NWO and Vándorló
Two of my anonymous brethern drop me a line.
NWO:
Varangy-
A couple observations on your two recents posts.
(1) I am sure you remember a year or so ago the uproar by FIDESZ and the various chambers (pharmacists and doctors) against the “liberalization” of the Hungarian pharmacies. If you recall, competition was deemed to be bad for a profession and Hungary would be rife with overdoses and other horrible consequences from selling cough medicine at a DM. Your little story from the U.S. shows again why competition is a good thing. It is also obvious why self-interested trade groups like these odious chambers might oppose something that benefits the consumer and increases competition. Interestingly, a year after the minimal liberalization, no one seems to have any real objection. It is just too bad a similar time was not given to make the various “visit fees” work. Instead, now, FIDESZ can celebrate what will be a short-lived victory (assuming they return to power in 2010 and need to figure out what to do next) and the Drs. can stew in their monumental screw up. It is time for the Government to teach everybody a lesson in responsibility. They should not make up from the budget the lost revenues.
(2) On the Tax Wedge Post. We could not agree more. Hungary’s tax system is choking the economy. Hungary’s demographic situation is a medium term time bomb that will completely destroy this country (welcome to Moldova on the Danube). To lower taxes, however, requires that the country immediately lower spending and address long-term strucutural problems, especially in the retirement system, health care system, and the size of the overall government apparatus. [I do not believe the Hungarian economy is sufficiently flexible that a “Lafer curve effect” would occur if taxes were lowered but spending remained the same]. The best way to foster these reforms would be to encourage a significant level of immigration. In this way, the burden of the dying Hungarian population can be balanced out by a growing working population. Immigration can come first from “hataron tuli” Hungarians (the very few who might actually want to really move to Hungary) and second from other foreigners-including, yes, Chinese and Turks. The key is the people must be young, and the conditions must be right so they can become gainfully employed or better yet start their own businesses. Of course, there is almost no one in Hungary really ready to face up to the problem and honestly tell the Hungarian people what must happen. Sadly, those who should most understand the problem and the solution-a conservative opposition-are the most at fault at sullying the debate.
The Laffer effect in the short- and mid-term is certainly debatable ——- but I think everyone sees the problem. Tax too much, spend even more.
Vándorló:
News germane to your latest…. errr.. rant (Healthcare, Pharma and the
Free Market)350 százalékos gyógyszerdrágulás
Áprilistól újabb 21 gyógyszer kerül ki a támogatotti körből a gyógyszer-gazdaságossági törvény következtében. Közöttük hat népszerű vérnyomáscsökkentő található, amelyek átlagosan 350 százalékkal drágulnak.
Az egyik legismertebb készítményért a jelenlegi 128 helyett 854 forintot kell majd fizetni. A drágulás háromszázezer hipertóniás beteget érinthet. A minisztériumi propaganda szerint azért hatékony az új gyógyszer-gazdaságossági törvény, mert így féken tudják tartani a térítési díjak folyamatos emelkedését.
I just wanna know one thing —- since when has Vándorló been reading/watching Hír TV?
