[unksdfnaajhfjk]

> The value the government brings here is extreme negotiating ability with the private insurance providers that individual citizens lack.

This is not good, it distorts the market too much. Look at the negotiating power Spotify and Pandora have over musicians. Pandora negotiates rock-bottom prices with musicians on behalf of its consumers and the consumers think it's great because low prices. Long-term you've decreased compensation for becoming a musician, sound engineer, etc. and harmed the entire music ecosystem.

It's a trade-off between clear short-term gains and diffuse long-term costs.

[subhobroto]

Yes, you make a good argument and that was one of the good arguments made to support the regulation that ties down the government.

However, when I see people being unable to afford medication or losing a significant amount of their wealth to afford medication, I start to have second thoughts.

It seems to me, that in a developed and advanced society, one ought to be able to live a quality and comfortable life enabling them to contribute to the good of society as a whole.

Drug prices in the U.S. are at a completely different level compared to any other developed nation.

[unksdfnaajhfjk]

If our drug prices are higher than in other countries it can only be because of how things are regulated. Otherwise we could buy the same thing from their market for the cost of shipping.