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Category Archives: Uncategorized

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2/4 Labor News and Open Thread

The Progressive Wing Posted on February 4, 2021 by la58February 4, 2021

Lite on the labor news, some good, some bad.

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Posted in Uncategorized | 134 Replies

2/3 News Roundup and Open Thread

The Progressive Wing Posted on February 3, 2021 by jcityboneFebruary 3, 2021

Bernie flexes his new power as Budget Chair

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Posted in Uncategorized | 134 Replies

2/2 News Roundup and Open Thread

The Progressive Wing Posted on February 2, 2021 by jcityboneFebruary 2, 2021

Now is not the time to count pennies.

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Posted in Uncategorized | 105 Replies

This is What White Privilege Can Feel Like

The Progressive Wing Posted on February 1, 2021 by NYCVGFebruary 1, 2021

COVID-19 Edition.

My true story:

I’d been attempting to get a  Vaccine vaccination appointment on the New York City Vaccine Signup Portal since it was announced.  No luck whatsoever.  No appointments.  No vaccines.  Facilities closed.

After discussing it with family and friends, I gave up.  The stress wasn’t healthy.

Then the next day, a wealthy private hospital my physician was connected with e-mailed me asking,  “Was I interested in getting the vaccine? ”

If you want to be vaccinated hit “Continue” button.

Next screen listed locations.  Pick your location.  Hit that continue button again.

Done.  What time would you like to arrive?  12 choices.  Hit, continue.

You’re all set.  Hit continue to confirm.

Two days later…………………


I arrived at my vaccination site 1/2 hour early to allow for crowds.  No crowds.  Right up to the floor where my doctor’s waiting room is. Entered my info on the usual  computers. Then I sank down into the deep comfy leather chairs provided.

By this time I was asking myself where are the people and the large vaccination areas?  I know the layout and I couldn’t picture   it.

Soon enough,  my name was called and I entered into a small lab room—same place as when my doctor asks for a blood sample.

Three attendants inquired about how I was feeling.   gave me the shot.  Ushered me to another comfy chair, not deep  but adjacent to the lab, with the instructions to wait 15 minutes and if I’m experiencing the slightest discomfort I should shout out.  If okay then leave in 15 minutes.  They looked at their watches.  Told me the time I could leave, gave me an info card.

When I got home I booked my second shot.

Cuomo and de Blasio talk the equality game but   that is clearly no the practice in NY.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged covid reality | 17 Replies

2/1 News Roundup and Open Thread

The Progressive Wing Posted on February 1, 2021 by jcityboneFebruary 1, 2021

Snowy day to start February here in the Hudson Valley and the rest of the NE.

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Posted in Uncategorized | 144 Replies

1/31 News Roundup and Open Thread

The Progressive Wing Posted on January 31, 2021 by jcityboneJanuary 31, 2021

Starting with Bernie on ABC’s This Week

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Posted in Uncategorized | 135 Replies

Katie Porter and Big Pharma and OT January 30, 2021

The Progressive Wing Posted on January 30, 2021 by polarbear4January 30, 2021

Our report is clear: Consolidation destroys scientific cultures that once celebrated creativity and transforms them into places that cater to the whims of shortsighted shareholders.

But our investigation also shows how we can chart a new path forward ⬇️https://t.co/1jxtK9J6rh

— Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) January 29, 2021


New Report From Rep. Katie Porter Reveals How Big Pharma Pursues ‘Killer Profits’ at the Expense of Americans’ Health

The report calls M&As “just the tip of the iceberg of pharmaceutical companies’ anti-competitive, profit-driven behaviors”:

Pharmaceutical companies often claim that lowering the prices of prescription drugs in the United States would devastate innovation. Yet, as prices have skyrocketed over the last few decades, these same companies’ investment in research and development have failed to match this same pace. Instead, they’ve dedicated more and more of their funds to enrich shareholders or to purchase other companies to eliminate competition.

“In 2018, the year that [former President] Donald Trump’s tax giveaway to the wealthy went into effect, 12 of the biggest pharmaceutical companies spent more money on stock buybacks than on research and development,” the report notes.

Some key findings from the report:

Big pharmaceutical companies are not responsible for most major breakthroughs in new drugs. Rather, innovation is driven in small firms, which are often spun off of taxpayer-funded academic research. These small labs are then purchased by giant firms after they’ve assumed the risk needed to develop a blockbuster drug;
Instead of producing lifesaving drugs for diseases with few or no cures, large pharmaceutical companies often focus on small, incremental changes to existing drugs in order to kill off generic threats to their government-granted monopoly patents; and
Mergers in the pharmaceutical industry have had an overall negative effect on innovation, taking what little competition existed in the industry and completely destroying it.
“Competition is central to capitalism,” Porter said in a press release introducing the report. “As our report shows, Big Pharma has little incentive to invest in new, critically needed drugs. Instead, pharmaceutical giants are free to devote their resources to acquiring smaller companies that might otherwise force them to compete.”

“Lives are on the line; it’s clear the federal government needs to reform how it evaluates healthcare mergers and patent abuses,” Porter added.

To that end, Porter’s report recommends the following actions:

Removing incentives that prioritize investors and Wall Street over patients;
Reevaluating the standards used by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for healthcare mergers;
Altering the presumption that most mergers and acquisitions are legal unless contested by an individual or group;
Lowering the cost of prescription drugs. Congress should pass legislation that reins in skyrocketing costs. This can begin with drug price negotiation legislation, such as the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, but must extend to include a larger class of drugs and cover all payers and the uninsured; and
Preventing anti-competitive abuses of the drug patenting system. Congress should pass legislation, such as the such as the Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act, the Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Through Promoting Competition Act, and the Stop STALLING Act, to stop abuses of the regulatory process.
“It’s time we reevaluate the standards for approving these mergers,” the report concludes. “It’s time we pass legislation to lower drug prices. And it’s time we rethink the structure of leadership at big pharmaceutical companies. Together, these strategies can help us bring more innovative, and critically needed, cures and treatments to market.”

More at the link, short article.

Porter might make a formidable presidential candidate, if she can keep a high profile with her reports and dogged determination. She reminds me of a certain other Senator who fights for the 99%, even though she is not as progressive. The MSM might find it harder to ignore and dismiss her.

Posted in Uncategorized | 79 Replies

1/29 News Roundup and Open Thread

The Progressive Wing Posted on January 29, 2021 by jcityboneJanuary 29, 2021

Bernie says “Cry Me a River”

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Posted in Uncategorized | 111 Replies

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3/3 News Roundup & Open Thread

March 3, 2021 8:35 am | By LieparDestin | 111 comments

3/2 News Roundup and Open Thread

March 2, 2021 8:24 am | By jcitybone | 131 comments

3/1 News Roundup and Open Thread

March 1, 2021 8:38 am | By jcitybone | 144 comments

2/28 Labor News and Open Thread

February 28, 2021 8:53 am | By la58 | 94 comments

2.27 Open Thread

February 27, 2021 8:14 am | By orlbucfan | 79 comments

2/26 Biden Promotes War in Syria, Chooses Legislation that Favors Wall Street Donors Over Raising the Fed Min Wage in a 5 year Period; Open Thread (updated with Bernie’s comment about Syria)

February 26, 2021 7:16 am | By Benny | 184 comments

2/25 News Roundup & Open Thread

February 25, 2021 6:19 am | By LieparDestin | 162 comments

2/24 News Roundup & Open Thread

February 24, 2021 6:49 am | By LieparDestin | 150 comments

2/23 Deb Haaland’s Hearing for Interior Post; News Roundup & Open Thread

February 23, 2021 8:57 am | By Benny | 129 comments

2/22 News Roundup and Open Thread

February 22, 2021 8:56 am | By jcitybone | 191 comments

Recent Comments

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2020-2022 Progressive Candidates

The Squad

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House

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  • Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) – WON
  • Ro Khanna (CA-17) – WON
  • Mark Pocan (WI-02) – WON
  • Nina Turner (OH-11) – May 4, 2021

Senate

  • John Fetterman (PA) – 2022
  • Ed Markey (MA) – WON
  • Raphael Warnock (GA) – WON

 

State & Local Races

  • Lee Carter (VA-GOV) – June 8, 2021
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