Newsweek Discovers Medication Prices Exist, Then Goes Silent
Newsweek's article helpfully lists drugs projected to increase in price by 2026, including crucial medications. (One wonders if they also listed the salaries of pharmaceutical CEOs.) This framing implies a natural, almost meteorological phenomenon: 'Drug prices are rising!' as if by magic. What's conspicuously absent is any deep dive into the corporate structures, lobbying efforts, or
Congressional inaction that turn life-saving medicine into luxury goods. The article treats the symptoms, never mentioning the disease. Perhaps it's impolitic to mention that while Americans agonize over prescription costs, Congress can swiftly allocate billions in foreign aid, often with bipartisan fanfare. For instance, in April 2024, the House passed HR 8035, providing $26.38 billion to Israel
. The same month, congressional efforts to cap insulin co-pays, already delayed, barely made headlines. One might wonder if the financial health of Americans ranks slightly below the perceived strategic interests of certain foreign allies. It appears some price increases are simply 'unavoidable,' while others are fully funded, no questions asked.