There are so many areas where our economy is warped by crony capitalism. From autos, to finance, to energy the crony element is strong in nearly every major corner of commerce. Cronyism abounds. That is the nature of our economy today.
The health/food situation in this country suffers particularly from crony capitalism.
If there is one gravy train every single large food company wants to be on it is the SNAP benefit list. Everyone wants their giant corporation subsidized via the food stamp program.
Consider that the number one most purchased item by people on food stamps is soda.
We don’t begrudge people who need food assistance buying soda. Americans love their soft drinks. But that these quite unhealthy drinks, and we are talking both about the sugary and the no sugar versions, are SUBSIDIZED make no sense unless one is a giant soft drink company. If one is a giant soft drink company being on the food stamp list means billions of dollars. The people buying the soda are on welfare, but the corporations selling the soda to people on welfare are on welfare too.
That we the taxpayers are padding the bottom line for Coca-Cola and Pepsi is absurd. But given the knock on effects of subsidizing these drinks (and other unhealthy foods) the situation goes way beyond absurd.
What do we mean? Of course you the taxpayer shouldn’t be funding these giant corporations just because they can spend the resources in Washington DC to buy members of Congress. That’s unfair and unjust, but all these poor people drinking soda means that down the line many folks are going to have health problems, diabetes and heart disease being two examples.
These people then enter the health system, a system that is largely subsidized by the American taxpayer, and are treated.
This is where Pharma comes in.
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