[calibraxis]

Consider googling it, just as you'd investigate how to fix a bug in software you use. "Common beliefs" should be viewed with suspicion. (http://www.citizen.org/publications/publicationredirect.cfm?...)

Just as with the development of computers and the internet, we can thank the US taxpayer and government for subsidizing pharmaceutical innovations. Which is then sold back to us at hilarious rates.

Pharmas reap wonderful profits in other countries (otherwise they probably wouldn't operate in them), just not extreme profits they can extract from US people. It's propaganda that high US prices benevolently subsidize pharma for the rest of the world; this narrative increases nationalism, and sets up an entitlement complex. Propaganda's a great way to get your targets to believe in their own fleecing.

[melling]

Consider that when you are making a statement to tens of thousands of people that it would be best to provide supporting evidence so that exercise of "googling" doesn't have to repeated by everyone.

[calibraxis]

I try to spend the time to support my claims with evidence, as such arguments are more intellectually convincing. Once you depart from views frequently repeated in the media, you no longer have the luxury of soundbites, so providing evidence is best.

It takes more effort (particularly since you don't want to cite bad evidence), but is necessary.

And the issue is, people who want truth gotta dig. Otherwise they'll be doomed to live the rest of their lives believing lies written by some PR flack. (I've known some PR flacks. They eloquently phrase what their bosses want communicated. And even being careful, I'm sure I believe many serious lies and falsehoods, at least to some extent.)