Drug companies will fight
Regarding “Lower drug prices could be costly later” (Outlook, Friday): Columnist Megan McArdle does not discuss or compare research and development costs for drug companies to the marketing and sales costs. If we watch TV, we are consumed by ads for many prescription drugs telling us to ask our doctor about a drug.
The only two countries to allow TV ads for drugs are the United States and New Zealand. Obviously these ads drive up drug costs. A study by the Institute for Health and Socio-Economic Policy of the 100 top drug companies revealed that 64 percent spent twice as much on marketing and sales as R&D; 58 pecent spent three times as much; 43 percent spent five times as much; and 27 percent spent 10 times as much.
Now Health and Human Services is going to require drug companies to list their prices in TV ads, and the drug companies plan to fight this. Drug prices are too high and drug companies will fight any changes.
David C. Redford, Houston
Energy and millennials
Regarding “As oil sector ages, firms tune culture to woo younger talent” (Front page, Thursday): How wonderful that millennials prefer jobs that serve sustainability and so shun the oil industry. Yes, for decades, Big Oil has said: “We’re energy companies” but then avoided the risks of energy innovation. That strategy works in stable times. But now, peak oil and global warming threaten our global civilization.
Millions of years ago, big and powerful creatures thrived until they were exterminated by environmental catastrophe. Now “dinosaur” means anything that is impractically large, obsolete and bound for extinction. Scientists have recently discovered that most of the dozen mass extinctions were caused by climate change.
We can follow our moral compass like the millennial job hunters are doing. Since our world is growing more complex and interdependent, integrity is now the best strategy. Oil companies could focus on diversifying into clean, renewable energy. They could focus on being a blessing for the future.
Nan Hildreth, Houston
Founders had it right
Regarding “Can we finally get smart about guns? (Outlook, Thursday): Short answer to your question — no. You can present all the reasoned arguments you want, but conservatives and those of us who respect the Founders and the Constitution simply don’t trust you.
“Reasonable” gun control, everywhere it’s been implemented, has led inevitably to gun confiscation, then to tyranny imposed by those who took the guns. Do you “reasonably” think that the Cuban or Venezuelan people are better off now without guns?
What part of “shall not be infringed” do you not get?
Steven K. Howell, Houston
Breathing a little easier
Regarding “Chemical fires shouldn’t catch Harris County by surprise” (Outlook, May 5) by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo: I very much appreciate the sentiments and commitment expressed in Judge Hidalgo’s op-ed regarding the Intercontinental Terminals Company fire in Deer Park and how we move forward. I firmly believe that Hidalgo must now lead the fight to reduce air pollution and protect people’s health because Texas lawmakers and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality are failing to do so.
The fires at ITC and KMCO chemical plant are the consequence of the political and regulatory leaders in Austin looking the other way while industrial polluters deny our right to breathe clean air. For too long, they have been able to avoid significantly reducing their pollution because the state does not force them to follow the law. If Austin will not act, Harris County must.
Fortunately, Hidalgo and the Harris County Commissioners Court agreed to hire more prosecutors for environmental crimes. It is a good first step, but there is a lot more work to do before we can breathe easy. .
Jonathan J. Ross, board president, Air
Alliance, Houston