America's Prescription Drug Cartel

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The United States has the most expensive prescription drugs in the world. We often pay ten times the price for the same drug, even though there's no difference at all. Why is American healthcare so expensive? In this episode, we take a brief look at America's prescription drug cartel, and why one critical drug, insulin, is so absurdly expensive.
America's Prescription Drug Cartel - Second Thought
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[@IKEMENOsakaman]

I was carried away by an ambulance in Germany. My appendix ruptured. I had a surgery, spent four days in the hospital, and with my German insurance, I paid a total amount of 40 Euros, which is something like $45. I had to cancel my trip to the US, which was supposed to happen the next day of my surgery. It still gives me chills to think if I had fallen ill in the US...

[@hedgie9823]

Wow, glad your ok

[@ozcarplayz1656]

I think you can get a special card from your country that states you are insured in that country, and if you were to fall ill in say the US then i think(if i remember) you dont have to pay a penny more than normal I hade one of those ages ago, can't really rember what they are called but you should look into it before going to the US

[@themanwiththeplan1401]

@@ozcarplayz1656 Thats the EHIC card. That only really works in EU.

[@SRartz25]

i landed in the ER for what i thought was apendicitis in another state where I was not insured, was given an MRI and some morphine that i never requested or was asked about. When I got home, $2k bill. Sent the bill to my insurance in my home state, it was rejected. I still haven't paid the bill, and somehow in the year I didn't pay it, it jumped to almost 9k somehow...

[@eyyy2271]

@@LordCoeCoe That's a lie lmao

[@Connor-vj7vf]

I remember reading a story a few years ago about a guy in America. He was a target cashier with testicular cancer that was 95% curable as it hadn't spread a great distance. He chose to avoid treatment and die because he thought it better to avoid debt for his young daughters than to let them keep their dad. America is a vicious dystopia

[@baronvonlimbourgh1716]

But it is the best vicious dystopia!

[@bobbiusshadow6985]

A utopia for crony capitalism

[@musiccer7446]

@@baronvonlimbourgh1716 no

[@anduin181]

As a testicular cancer survivor myself, I have to say that I never heard of this story and it is devastating. Especially because it is typically a cancer that, if caught early, is operable and survivable, often without any decrease in your quality of life, (as was my case.) More on topic for the video, I was uninsured at the time, and if I didn't get EXTREMELY lucky and get my bill picked up by a charity organization, I would have probably been in the same boat as the story you described. I have seen our health care system first hand, and all of my personal friends know that I am constantly talking about universal healthcare reform. It is perhaps one of the biggest and most important issues in my life. And keep in mind, I'm one of the lucky ones. I consider what happened to me to give me an obligation to try and fight for those who weren't as lucky. Healthcare is a human right and the fact that stories like this happen every day in this country should fill everyone with equal parts compassion and rage until the system is overhauled and works for everyone. Sorry for the longwinded reply, but your comment struck a nerve (in a good way.) Thank you for caring.

[@Nillowo]

Textbook america

[@trilingualfudge7307]

I think we should replace the word “uninsured” with “people who can’t afford to stay alive”

[@Jhawk_2k]

just make more money 4head, it's that easy! /s

[@f1r3hunt3rz5]

@John Spöner that's a big oof

[@roseywinter]

Yeah, good point, especially when there's a lot of people who are insured, but are just barely being able to pay their premiums... it's the copays and extra fees that are bogging them down. It sucks. Like how can somebody be paying $400/month premium, then a copay for a procedure be $300, and then they get billed later for other fees for $2000, then need a prescription that costs $70? Insane.

[@claytonr.young-music912]

@@roseywinter It takes some serious double think to freak out about all the government bureaucracy required for public healthcare and ignore an industry that does nothing for people other than to pay bureaucrats to avoid giving people health care funds they pay for.

[@HandOfMetal]

I wish Americans would fight as hard for affordable or free health care as they are fighting for their gun rights...

[@sk8n854]

We should be fighting hard for both but our tribalist political duopoly and media convinces people otherwise

[@yakbeast09]

@@sk8n854 well more lives will be saved by healthcare

[@gliiitched4429]

Ironically the only thing I support is gun rights. If we wake the fuck up and actually try to fix the mental heath apocalypse that’s been purging the world for years over, we wouldn’t have nearly as many mass shootings or gun suicides.

[@lordilluminati5836]

solution: use gun rights to secure health care rights

[@heatherfeather1293]

Amen....from an American

[@suzuplaza]

"When the US gets its hands on something it immediately ceases to be a force for good" My favorite quote from you.

[@711jastin]

says the military joke, weaponize everything, typical "humanity" at its rawest.

[@owenthecook]

That’s why I doubt socialism would work positively in the US, the culture just don’t seem compatible. However, I do want to see what the socialism with America characteristic looks like.

[@GlennKurusu]

@@owenthecook But, what American characteristics, specifically? Some are given lip-service, but totally ignored. Seems like what you’re suggesting would be inspiring, were it not for our Capitalist conditioning.

[@za1231in]

it's not far from the truth but it's unnecessarily alienating to the types of people this video is trying to convince

[@stepahead5944]

@@za1231in Yes, it is alienating.

[@supersolenoid]

I'm speechless but not surprised: that woman sobbing while asking others how they make it to the end of the month was heartbreaking.

[@nathanmcbow158]

Indeed. Worst part is that several million stories just like it could be playing out as we speak.

[@Linck192]

but the question remains unanswered: How do other people make it?

[@mrepicairfryerenthusiast4982]

@@Linck192 step 1: be born in Europe

[@swayback7375]

@@Linck192 I been asking this for years! My family has 2 cars that are over 20 years old, we can afford the mortgage thanks it being an income based mortgage, but we will never pay it off, if not for food stamps we’d not eat. 1 full time job brings us in at $18k per year, child care will cost almost that much, so to have more money we would need to bring home $30k each. That would cover child care and would cover the amount of monthly assistance that we rely on... but then we’d lose health care! Maybe with 2 jobs that net over $30k each one of us would have an employer that offered benefits, but that’s not likely, and even if they did offer that it would still cost a lot, knocking out net way down... not to mention that, even if we did meet all those criteria, we would then be dealing with the problem of someone else raising our kids, and paying them to do it. I’d rather us raise our kids ourselves and not trust some random people to do that for us. Who knows how that would go. So we’ll just keep scraping by, while taxpayers foot this insane bill for us. They don’t want a better system, obviously they are happy to pay for our healthcare now, why would they want to pay less for us to get better care.

[@Real_Eggman]

@@swayback7375 Excuse. YOU CAN PAY PEOPLE TO RAISE YOUR CHILDREN?! WHAT IN THE LIVING FUCK?

[@jensreimers8314]

God this video makes me mad. A murderer causes someone's death and they get life in jail, a pharmaceutical CEO causes thousands of people's death and they get a fat bonus.

[@Cecil_Augus]

And the death isn't even the worst part, the worst is pain. Like rn I'm feeling considerably pain because of a tooth problem but I have no money to pay for the treatment. That makes me wonder about people with cancer, hiv, diabates and other scenarios. When my mother had cancer she had the whole treatment paid by the state (Brazil), but if we were like the US I don't know if she would be alive...

[@Passionate_Hater]

@Pedro Leão half a teaspoon of salt and lukewarm water, then rinse your mouth with it every time you feel pain - it helps

[@QueenRaven911]

I couldn't find better analogy.

[@stereo-soulsoundsystem5070]

@@QueenRaven911 This sin't an analogy. This is America.

[@wormer104]

Positive rights are largely not a thing in the US mostly because of the precedent it would set. Oh you need a prescription drug? We'll mandate it be provided at a loss to the company....then do the same for all other drugs, food, housing since we now have that power.

[@captainrogers4003]

As a doctor I can confirm this is absolutely true. The money pharmaceuticals make is ridiculously out of proportion. Even a drug rep makes way much more than his cred. Middlemen making more money than scientists and doctors, means something wrong is going on.

[@joejensen3490]

maybe scientish should have patents

[@Dialogos1989]

Sad thing is that we are helpless to change it

[@doctorjawline7608]

@andy rogers Welcome to capitalism!

[@just_a_turtle_chad]

A turtle doesn't approve of America's drug cartel

[@Cepuminator]

I come to a video seconds after upload and a turtle is already here.

[@amogusinsuster9560]

are you racist against tortoises?

[@jackpotdadon]

Your the turtle

[@zoeyaaahmed203]

thank you turtle

[@Andrew-qi1bw]

Well you’re early

[@alexdavey8724]

In Scotland, ALL prescription medicine is FREE at the point of purchase. I have never spent even a single penny on prescription medicine in the 22 years I have been alive. I hope Americans realise that there is a better way and end the cruel joke that is the for-profit medical industry.

[@jacksonashworth150]

Nah we can't do that because that's "Communism" apparently. Yes in this country apparently using our tax dollars to actually help our people is commie propaganda.....America. Why were we ever allowed to call ourselves the greatest country ever to exist again?

[@TheAnalyticalEngine]

Same for Wales (where I live) and in Northern Ireland In England (which somehow still has prescription charges), single prescriptions are currently £9.15 (US$12.55) per item Otherwise, you can get a prescription prepayment certificate, which gives you unlimited refills, regardless of medication(s), for: 3 months - £29.65 (US$40.66), or 12 months - £105.90 (US$145.23) And that's assuming you have to pay full price This is what happens when you mix inelastic demand with lack of both regulation and competition, and high levels of lobbying. Every time I see a video about the godawful US healthcare system, I feel sorry for the American people

[@deyjaacterius9610]

Conservative voting bloc doesn’t believe in social relief and has been brainwashed to believe any and all social programs will impact their financial security (which is already shaky, for similar reasons). We have little to no legitimate channels with which to challenge these prices as citizens. We’re counting on people like Rep. Porter to stand up for us, and one person won’t be able to make a difference. tl;dr we live in a captive kleptocracy full of debt slavery traps. Get injured? Slave to medical debt. Get educated? Slave to educational debt. Fall onto hard times once and need to borrow money? Be very careful not to fall into normal crippling debt. Commit a crime? Congratulations, you’re now part of a privately-owned forced labor program disguised as a prison system. I wonder why our generation is so depressed?

[@garcjr]

You guys pay less in taxes than we do to get better medical care. I hope one day the Medical Industrial Complex gets dealt with here. But I don't see that hope in the near future. Us Americans need to keep fighting.

[@yesiamachicken888]

​@@jacksonashworth150social programs = full on communism, Vuvuzeala, and dictatorship As an actual Socialist, I can tell you that using taxpayer money to help people doesn't mean that suddenly industries are nationalized or given to the people, but that won't stop Fox News.

[@AZ-id9ke]

I feel so sad about that lady who was literally crying for her 9 years old son. Its terrifying.

[@kingditto5149]

And this happens everywhere in the US, everyday, all the time. A lot of Americans barely make enough to support their families.

[@anothershellcialistturtle8568]

That child will probably die how unfortunate. America is a pathetic greedy stain on this planet.

[@nataliaborys1554]

There are stories of people ignoring their medical issues because they know they won't be able to afford it. Imagine having the choice between A. Dying of a curable disease or B. Burying yourself and your family in a pile of debt

[@sassyviking6003]

@@kingditto5149 not barely, A lot of americans don't make enough to support their families. If you have to ever choose between medicine, food, or rent, as many, many Americans do, you are not making enough. I assume you mean well, but if we are to address the problems in the US, we need to be nakedly honest about how bad it really is.

[@ahumanthatknowspeople2967]

I remember once watching a show from another country when one character said “when an ambulance picks you up you don’t have to pay for it” for almost 10 minutes I was so confused before I remembered that other countries actually care about their citizens a little more

[@LocoMe4u]

Weird right... free medicine!? free hospital room, free family doctor...! :O Feeling a bit low? Call your doc he'll probably send you a paper so you can do a go for blood sample... then prescribe probably some free meds. And off you go champ!

[@sunesnigel]

America to me is very confusing and I really feel for the people in need. When politicians try to promote free healthcare and free school it seems like a lot of people are screaming commies and lefties. I really don't get it.

[@LocoMe4u]

@@sunesnigel yeah they should look at the example of europe who when full on socialist and never been better here in canada we are close to being fully cover but meds can cost you up to 100$ a month and an ambulance ride from home will cost you 150- 200$ but for the most part, seeing a doc or going to the hospital is free. if you're invalid things like that are fully covered and gov sends you enough money to eat and pay rent

[@Passionate_Hater]

@LooseDaddy "I really love the poorly educated, they say we won because of the poorly educated" - Donald J. Trump Should help clarify a few things

[@sunesnigel]

@@Passionate_Hater true but i saw a video explaining that lack education was not the reason. But who really knows. I think the lack of education is contributing to this message we are in right now.

[@KamiShizuka]

As a type 1 diabetic, you need two types of insulin if you aren't on a pump. One month of bolus insulin (Humalog, Novolog) plus a month of basal insulin (Lantus, Levemir) runs about $1200-1500 a month without health insurance to kick it down with a copay. $1200-1500 just for the insulin. Every month. Until you die.

[@neceon4586]

Damn, that fucking sucks

[@nereossatreus6706]

Honestly, if you can, you should probably move away.

[@AmelieZh]

That's just brilliant.... 🙄🙄

[@OutdoorLonghair]

I can sympathize with you. I'm on Humira, that luckily is paid for by state insurance, to the tune of $10,000 per month. Without it my ankylosing spondilitis (sp?) will have me bed ridden with pain.

[@user-pf2lv8mf5o]

What the hell, thats insane! In Sweden insuline is free, covered by universal healthcare.

[@simonherrera284]

In Uruguay you can buy insuline for the equivalent of literal cents, if we were you, we would've revolted a long time ago.

[@CommanderLex]

Well you guys haven't listened to the propaganda known as the "American Dream" your entire life, so that helps.

[@RellekEarth]

Just rub it in why don't ya? America sucks not because of freedom but because people who think they are free keep welcoming the shackles

[@jaire4061]

"BuT FrEe HEaLTh CaRe ISnt FReE" or "THAt'S CoMmUNiSm" - Republican Voters/Congress Persons

[@dokinon816]

@@jaire4061 to be fair here in uruguay had 15 years of socdem leaders

[@dokinon816]

@@CommanderLex we know about that propaganda, we learnded since school to hate and reject it

[@user-qn6yt3zx3w]

“There is no reason for this amount of suffering in the richest nation on earth” Unfortunately there is, the patently undemocratic democracy, corrupt politicians, the oligarchy and the media - those are the reasons for the suffering.

[@blackdeath4u]

Also not the richest nation on earth. Highest GDP but that's not the richest

[@madrooky1398]

@@blackdeath4u Well since GDP measures the raw money output of a country, it is the richest country on earth. But i would consider changing the method measurment.

[@zenogstwitch8296]

@@madrooky1398 Ye considering it has the highest debt that GDP can't cover XD

[@madrooky1398]

@@zenogstwitch8296 Well just for the sake of irony, you could argue that debt is a financual asset.

[@jesperverbruggen587]

Americans: “BuT wE DOn’T WanT tO BeCOmE SoCiaLisTS LiKe EUrOpE”

[@Fran-mh2ef]

Riiight... The repubs sure do be acting like of they help ANYONE the county will turn into a communistic society like what hitler ran..... When funny thing is hitler was a PSYCHOPATHIC RIGHT WINGER!!!😡😂😁😭

[@bigmac4470]

Am from Europe, can confirm. Writing this with my hammer and sickle.

[@6JStorey]

Though this is true, once socialism is explained to the idiots here that just love capitalism they usually start to change their minds. But here in the US they start brain washing everyone once they start school, it helps the government here to limit people knowing the truth, why research something we've been TOLD is so terrible. But once someone actually understands socialism they know they can't win the debate that its 100 times better than what we have

[@dandyandy642]

Not everyone benefits when Americans are left fitting the bill for big pharma. We had a favored nations clause to lower drug prices but that was gone with the current administration

[@user-xq2nv8bx6o]

meaningful healthcare reform can be done without socializing it. the truth is, the US government "fixed" our first healthcare crisis and got us into this problem in the first place. They are not going to get us out.

[@RafaelW8]

That woman, on the tiktok video, talking about her son, honestly broke my heart.

[@sreeravi25]

I hope Patreon or something like that helped her. If not, I fear for her son's life.

[@yesiamachicken888]

Shit like this makes me wanna move to more sane countries.

[@RafaelW8]

@@yesiamachicken888 i am from the EU, and we have shit ton of problems of our own, but getting top notch and affordable healthcare has never been a concern in my life. So I honestly don't understand how this is possible in the USA, nation that is way more developed than half the EU

[@yesiamachicken888]

@@RafaelW8 Here in the USA the news portrays all forms of communism/socialism as the worst possible thing to happen to a country. A while ago Cuba was accused of using hyper advanced sonic weaponry to attack the American embassy. This is how our media is. I don't even know how many countries the CIA has done a coup in, let alone assassinations and destabilization. Worker rights suck, with the minimum wage being a poverty wage. Housing is impossible to afford on the minimum wage without going into debt. The Democrats and Republicans are basically just both bought out by big businesses. The employment rate is 61.0 percent according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Yeah, seems like it's a very developed nation

[@RafaelW8]

@@yesiamachicken888 this is really stupid. And in Europe, Cuban and Israeli doctors and healthcare are seen as some of the best in the world. My aunt is an epidimiologist, and she did her specialization in Israe,l for 5 years. And calling affordable healthcare care "communism" is just disgusting. My parents experienced communism, and i can say that Americans have no idea what real communism even is, that word shouldn't ever be thrown around lightly. It's honestly disrespectful to people who escaped that.

[@TheGravelInstitute]

Another absolutely excellent video!

[@thelightningwave]

This comment should be pinned

[@luke_222]

I love how gravel and second thought always comment on each other's videos

[@thelightningwave]

@@luke_222 This is the first comment that Gravel did on Second Thought's channel.

[@MfundoTenza]

Now this is bigger than Infinity War 😂

[@ssolano7535]

Waiting on a collaboration between Second Thought and The Gravel Institute.

[@baconknightproductions8297]

USA: "If your wealthy then you can have easy access to healthcare and vital medications!" Me: "I'm middle class." USA: "Don't get sick."

[@nickcox1408]

Lower class? Your dead

[@user-qn6yt3zx3w]

“Politicians pocket the money and write legislation that favours the donor’s industry”. Sadly, this is mostly incorrect - the reality is even worse - the donor’s industry typically writes the legislation for the politicians - yes, unbelievable...

[@Pyre]

God damn it I had managed to block out that aspect of the horrific oligarchic dystopia.

[@carissahowell]

American Legislative Exchange Council...

[@TennesseeJed]

One person's suffering is another person's salary.

[@camelopardalis84]

What insurance execs and child pornographers have in common ...

[@violetraven9440]

@@camelopardalis84 yep

[@maman89]

Let’s not forget the defense contractors here.

[@sidharthcs2110]

You misspelled profit

[@camelopardalis84]

@@maman89 "defense"

[@UglyApprentice]

Ah, yes. The food and DRUG administration doesn’t regulate DRUG costs

[@ghostnoodle9721]

Big pharma has their hands in a money printer Lobbying ensures that it never gets turned off

[@bobbiusshadow6985]

@@ghostnoodle9721 America, the only country, among all developed nations, where lobbying is legal.

[@ghostnoodle9721]

@@bobbiusshadow6985 Duh if they made it illegal they would still do it Then why is weed illegal or any drug or prostitution? Oh cant have people do what they want ALLLL the time, freedom but with an asterisk isnt freedom at all

[@user-ib6xn4hl7s]

@@ghostnoodle9721 They will be doing it but there will be consequences ya dummy!

[@ghostnoodle9721]

@@user-ib6xn4hl7s Consequences for the elite? Doubtful

[@DPowered2]

Read a story about how a student gave up their entire college savings to pay for teachers cancer operation and people were praising it while i was asking, "why did either of those things had to happen at all"

[@chinggiskhan6678]

Mexican drug cartels: Guys We don't have to do heroin anymore. Thug: Then what're we going to smuggle over the border? Mexican drug cartels: We buy prescription drugs here and sell them at double the price to Americans. Thug: I'm down let's do this.

[@hughquigley5337]

And the craziest part is that it would probably be cheaper to buy them from the cartels

[@iexist1300]

This is funny, but they would sell it for much more than double what it costs them to buy it, since such low prices would attract atention.

[@antonyduhamel1166]

@@iexist1300 And yet, they'd still be much more affordable than the 'legitimate' companies.

[@carlosdgutierrez6570]

@@iexist1300 1 month of insulin in private farmabcies in Mexico cost 800 to 900 Mexican pesos or apbut 40 to 45 USD about half that or less in government farmancies. So if the carteles would to sell it for 100 usd it would be 10 times cheaper than the US prices. Even if they sell it for 200 usd they would still be cheaper than legitinmate farmancies in the US

[@thejollyskunk]

This made me cry; my mother has stopped buying her insulin because she cannot afford it monthly and her reasoning now is that she’s going to die anyways why would she waste a lot of money on it to prolong her suffering , rather she’s putting that money for our families savings and household. It’s truly a terrible thing to have diabetes and not afford your treatment. It’s either pay bills, food, taxes or buy medicine for oneself

[@Cyndogg085]

☹💔

[@chidzhustle3570]

That’s so awful, I know it doesn’t mean much but I wish things were different

[@peachywe4310]

I’m so sorry I’ll be praying for you

[@xXxBurnerable]

Go found me, I'd be ready to chip in a bit :‑X

[@jTempVids]

1. Look into patient assistance. You can get her insulin from the manufactures for free if you make less than a certain annual income. Google "Her insulin type or manufacturer + patient assistance" 2. At Wal-Mart you can get ReliOn Brand Novolin R and Novolin N insulin for $25 a vial. No prescription needed. Just walk up to the counter and ask. 3. Unless she is a type 1 diabetic. Novolin R (fast acting) and Novolin N (long acting) insulins work just fine for most diabetics.

[@justsomeoneelse5942]

Here before it gets age restricted... EDIT: holyyy how is this not age restricted yet.

[@whysocurious7366]

impressively quick

[@toddharig8142]

Here so early I'm not even of age.

[@tristanstefanovic]

youtube is just going to say "Drugs Bad" and remove it

[@Jakey4000]

@@tristanstefanovic hopefully not since there's plenty of drug channels on KZbin

[@AbdulGoodLooks]

Shadowbanned

[@winstonalf]

My heart is broken into pieces when that women crying to save her son's life. I have no words.

[@stereo-soulsoundsystem5070]

I'll be deadass. If my kids need medicine and I can't afford it, someone is getting robbed. Rich white dude or my son. I'm not struggling with the rationalization. Guess it's good I don't have kids.

[@zenogstwitch8296]

I think instead of doing GoFundMe to help with meds we should do them so they could move out of that country.

[@shieldgenerator7]

but its ok because at least we're not socialist

[@carina-nonbinary]

@@shieldgenerator7 i hope this is sarcasm

[@shieldgenerator7]

@@carina-nonbinary yes it is sarcasm. im not a communist but i genuinely think the world woud be better with a little more socialism

[@reidwallace4258]

"how you are guys doin it?" We ain't, we haven't been for years, but it is socially considered rude to admit that so since the 70s we have all just slowly staggered toward abject poverty while faking smiles for our friends.

[@robertwinslade3104]

I was expecting this week's episode to be about the STONKS but this will do

[@SecondThought]

Yeah, that story started just a little too late for me to have time to cover it this week. Coming next Friday!

[@robertwinslade3104]

@@SecondThought looking forward to it! This WSB situation and it's fallout genuinely seems to me like a great opportunity for those of us on the left to build class consciousness

[@Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat]

@@SecondThought please do! While I don't think this is sustainable as a form of grassroots activism, it is absolutely a great learning experience to show how corrupt Wallstreet, reddit (the company, not the redditors), discord, and many more are. Let's not pass this up! Also, maybe check out the citations needed podcast episode on this? Might help...

[@jmc4646]

@@SecondThought i cant wait man i genuinely love watching your content, im from the uk but have started to become a socialist because of you man :)

[@FloydHose]

@@robertwinslade3104 Ideally leftist ideas ought to stand on their own merit. In the case of the US though, I can see why you’d use this situation to “open people’s eyes” to the reality of capitalism, class consciousness and such.

[@Bhatakti_Hawas]

Greetings to fellow proletariats Love from India

[@SecondThought]

❤️

[@xerogue]

Free Kashmir

[@lakshaygupta9061]

@@ArulinETheKirin no we didn't

[@lordbloodraven9159]

@@xerogue you means Pakistan's

[@jeetadityachatterjee6995]

@@ArulinETheKirin you do realise that India is a very big very diverse country? A lot of my family is communst and live in India.

[@maxwellgraf8548]

God damn that representative tore that CEO apart. That was f****** amazing.

[@belladonna8425]

Katie Porter does that kind of thing often. She's great.

[@antonyduhamel1166]

Katie Porter - Whiteboard Avenger. She's not the hero we deserve, but she's the hero we need.

[@emilysmith6897]

And I'm guessing it resulted in literally no changes.

[@wsams]

Porter is amazing. She has my vote every time. ❤

[@anthonycabrera5474]

The story of that lady saddens me, because here in Mexico I never heard once from my grandpa that he was worried if he could get his insulin, he never did.

[@evilnet1]

"Typical Highschool economist: umm da free market will drive prices down with cOmPeTiTiOn." Real life Company A to Company B: "Hey how about we get together to make em juicy profits?"

[@weopdurdegenes6598]

When competition and generic brands are introduced into the market for medicine after the patent laws are no longer in effect, market prices DO go down by a significant amount after patent expiration (the price for oral generics went down by 90% in 2.5 years, for example, IMS institute for healthcare informatics) The problem here is that this is not a free market in the first place. There is no competition with unfair patents that grant market exclusivity. So I guess the high school economist is right lol. Not saying that oligopolies don't happen though. It's just that usually monopolies and oligopolies are sponsored by the state. Without these debilitating patents, the prices for drugs would be astronomically lower since there would be competition.

[@yeout4386]

@@weopdurdegenes6598 but big companies are reLy good at pattend hogging and preventing third parties frim making drugs

[@weopdurdegenes6598]

​@@yeout4386 That's correct.

[@jacobarcher1097]

@@weopdurdegenes6598 the difference between our system and free market capitalism is just time and lobbying realistically.

[@evilnet1]

@@weopdurdegenes6598 Under no government regulations and the free market, what prevents companies from merging to obtain all the profits on an inelastic good such as insulin along with it's high demand? It's also not as if selling expensive synthetic drugs is as easy as starting a restaurant.

[@PremierCCGuyMMXVI]

The fact things like universal healthcare and ending gerrymandering and corruption is a debate in America is sad.

[@hectorvega621]

The fact that it's considered even more Radical, makes it even more Depressing.

[@itscxo]

it’s not even a debate cause politicians don’t talk about it. it’s forbidden

[@zonelet372]

What’s even worse is that hundreds of millions of people have been indoctrinated and/or brainwashed to believe that these are all bad things and that they would hurt the country and the people. I don’t understand how people can see what is happening and say “this is fine” ... until it’s too late, and it comes for them.

[@user-gz4ve8mw9l]

@@zonelet372 The people I grew up around were all doctors. To this day they can't stand the prospect of people having affordable healthcare, or free universal healthcare. Anyone who stands to profit from it refuses to believe anything but profit. Even if their profit comes at a horrifying cost. The reality of EVERYTHING in the USA is for profit, above, and beyond anything else. All doctors are the same way, these people supposedly took Hippocratic oaths. More like the hypocrites oaths, this is just deplorable and outright WRONG. A truly disgusting inhumane land, with how it treats its people. Even worse the fortunate, prey on the unfortunate, while the elites exploit everyone. A land built by the rich, for the rich, and everybody else is a slave. People sell their souls, hearts, and forfeit ones own mind just for profit, and delusions of power over others. These are among the nigh countless crimes against humanity the USA, has perpetrated on its own citizens. They don't care, they just want to dumb you down, control or enslave you, and profit off it. They make drugs which are just overpriced poisons to profit, not to help or cure you. Helping you, let alone curing you isn't profitable after all. Hooking you on legalized poisons is though however. Instead of actually treating the patients. Everyone from the doctors, hospitals, pharma corporations, government, scientists etc. ALL are in it together for profit, exploiting the masses. As are ALL aspects of peoples lives in the USA this land is so sickening. Then you have the fact dental insurance is a separate type of insurance. That's all a load of crock, this was done intentionally to further profits, and control the masses. I haven't had any form of insurance since I was a kid, and will NEVER go to a doctor or seek medical care in the USA. I'd sooner die, the cost, and the poisons they give you are just messed up. This IS a human right in the modern world for any nation that wants to exist. The masses are far to indoctrinated, and docile living in an eternal slumber to even do anything about it. All by design, willfully ignorant, they don't care. Just close ones eyes and pretend its not so, they believe that'll solve everything.

[@funwithbernii4730]

@@itscxo if you want shit like that they will tell you is "unamerican" socialism for big corporations... capitalism for you and me

[@Hohhot]

Regardless of politics beliefs, I think we can all agree that Monopoly is a hell of a fun game

[@feather563]

Lmao yea xd

[@bondrewdthelordofdawn3744]

It's fun if you win

[@pathfinder1273]

In typical American fashion, it, too, is the product of corruption and dishonesty. www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/monopoly-was-designed-teach-99-about-income-inequality-180953630/

[@BKSF1]

what?????? monopoly is the game you play if you want to hate your family for 4 hours, it's a shit game where the only fun is in trying to cheat

[@antonyduhamel1166]

@@BKSF1 4 hours? Lightweight. Monopoly can be fun as long as everyone playing the game agrees to be lighthearted about it. The fun is siphoned off when people start getting bitter and angry about their rolls of the dice. As much as the purists want to claim that "Monopoly is a game of strategy and skill," at the end of the day, you're beholden to the dice. And unless you're playing with loaded dice, their outcome is always random.

[@hithere2561]

I do remember the times, when my biggest dream was to move to USA. Last years Im really happy that I live in EU. Paid vacation, guaranteed pension, mainly free education and good healthcare etc.

[@nickcox1408]

Prostitution? 😊

[@bubba842]

@@nickcox1408 another bonus to living in Europe

[@chinchinlovs6563]

@Jeredakoala its not mandatory, here in Idaho breaks aren't mandatory for 8 plus hour jobs, my grocery store provided it but not every store does because its not mandatory.

[@chinchinlovs6563]

@Jeredakoala same here? Im just saying just because we have it good doesn't mean everywhere else does a lot of people don't, especially service jobs like waiters, fast food, ect ect

[@OK-nr6se]

Just commenting to help with Algorithm

[@SecondThought]

🙏

[@christianw.r.1450]

Me too ;-)

[@tarunhiremathdr]

and i'm liking it and replying to it

[@tarunhiremathdr]

"The innovation of capitalism" Also: (I you know, you know) “Minecraft" "ASMR" "pewdiepie" "music" "Fortnite" "markiplier" “KZbin is a perfectly balanced game with no exploits.” "Runescape" "World of Warcraft" "Shadowlands" "Dream" "MrBeast" "Warzone" "FaZe Clan" "100 Thieves" "Call of Duty" "Pokemon" "Pokemon cards" "card unboxing" "Charizard" "they don't want you to know" "Flat earth" "round earth" "triangle earth" "the earth is not earth" "what even is earth if not earth omg government is lying to you" "Minecraft" "ASMR" "pewdiepie" "music" "Fortnite" "markiplier" “KZbin is a perfectly balanced game with no exploits.” "Runescape" "World of Warcraft" "Shadowlands" "PogChamp" "MrBeast" "Warzone" "FaZe Clan" "100 Thieves" "Call of Duty" "Pokemon" "Halo" "Devil may cry" “KZbin is a perfectly balanced game with no exploits.” “Cocomelon” “t series” “Minecraft" "ASMR" "pewdiepie" "music" "Fortnite" "markiplier" “KZbin is a perfectly balanced game with no exploits.” "Runescape" "World of Warcraft" "Shadowlands" "Dream" "MrBeast" "Warzone" "FaZe Clan" "100 Thieves" "Call of Duty" "Pokemon" "Pokemon cards" "card unboxing" "Charizard" "they don't want you to know" "Flat earth" "round earth" "triangle earth" "the earth is not earth" "what even is earth if not earth omg government is lying to you" "Minecraft" "ASMR" "pewdiepie" "music" "Fortnite" "markiplier" “KZbin is a perfectly balanced game with no exploits.” "Runescape" "World of Warcraft" "Shadowlands" "Dream" "MrBeast" "Warzone" "FaZe Clan" "100 Thieves" "Call of Duty" "Pokemon" "Halo" "Devil may cry" “KZbin is a perfectly balanced game with no exploits.” “Cocomelon” “t series”

[@nakashu01]

Best comment ever

[@TheAmericanAmerican]

As an American living happily and healthfully in Germany, I approve this video 100% The US Healthcare "insurance" industry(cartel) needs to be abolished NOW!

[@user-gz4ve8mw9l]

Almost everything in the usa needs to be abolished. Including the entire government, in favor of one that actually works for the people, by the people. Until that day dawns, this will NOT change sadly. The fact of the matter is everyone in government are mass murders, worse yet on the scale of genocide. The elites, corporations, police, military etc as well. All committing, and have committed too numerous of crimes against humanity to even begin to list. Take them all out back, and execute them. If we don't this will NEVER change otherwise. I'd rather it not come to that, but only a deluded naive gullible fool would not realize the truth...

[@somethingsinlife5600]

That poor woman in pain....You have to conclude this isn't happening to her, it's being done to her. We are the ones inflicting pain on her.

[@cantthinkofaname5046]

It’s not the fault of the common citizen, it’s the corporation. They will grind people in a blender if it means they save a few cents

[@BigHeavyLove]

From a very poor family. I am Scottish. Had childhood cancer and was saved with chemo and radiotherapy. Didnt cost my family a penny. We pay a national insurance here (which is supposed to go to our National Health Service). It works. Our system has shaky times (like now) but we still persist and overcome the overwhelming obstacles because we are all in this together fighting to keep everyone alive and healthy.

[@emilysmith6897]

The NHS doesn't cover trans care (or not proper trans care at least), so it's not all roses. Even the UK healthcare system hurts minorities.

[@legacystartup2915]

You should do a vid on the Robin hood and hedge fund crisis. Great content by the way!

[@SecondThought]

Coming next week!

[@wildernessisland2573]

@@SecondThought yessss! I'm obsessed with this phenomenon and love the way you present information

[@jackpotdadon]

Great idea

[@jackmisha2598]

@@ninjaman815 dude what

[@AliFatCat]

@@SecondThought Sounds awesome!

[@mediocreboi]

I fucking love when someone has all the research and is grilling someone who can't deny what they're saying because it's 1000% true.

[@ThuanTran-nv9yb]

That's great but what are they going to do about it? All talk and no action doesn't do squat.

[@sandrapark8705]

@@ThuanTran-nv9yb The worst part is that Americans who are willing to criticize fundamental flaws specifically in the US never get put in power, because why would they? A mouse wouldn't make a mousetrap, and the government wouldn't hire someone critical of them. In fact Second Thought got visited by the DHS because of his anti-American sentiement, that's how much they care.

[@peachywe4310]

@@sandrapark8705 homeland security? Is this China

[@LKAChannel]

@@peachywe4310 Americans propaganda loves to project their own shitty policies on other countries

[@sandrapark8705]

@@peachywe4310 Yeah, Homeland Security. I get you gotta be careful about stuff like this however I feel when it comes to preventing shootings like say focusing on preventing bullying, or mental health they kinda sleep.

[@highgroundobi-wan1490]

Always when I watch these I think: damn imagine living in America, and then I realise people actually live there.

[@vincegonzalez2171]

A lot of us do. And on top of that, if we say anything to criticize the US, then half the populations will say that we "hate America" and that we're communists and sometimes even terrorists.

[@feather563]

@@vincegonzalez2171 they don’t even see that people that say that want to improve the US on the whole, for everyone, and that becomes cOmuNisM

[@agator2149]

We hate it here

[@mohamadraeesi9484]

I always watch these and wonder how can anyone let this shitshow continue , just how ? I'm not american Not really fund of americans but i can't imagine depriving my worst enemy of life saving drugs. Like insulin

[@antonyduhamel1166]

@@mohamadraeesi9484 It blows my mind that this country exists right next to mine (Canada.) We're hardly a beacon of socialist reform, but compared to the US, we're a fucking Marxist Utopia!

[@SkySong6161]

I work in biopharma. It's so, so gross. In the last 12 months, 6 different medications (two of which were almost ready to send to the FDA for approval) were canceled. Why? The two that were almost ready had exactly one competitor a piece, and the company wanted a monopoly. Three wouldn't have a high enough profit margin (apparently 500% isn't enough), and the other didn't have have enough people in developed nations who needed it.

[@ProgressOnly]

Porter is a great representative, she's underrated in the MSM's talk about progressives

[@harrychristofi6725]

You mean Congresswoman Katie Porter? Yeah she’s chill and a real progressive, I know her, unfortunately she’s not aggressive with corporate democrats like she is with Republicans.

[@theflaggeddragon9472]

She should really endorse Medicare for All and a green new deal. She's definitely better than 95% of Dems, but unless you're unapologetic about your support of healthcare as a human right and the habitability of the planet, you're not all the way there.

[@harrychristofi6725]

@@theflaggeddragon9472 Dude, she does support Medicare for all 😂, not only does she co-sponsor the Medicare for all bill in the house, all the times she campaigned for u.s House of Representatives she said she supports Medicare for all, you’re a little misinformed but that’s fine, and obviously she won re-election in a +2 Republican district because of her support for Medicare for all

[@theflaggeddragon9472]

@@harrychristofi6725 You're right, it does she has supporter Medicare for All and cosponsored. I checked her website and it does not appear anywhere on her healthcare policy page, so perhaps she could be more vocal about it. Thanks for letting me know regardless.

[@harrychristofi6725]

@@theflaggeddragon9472 Actually Kyle Kulinski said she ran on Medicare for all lol, I’m sure she did, it’s weird it’s not on her website, but if she grilled a Pharmaceutical CEO for making money off of people’s suffering than I’m sure she would vote yes on Medicare for all

[@phoenixhunteryt7554]

The American Dream. You have to be asleep to believe it. George Carlin.

[@JonathanMandrake]

The American Dream was always that: Only a Dream! It was always a way to make the poor believe their hard work may pay, but Marx described the problems exactly, even though his solutions don't work. But everything that isn't 100% Free Capitalism is 'Socialism' or 'Marxism' even though it isn't close. Germany Norway and such vountries Americans call 'Socialist' call themselves social market economy, meaning they regulate the market as far that anyone has enough money to survive, amd companies can't just abuse or fire workers.

[@pandazzz5282]

This shit is so important, more people need to know about this.

[@frostman9661]

As a Canadian in full recognition that our system is faaaar from perfect, this video just makes me feel sick that anyone could be so evil...

[@peterbibit1730]

This while people in power there keeps on claiming to be the single most greatest country in the world.

[@antonyduhamel1166]

Far from perfect, and yet, compared to the US system, we're the fucking SAINTS of healthcare. That's fucking pathetic.

[@lradmclovin9]

I’ve been in hospital many times in Australia; Broken wrist, appendicitis, food poisoning, I’ve had surgery twice. I have literally never paid one cent. It was just pure care and reassurance. No anxiety heaped on top of my immediate health problem. I can’t imagine the horror of the American system.

[@soundwave2898]

I really hope our prime minister and his evil goons don't succeed in privatising our healthcare >:(

[@danielyeary148]

I read that in Bernie's voice

[@Rose-qy9os]

Giving birth in Australia I had three options, hospitals, birthing centre or a midwife provided for an at home birth. All were for free and I was given incredible care. I was in an fb group with women from the USA and they had to fork out a minimum 20k for a birth with no medical intervention, no pain relief nothing but an uncomplicated birth. But because of the us health system this is rare and for women forced to have children, they’re also forced into debt it’s so hard for them I could never imagine

[@portugueseeagle8851]

In Portugal insulin is free to everyone...! Also, 13 years ago my appendix burst and I was 1 week in the hospital connected to an IV bag after my surgery. You know how much my parents paid? ZERO euros! We Portuguese LOVE our National Health System 💪💪

[@PremierCCGuyMMXVI]

As an American, I’m jealous

[@adianchowdhury9016]

@@PremierCCGuyMMXVI same

[@portugueseeagle8851]

@@Gaavcio But it's always better than suddenly having a 100000 € bill. Also, in the US many people's insurance is higher than our taxes, but at the same time having less quality

[@adrianaridolfi3043]

@@Gaavcio you realize that you pay taxes in America too but the money go towards the army instead of saving your lives? And that even when we pay taxes the money that go towards the healthcare system are few that what they would be in America because the government doesn’t allow corporations to gauge the prices? Like it’s not as taxes pay for a 800$ pill, the pill costs less because otherwise it would not be allowed to be sold in the country. So we spend less, pay less in taxes that goes towards healthcare and have a life expectancy 10 years longer. And don’t go around invading countries to give something to do to the biggest army in the world.

[@hornygiantess]

@@adrianaridolfi3043 do you alzo realize that call of duty my mom says im not aloud on that game for today.

[@davidesberg5605]

I once made the statment ”all developed nations have universal healthcare but for some reason the richest country on earth can’t make it work” and got this respons ”Its not that we can’t do it the reason is it would be so much worse of a service.” No it would not be a worse service... The reason is that some rich people wouldn’t be able to make fortunes of desperate commoners that just wants to survive...

[@yourex-wife4259]

Even if that were true, which it isnt, I would rather take "worse service" than no service, like many that cant afford it.

[@ice319]

Katie Porter is absolutely surgical with her approach in breaking down costs. If you can find that full video of her with that CEO, I highly recommend you watch it and pay attention to what she's saying. It's disgusting how we are constantly robbed of our hard earned money just to have an even average amount of health. Great video, as always 👍🏾

[@nereossatreus6706]

I love that you do these videos. It's refreshing to see actual leftist content rather than more of virtue signaling libertarians.

[@nathanmcbow158]

The ideas and discoveries on the world is based upon comparison. If you have the right you should also have the left. Remove either one and there is nothing to compare to, stagnating the views of one side alone.

[@luismartinbatista705]

@@nathanmcbow158 not really

[@od3910]

@@nathanmcbow158 not if one side is based on things that harm the greater population. That's what conservatives do. The right exists for the rich and no one else. That's not opposition. There are tonnes of leftists, feminists, economists, philosophists etc that have widely ranging views about what is the best way to go or live but they are all based in what's good for humanity. The right is what's good for rich people. Who have directly opposing wishes to the wellbeing of the general population. That's the difference and that's why the right, as an opposition, is more detramental than anything else. What you are talking about is a grossly simplified version of reality.

[@ongoinglife]

US does NOT have "HealthCare" system for the American Citizens. We have "WealthCare" system for the Big Pharma, Insurance Companies, Hospital Conglomerates, BOUGHT Politicians.

[@Hiramekiza]

@Tara S. I think the idea is that we need vastly different viewpoints to come to the table, or we stagnate.

[@TerrinX]

I remember being at a dance party at a convention once and someone got hurt and they crying "no ambulence, I can't afford it" through the pain. It was terrifying.

[@TerrinX]

@LN Yeah it's pretty fucked ngl, my family is stable, but definitely poor (My Dad makes most of our money and he's self employed) and I am so incredibly incredibly lucky that I'm covered under my Dads healthcare which happens to be ungodly cheap, under 200$ a month I'm quite sure which let me tell you, is NOT normal at all. I am covered 100% for basically everything from child birth to prosthetics. Everything, except for eye care (I think it works on a different system) basically but I don't need that. Me and my father are extremely lucky to have actual affordable healthcare. My mom isn't covered (she works at a shitty grocery store, which is another issue all together) and I think she's still working off the debt from a emergency room visit for extreme tooth pain (cuz of course we can't afford fucking dental). It's seriously messed up. Also, going from having literally ZERO. Healthcare (which actually cost us money), to the current plan has been LIFE CHANGING. I was finally, for the first some since I was like eight, have been able to get ADHD medication and it's amazing. I realize now that if my parents could have afforded to keep me medicated through elementary through high school, I probably would have gotten way better grades, taken more advanced courses, not have failed physics, geometry, and algebra 2, would have done better in comp-sci, chemistry, etc. I would have had more free electives to try out more things, gain more experience, make more friends. I could have gotten and maintained better, higher paying jobs, etc etc etc. I may even be able to somewhat reliably afford college, definitely would have scored more scholarships. But it's too late for all that, I got lucky too late. I'm just happy I can have medication now at all. So many kids with medical conditions are growing up without medication or even a way to get diagnosed during the most crucial period of their lives, the literal foundation of their futures, stunted because they can't afford to get treatment. When I went to my first 0.00$ doctors appointment (no copay, no nothing, hell, the price usually comes up "unavailable") I was able convince my doctor to sign me up for a X-ray for my scoliosis which turned out to be "mild", and I just walked downstairs to the X-ray lab, got my X-Ray taken, and walked out without even considering price, as if it was normal to just go in, get care, and walk out hassle free. This NEEDS to be normal, not the rare exception.

[@jacklau2558]

@LN The worse part is we can't revolt either those sons of bitches would likely just nuke the country to hold onto power.

[@ValerieLoveTV]

My first job sent an ambulance for me when I had a severe panic attack. $1200 for a 2 mile ride. When I had a panic attack at my next job I used Uber. $5 for a 2 mile ride. Even the $200 cleaning fee if I was bleeding all over my Uber driver's car would be cheaper than an ambulance.

[@TerrinX]

@@ValerieLoveTV Holy hell, I'm so sorry to hear that

[@clarkbruce_swe91]

Just like "don't call the cops" when somebody don't want a drug conviction. That one's international though, not much different here in Sweden.

[@Dodgerific]

That woman on TikTok asking how everyone is making it, ripped my soul a new one, damn that hurts

[@allylavender3023]

Throwback to the time I had a manic episode because I couldn’t pay the $2500 I needed for my meds. Great country, 10/10

[@phillipwombacher9635]

as a nurse patients tend to find um "extra" insulin bottles in their bags lol

[@phillipwombacher9635]

@@fionafiona1146 lol im a communist your preaching to the choir here

[@phillipwombacher9635]

@@fionafiona1146 the only meds that are traced are narcotics

[@icosaedrial]

@@fionafiona1146 Apothekenpflicht means it can only be bought in a pharmacy. Verschreibungspflicht means that you can only get it from a pharmacy with a prescription from your doctor.

[@tarunhiremathdr]

ohhhhhhh.. the true Robinhood, unlike the app (Robbin the hood)

[@cpMetis]

How much insulin I take every month, when talking to my Doc, tends to be the actual number +1 vial every other month. Similar with strips. A bit of spilled water or a minor illness can take those away anyways, so the +1 is typically more accurate.

[@hecatrice2064]

Great timing. I was just now researching about Insulin in the US. Even here in Greece, with a destroyed economy and corrupt government, I can still get it for free, but so many Americans cannot afford it and others search for jobs in different countries that have better healthcare. Those big pharma companies make them feel insignificant and helpless, others have died or have gotten amputated by rationing their dosages.

[@hectorvega621]

Dam! You guy's are Bankrupt, yet doing better than us. I really wish Dukakis had beat George HW Bush, hell I wish Kennedy didn't had that car accident, and would go on to become the next President. Instead we got Reagan, and Bush, down the line Neoliberalism.

[@sirjgn4868]

You know America is pretty screwed up when a nation that is basically out of money has better healthcare than one of the largest, wealthiest nations of the world

[@funwithbernii4730]

Cause in America conservatives beileves government should do anything besides collects taxes....

[@hecatrice2064]

@@hectorvega621 I didn't know who Dukakis was, but I looked him up, thanks for the info.

[@konstantinpolikarpov9944]

Thanks and greetings from Germany. Your comment is the best proof and reason to reject the "American way of life"

[@clap2973]

A little late but my mother has Multiple Sclerosis. She takes dozens of pills to compensate. She at times has to ration out her medicine. Medicine that prevents seizures, keeps her from risk of being wheelchair bound, and much more. It’s sickening to watch and my gut wrenches about what I may have to pay in the future if something happens.

[@surajpatil8670]

Something similar happened to a family friends mother. She's from India and she visited America to meet her daughter who is an Engineer in Bay Area. She then started complained of a small headache and took Paracetamol for it. Later on, it turns out that she had Aneurism and a vein in her head burst and she had to get hospitalised. After fighting for life for 10-15 days, she passed away sadly. The bill came out to be nearly Rs 3 crore (nearly $400,000) and the insurance company denied the claim saying that Aneurism is a congenital disorder (present from birth). After many fiery arguments/negotiations did the insurance company finally agree to cover a big chunk of it.

[@Catge]

United States needs healthcare

[@xCorvus7x]

Also housing, and generally support for people to live in dignity.

[@whysocurious7366]

well, only if we want to survive as a nation

[@xerogue]

No

[@AmelieZh]

USA need to defund military

[@ironwolfosiris]

Things should not be how they are... makes me wonder where the turning point is?

[@themoomaster787]

As a non-American- A Canadian, right next door! It absolutely shocks me every time I see the cost of medical care in America! It's completely abhorrent that people get away with this.

[@pirate1012]

Canada has price ceilings for medicines but only insurance covers the cost of the drugs, so if you’re poor you can still get badly hit by expensive pharma if you don’t have insurance.

[@antonyduhamel1166]

@@pirate1012 Sure, but even then, if you panhandle with a sign that says "no job, need money for lifesaving medicine" in Canada, you'll have $1200 by the end of the day.

[@emilysmith6897]

So does Canada accept all American immigrants? And I mean ALL of them, including "unskilled" people, people who are too disabled to work, etc? Cause if not, you're just being smug and condescending and not helping with the problem.

[@rockeyrocket1224]

I can hear my hillbilly neighbors now "we gotta fight socialism".

[@LocoMe4u]

Communism is evil! * dumps wounded people on the street because their credit ran out mid treatment*

[@antonyduhamel1166]

@@LocoMe4u Communism is a great idea, except that people like to own things. We need socialism, but we shouldn't be aiming to get as far as communism. After all, communism is how the Soviet Union got started and we all saw how well that turned out...

[@matthewkopp2391]

@@antonyduhamel1166 I am not a big defender of the USSR. However in the USSR „when it got started“ people could own things. In fact a person could have a private business as long as it was less than 9 people as part of Lenin’s New Economic Policy. Under Stalin the NEP was greatly curtailed but never abolished completely. And things were liberalized again with Khrushchev and obviously Gorbachev. A Soviet citizen obviously could have cash, government bonds and savings-bank deposits in unlimited amounts. He may own consumer goods of any sort. He may receive income from patents and copyrights.' The constitution recognizes the institution of privately- owned housing. Construction of new private housing was authorized by an Edict of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. of struction of Individual Dwelling Houses."' State land is granted in perpetual tenure to the homeowner. In return, he must pay an annual ground rent to local administrative authorities." If the house is sold, the land and the obligation to pay ground rent go with it. The legal position of the homeowner is analogous to that of an American home- owner in a state where the tenurial theory prevails;' 2 Quia Emptores is in force; and a property tax is imposed on land according to its value. In East Germany and I was there in 1991 many people had two residents a low rent huge apartment and a privately owned garden plot home or out of city cottage. All Communist countries wanted the abolition of private industry property (the means of production) not personal property. And they had various degrees of private businesses and private cooperative businesses throughout their history. It’s been decades we should understand the truth now and stop the propaganda.

[@antonyduhamel1166]

@@matthewkopp2391 If it was so great, why did it fall?

[@manibharathy1994]

When I was a kid my father used to buy loads of medicine for my grand parents every month. I remember going with my father to govt. hospital to buy free insulin and then to private pharmacy to buy other pills. Had no idea that this silly little water thingy would cost an entire working wage across the globe.

[@Limonenmixgetraenk]

You finally got me, I am getting Curiosity Stream.

[@SecondThought]

You’ll love it 😁

[@alexsmith2910]

I just dealt with a customer who was sad She lost her son to COVID-19. We need health care. Like actual healthcare.

[@user-gz4ve8mw9l]

We will NEVER get it unless the elites, corporations and government are forced out of existence here. They will NEVER relinquish the delusions of power, and control.

[@bobbiusshadow6985]

“You commie”-conservatives

[@daaknait]

They're playing the people like a damn fiddle.

[@eran132]

No, fiddles are hard to play. They are playing the people like a cheap cazoo

[@ChrisSmith-ro1ev]

I don't know how you're doing this JT. You keep releasing important and PERFECTLY edited, written videos. Your channel last year became one of my main sources. Thank you.

[@centhron89]

As a Norwegian, the most inconvenient thing about getting medicine (or drugs as you call them in the US) is the fact I need to get my self to a pharmacy where I can get them, considering the fact there is a pharmacy about 1 minute walking distance from my place of work, that says something... Seeing this poor young lady in the tiktok made my eyes tear up, I feel so damn bad for her and her family...

[@centhron89]

@@saagisharon8595 Norway with a population of less than 5.5mill will not be able to affect USA in any meaningful way, sorry :p

[@musiccer7446]

@@centhron89 Umm, I don’t think that she said that... And it’s not only Norway. My god, the health care system in India is better than that of the US

[@emilysmith6897]

If you were a trans woman you'd have additional inconveniences like not even being able to get the medications you need. Even Norway has a bunch of things it needs to fix about its healthcare.

[@RandomTubefulcrum]

I've been watching your videos for some time now, I really appreciate how you take time to research all these different "epidemics" affecting society right now. Also am not surprised how this channel isn't monetized as it presents a strong case against current beliefs and systemic norms that people just accept as norms and part of "life". Keep going!

[@SecondThought]

Thanks so much!

[@bogusawdrapich6926]

Watching this is incredible. If I were living in USA a big part of my often ill family may be simply dead ... Greetings from Poland

[@vincegonzalez2171]

Hey, my mother was Polish.

[@BradleyVanTreese]

Thank you so much for making these extraordinarily important and exceptionally well made videos! Please keep it up!!

[@whotookthacookie]

When you were talking about the differences in medication prices in America vs other places, I couldnt help but cry. Its just too evil.

[@user-gz4ve8mw9l]

It's a crime against humanity, and only one of seemingly countless. Let alone the ones they hide from the public. Worse yet they subject their own so called citizens to these atrocities daily.

[@xuto2693]

And half of the country wants more of it.

[@LumeanTV]

Katie Porter, calling people out on their shit. Love to see it.

[@pancakes5225]

I cannot believe I just heard the phrase "back in 2020". I'm not ready for this >

[@vincegonzalez2171]

Yeah that one blew me away.

[@shanew2150]

Amazing content as usual. Keep up the good work, loving to see your channel grow!

[@ryancier]

can we just appreciate how Ms. Porter utterly fucked that guy up

[@bradkirsch9529]

I'm sure he he went back to his mansion and cried.

[@whysoserious8666]

Shame is not a trait that people like him have. That’s how they are able to do what they do.

[@ryancier]

@@whysoserious8666 Agreed. I wish liberals would stop thinking their "optics" work against psycho-servatives.

[@Pyre]

@@ryancier What's that meme that's popped up recently? "Arguing with Conservatives be like, 'Go ahead, try and make me care about other people! I'll wait!' "

[@j.r.7339]

When, as a german, first learning that you have to *pay alot just for ambulance!* I can't imagine facing bankruptcy just because you want to live/are ill.

[@rikulappi9664]

When I worked for an European pharmaceutical company one of my duties was to estimate prices of our future drug products in different countries. The rule of thumb was to suppose the US price is always at least double the highest EU price... By the way I pay for my insulin about 2 dollars/month. Mandatory health insurance pays the rest of the 190 dollars/month. Use 200U / day.

[@andrewandy55431]

Thank you for posting this great content Second Thought! Awesome!

[@jordonumadbro]

“When the profit motive is the driving factor, nothing else matters” -Capitalism 101

[@user-gz4ve8mw9l]

That's inevitable in such a failed, rogue, terrorist, corrupted state such as the USA.

[@user-vg8mc8yv4n]

No true economist thinks that the market should be completely free. Capitalist Market mechanisms give good incentives to research on drugs, but as people value their health at a nearly infinite level, the prices tend to be way to high on a free market. Therefore customers need to connect through big insurance companies in order to negotiate more reasonable drug prices!

[@CJ_Brim]

@@user-vg8mc8yv4n negotiating with stuck up billionaires never works, they’ll just do the same shit

[@RaeIsGaee]

@@user-vg8mc8yv4n People aren't motivated to do research to make a quick buck. They're motivated by the basic, human need to help others and cover their own needs. That's why Mutual Aid is such an ingrained concept in humanity. Also, insurance companies are perfectly fine with high drug rates and actively push for skyrocketing prices under Capitalism. It allows them to foot more of the bill to their paying victims while reaping profit. No amount of reformation under Capitalism will change that, nor any other problem with the pharmaceutical industry.

[@user-vg8mc8yv4n]

@@CJ_Brim it works, look at europe

[@muntherdoesstuff9615]

I can’t believe I fanataisezed visiting the USA when I was young

[@jeetadityachatterjee6995]

America is messed up but it's beautiful and diverse. It needs a hell of a lot of work (and maybe a little revolution) but it's still worth visiting and exploring.

[@konstantinpolikarpov9944]

I pass on the offer to come over and visit. Europe is big enough for my needs..

[@RafaelW8]

You should absolutely visit the USA in your lifetime. Living there, however, is a different story.

[@marechaltukhachevsky2909]

I can, just too much propaganda since our youth, i mean all the movies, cartoons, shows that we watched as kids were american, anyone that grew up under western culture influence in the TV era has been fed with american culture and values very subtly for a very long time, and naturally you will praise and want to know the country where all these magical TV shows were situated in.

[@jazzypari]

I had dreams of living and working in New York City. The more I have learned about the inside workings of institutions, the more I have become disillusioned. Now, I have no desire to move to the US anymore

[@thekaxmax]

Insulin costs about a tenth the USA cost in Australia, and it's also covered by a drug coverage system and Medicare (medicine plus testing plus doctors). People on unemployment can afford it without much of a problem.

[@LukePermoda]

These videos are amazing. Thank you very much. Just signed up for Curiosity Stream and got Nebula with it.

[@vitgardon4896]

Me when I was 8: OMG When I will be old I want to live in the USA. Me now: the USA is dumb. I have everything I need in the Czech republic.

[@spacebunsarah]

Yeah there’s not a lot of good here I do not recommend

[@clarkbruce_swe91]

Same here from Sweden. We grew up worshipping America like America today worships Trump.

[@Ionao]

Me a french approve your message lmao ... I had even had putted a giant poster of New York on my wall ... now I regret it a bit

[@geeknat8981]

It was American propaganda to fool the world. Thanks God the world got smarter!

[@VideoPerfection]

"There's no reason for this amount of suffering in the richest nation on Earth"

[@placeholdernameisplacehold7671]

It's almost like those two things are linked somehow.

[@bobbiusshadow6985]

Richest nation on earth... if you’re part of the 1%

[@notdonaldtrump1097]

Hey fellow Minnesotan👋

[@VideoPerfection]

@@notdonaldtrump1097 ✊

[@viceversacn]

@@VideoPerfection go gophers!

[@thomas1699]

I have lived in Japan for several years. Everyone has truly affordable health insurance. When you go to see your Doctor or when you check in for an operation. You pay the bill as you leave the Hospital. Imagine that! No bills in the mail from Doctors, Hospitals, whatever. You just pay as you leave the hospital. It is that reasonable. Care is very good. Treatments are very good. No bills will "follow you home" and haunt you, forever and ever. What a concept!

[@ricbrunner3880]

I love your channel. You have the ability to put what I already know into words. Everyone needs to see your videos.

[@jamesgiles6134]

As someone in the UK, this genuinely makes my head spin.

[@blobfish5730]

As someone who lives in the UK, I can't imagine having to fork out thousands of dollars because of something you can't control

[@zoeyaaahmed203]

same here - our nhs here isn't great but its leaugue aheads the USAs

[@placeholdernameisplacehold7671]

Reminder that in England, you have to pay for repeat mental health prescriptions. Even for chronic illness. That's over 100 pounds a year.

[@electri2024]

@@placeholdernameisplacehold7671 yes, 100 pounds a year for prescriptions that you can get an unlimited amount of and which ever you need. It is pretty damn fair.

[@placeholdernameisplacehold7671]

@@electri2024 No, the thing that's not fair is that if it was a physical illness it would be completely free.

[@electri2024]

@@placeholdernameisplacehold7671 I see what you mean, that is a good point. Regardless, 100 pounds per year or unlimited refills is still well good.

[@totalchaos444]

You have my subscription. Thank you for bringing this topic up.

[@thesenuts4472]

You know as a kid when I was force to come the USA from Cuba I really thought this country was different it has been alot of lows and so much little highs.

[@leonardoives674]

Katy absolutely grilled him till he was cooked. Holy shit. May I never be on the recieving end of that womans scrutiny.

[@galacticbob1]

I was just thinking I would hate to be one of her kids that got caught in a lie. 😂 "There were one dozen cookies on the counter. I ate 2, and told you that you could have 2. Now there are..." *scribbles on whiteboard* "Four cookies left. Which means that..." *more whiteboard* "There are four cookies unaccounted for! Now, isn't it true that you said you wanted more cookies, and I told you to wait until after dinner? Yet you made at least three trips into the kitchen to, 'get a glass of water', isn't that correct?" Me: *sweats profusely* 😥

[@jesusrios5394]

He’s super rich, I’m sure he got over it really quick.

[@maman89]

Then what ? He goes back to his yatch, she looks like she’s doing her job badabing badaboom insulin now cost 2000 dollars. Fuck the cheerleading committee. How about some REAL changes instead ?

[@AngelosGT]

@@maman89 Exactly buddy. We every day hear questions like hers. Bold questions that should lead to fundamental changes. And yet, nothing ever changes. It is an a thing that deserves a deep study. Do people getting satisfied just by pointing out the wrongdoings, instead of correcting them?

[@Spytukz]

@@AngelosGT this reminds me of a great video by Jack Saint where he speaks about this constant chase to "be right" and the feeling of superiority that gets pushed to us, but no actual meaningful change. Here is it, if anyone's interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJupaYB3jrNgoqM

[@jamesnicholascrowson7501]

As you’ve said before, EVERYTHING in the States follows the money over the people. I expect it will only continue to get worse unfortunately.

[@maman89]

It’s a for profit nation.

[@jamesnicholascrowson7501]

@@maman89 I know right problem is that way of living is just too extreme. You have some Americans who care but unfortunately there’s just not enough of them.

[@baronvonlimbourgh1716]

Ofcourse it is going to get worse. That is the design.

[@maman89]

@@jamesnicholascrowson7501 great people no doubt but its running on fucked system fundamentality. So any substantial change would take huge effort and be labeled as “extremist/radicalization”. People worship paper money in the states. Its all they ever known and taught.

[@cosmicdonut6588]

Happy 1 million subs you deserve it 🥳

[@supremel3vel469]

Got the chills when the woman spoke about the high priced insuline for her son. Your channel is simply necessary.

[@vincegonzalez2171]

I'm so thankful that I don't have to choose between crippling debt and actual death.

[@_stephanie]

One of the main reasons I'm never moving back, and giving up citizenship in 3 years. The NHS has it's flaws, and our politicians in the UK are also money hungry bufoons, but nowhere near this scale.

[@konstantinpolikarpov9944]

Ahh I see you are a person of culture

[@K_-_-_-_K]

Nhs is up for trade unfortunately. Tories are looking to turn the uk into the 51st state of America, we even have a fox news style channel on the way

[@lordkabal2010]

Don't worry the NHS isn't going the way of the insurance scam like America and that channel isn't it all the national news media's hahaha. But like she said yes we have greedy MPs etc.... Name me a country that doesn't lol..... But unlike the American Republic govt.....ours can't get away with half the crap the American politicians do.... And the lobbying and patent crap laws that's in the US are just archaic remember it's the land of the money maker

[@williamhuynh869]

@@lordkabal2010 I call America the land of the positive feedback loop. The rich get richer, the Middle class doesnt really change most of the time, and the lower class also stays the same. One wrong move and you have to be alert at all times unless the positive feedback loop comes for you.

[@K_-_-_-_K]

@@lordkabal2010 call me a pessimist but I really do believe we are going that direction. Brexit only happened because the EU were cracking down on tax havens, the uk's second empire is tax havens. If they risk food and medicine shortages for the donors and old boys of Eton then best believe they will privatise healthcare. This Is one step in the process

[@Zov631]

I was stunned when searching Insulin price in the US. In Vietnam the same brand, same doses cost around 50 bucks and its price in the US is like 10 times higher that in Vietnam

[@morrowindplayer8992]

vietnam doesnt allow capitalists to control all, the us tried to destroy them for liberating themselves from tyranny

[@laneycarrington1990]

Another excellent video from Second Thought!

[@sammehlberg6664]

Only time I've been to any kind of medical professional in the last 15 years, I went in for flu-like symptoms right at the outbreak of covid. Not only did they tell me I had a minor respiratory virus (it was covid) they charged me $500 for the IV and a weeks worth of antiviral meds. edit: and that's the last time I go to a doctor or hospital