makers, during the last debate on America's auto industry. Corker just wants to be President, and given the way the "liberal" media carries his talking points, that may very well happen.
He's such a putz...
Sen. Bob Corker, in case no one has informed you, WE, sir have become the parasites. We, sir are the ones importing more than we are exporting of all the things we need for every day life because all or most of our mfg. have relocated to other countries like Mexico, India, China, Russia, Canada and South American Countries.
You sir are living proof that we could cut the cost of space travel by 50% if we launch our space shuttles into the vastness of the space located between your ears. It would need much less fuel to leave the gravity of the earth. I am convinced that if people the likes of you and Sarah Palin would think before you speak, you would all become eternally silent.
I guess you weren’t around when my mother made the statement that it is better people think you a fool than for you to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
why is he afraid universal health care because it works . the last time the conservatives tryed to mess with health care in canada they went from majority – to 2 seats
Mr. Corker, get your facts straight. All medical research in Canada and France (and the other European countries) is paid in full by their federal government. Then all new technology and discoveries are shared by everyone.
Here in the US, companies, including pharmaceuticals, add the price of research to their drugs and other products. They share nothing; rather, they patent everything so they can continue to be paid ad infinitum, driving up the costs of ALL US goods that depend on innovation.
Europeans make medical history every day. They are light years ahead of us on stem cell research, for a quick example. And did you think Madame Curie was American, rather than French??
Europeans AND Canadians live longer than US citizens, and their infant mortality rates leave us in the dust.
Do your homework, sir. That way you don't look DUMB.
do republicans every get educated before opening there mouth,s were did insulin and pencilan come fromjust mention a few mars- if a republican can,t make money of something they don,t like it
Google "Canadian medical achievements".....we created the vaccaine for a little thing called Polio.Canadian's truly are fond of our neighbours to the south, but like our country....you also have some rather silly people who speak before they research.Cheers
Typical Republican response to something they don't like but can't refute with facts:
Start the name-calling!!!
I guess you have to have the maturity of a third-grader to belong to the GOP these days ...
What a moron!
As a Candain i am shocked that peoples representitves do not want lower costs in the US but instead want other contries who have just begun to get health costs under control to raise thier costs.
If he had any understading of free markets he knows that a company would not sell products at a loss, but would reduce margins under pressure from market forces. If these companies were losing money in Canda or France they would simply stop selling. Obviosly that is not the case.
The GOP are the only people stupid enough to not get this fact. It is time to reprsent the people and not the parmaceuticals.
Is it any wonder folks how Bush dismantled nearly every allied partnership over the last 8 years by just trash talking anybody who didn't see eye to eye with him 100%? He may be gone, but his party who backed him is still here with the exact same attitude.
They call President Obama every name under the sun and treat him with such disrespect, so why do we expect them to treat foreigners - friend and foe (especially foe) - any better?
Sorry Canada and France. Come 2010 and 2012 more of these Rush Limbaugh fans will be out of the job, please be assured of that.
What simply blows me away is how angry and up in arms the Republicans are, when history proves just how lousy their policies are!
Compare and contrast:
After 8 years of Clinton, we had a budget surplus.
After 8 years of Bush, we had massive debt, financial bailouts and the world brought to the brink of financial ruin.
You'd think the Republicans would LIKE the Democrats' policies, since it produced a budget surplus. It must be something else ....
Oh, I know! The Republicans want all the money and power to themselves; the Democrats want ALL Americans to prosper, not just the top 1% of the wealthy.
Oh and you don't live off us? I'm surprised that this is coming from sich a highly educated person...even if he is a Republican!
How come Senator Corker you never have any sad or tearful comments about all the mothers and Fathers and their children going without Health Insurance in the USA? Tell me?. You got your health Insurance.. it should be the other way around.. you should be without Health Insurance and going to the voters asking to be covered with Insurance huh?.......senator?..
Corker and the republicans are the parasites, but they are living off the insurance companies that write the policies for healh care.
They get their pockets filled by companies like United Health care, Humana, Health care corporation of America for they charge Medicare 15 percent more than if they were not on the so called advantage plans.
The advantage in the plans is the extra profits for the insurance companies that sell the plans.
What an idiot!!!!
This is the one of the many reasons the Republicans are not in the White House or run Congress....they are so arrogant,self righteous, self entitled and self centered. They are the reason for the animosity the world had towards us. It is ALL about ME, ME, ME!
When are they going to wake up and smell the flowers?????
Sen. Bob Corker is 100% correct. Drug sales overseas and in Canada are subsidized by the US drug companies. We pay more here so that other countries can afford the drugs. That’s way a drug in Jordan can be sold for $4 there and $92 here.
So of you really need to understand what you’re talking about before you pop off at the GOP.
The GOP have no limits as to their ability to alienating others.
If the Democrats do not get together now and start to get things done for us then I hope we the people find a truly viable 3rd party to vote for.
bob corker another anti-government government official who should be defeated and tried for his anti government stance on anything that benefits the american people
Typical GOOPER. They have no ideas, no ethics, no brains. Yep Canada spends less on health care so they must be doing something bad. I love the comments. So many with out a clue. For your info the drug companies set their prices by "what the market will bare". No controls in the US so we take the hit. I know people buying their meds from Canada. They pay a third or less than what they pay here. For the same brands even. 2012 no Repubs....ever again.
WOW – Someone w/ COURAGE!!! Holy Cow!!! He hit it RIGHT ON THE HEAD. Why do we pay the high prices so they enjoy the results. BECAUSE if we don't pay – there won't be any results. Nothing ever comes out of their countries.
Wow. Just wow. This is embarrassing.
This guy needs to shut his pie hole. Nothing like antaganizing countrys that support us. What a total jerk.No wonder the world loves us so much.
Leave it to the republicans to tell it like it is.
GO G-O-P, 2010!!!
What????????
I cannot believe someone elected this "person"
Again... Republicans can't seem to stop embarrassing themselves.
I hate to burst anyone's bubble but if you think for a second either party is looking out for you, your sadly mistaken. The only time they care about us, is when its time to vote. Other then that they don't care what we think or say. Sorry for those that vote along party lines, your the ones that have helped push us to the edge....
Ha Ha Ha... suckers. You want the high prices... there you go. Good luck.
news flash rightwing nuts: medicare is a take off from the same system in canada by the same name.
"Sen. Bob Corker suggested that Canada and France have a 'parasitic relationship with the US."
As a Canadian all I can say is, "Oh My!" What a repulsive and self-serving statement.
Given that a parasite is "a person who receives support, advantage, or the like, from another or others without giving any useful or proper return," it would seem to me that Senator Corker fits the definition perfectly.
In short, Senator Corker is a parasite himself.
Our system may be better at medical research (often because of federal assistance) - but theirs is far superior in delivering health care to its citizens with or without ability to pay.
I live in Massachusetts where a huge amount of medical research takes place. I think Tennessee has a parasitic relationship with Massachusetts. We do all the work and all those people in Tennessee get to benefit. From now on we're keeping our cancer cures to ourselves. Let Bob Corker come up with one for Tennessee.
The GOP is in the grip of the fanatical wing of the party. What is wrong with these people?
Gee, I'll bet that comment went over real big in France and Canada!
Somebody needs to put a muzzle on this guy.
What disease has the health care industry cured in the last 20 years? I think polio was our last big hurrah....we can't even cure atheletes foot...
All Congressmen are parasites and survive just because of the taxpayers. Each member of Congress pays just $503 flat yearly fee for the best healthcare in the world. I want the same health insurance they have, not the crap they discuss for so long without any success.
What a buffoon
They too laugh at the resident in the White er government housing
Never mind the facts about us being #37 in the world as far as healthcare systems are concerned:
Instead, just repeat after me:
"We're #1!"
"We're#1!"
"We're#1!"
I can't believe a person with an ounce of brains could even think such a statement . Let me give you a little example of just how simple he is.
The three men considered the founders of MICROBILOGY.
Louis Pasteur.....Born in France.... Pasteurization..Rabies Vaccine
Ferdinand Cohn....Born in Germany...Tuberculosis...Cholera
Robert Koch....Born in Germany
No wonder the number one Barnes and Nobel best seller book for this month is "Sarah Palin"s book . I think we have hit an all time low in brain power.
more soundbites out of the mouths of GOP robotos
Actually, a simple google search will reveal that of the largest 20 pharmas and biotech companies in the world, a little less than half are American (9 to be exact).