Say Anything Blog

That’s just crazy.

The cancer grows

Old Tigers are more dangerous when they believe this is their last hunt.

From , “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”
Old tigers, sensing the end,
they’re at their most fierce.       
And they go down fighting.

There are far better ways to ensure quality care that banning out of town pharmacies.

Perhaps they would like to ban all employers that are not locally owned.

My Dad was in a nursing home about 40 miles outside of
Grand Forks and all meds came from the local pharmacy.  There were a lot of them as I paid the bills.  Would that pharmacy exist under a change in the law?  Would Walmart care about that nursing home? Would stores like CVS have delivery 40 miles away? Not stirring up crap, honest questions.

Why eliminate any options that the market supports?

If govt control of the economy were the way to go, the Soviet Union would be the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world.

Thanks to Obama, America remains the only country where it is illegal to drill our own oil!

North Dakota hates economies of scale.

No Free Lunch

Rightwing:

Would Walmart care about that nursing home?

The pharmacy manager would.

Construct:  Define “big chain pharmacies”

Communism is evil

Must not be noon yet, where Davinski lives.

Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday, liberals are the reason why.

rightwing conspiracy,

Hmmmm…

The savings you would have garnered from buying those prescriptions from Wal-Mart would have been more then enough to cover the cost of driving there and picking them up.

As a former Dakotan you can not pull the “that is too far to drive” shinola on me, either. We used to drive 120 miles down to Minot to have dinner on a regular basis and 110 miles to Williston to go shopping when I lived in Divide county. When we lived in Bismarck we used to drive 200 miles to Fargo just to go to Target to stock up on cat litter and other stuff when they would have it on sale because at that time there was no Target in Bismarck.

I’ve never heard of such a thing in Canada…maybe North Dakota really is the anti-capitalist beach head in North America. I hope the folks in North Portal are watching the border. 

“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. ”

Arthur Schopenhauer

As a former Dakotan you can not pull the “that is too far to drive” shinola on me, either.

I was not “pulling” anything, it was an honest question and I wasn’t concerned with me driving anywhere.  When the doctor requested a med, the pharmacy was only a few blocks away.  How would that work if that pharmacy is no longer there.

If enough people want the “care and service” the local pharmacies provide then they should do just fine when Walmart comes in.

Just go to a free state and by your ‘scripts at Wal-Mart.

Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

It’s competition for profits that creates prosperity and economic growth; not equal outcome social engineering.

If govt control of the economy were the way to go, the Soviet Union would be the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world.

Thanks to Obama, America remains the only country where it is illegal to drill our own oil!

You have 4 SuperCenters and 7 regular Wal-Marts, why is this an issue? They can easily provide quality, affordable prescription service to the entire state. Who is blocking this, and how much are they personally profiting from block a lowering of prescription prices in ND. Put their names before the public eye, and prosecute them for using their political positions for their personal profit at the cost of killing the citizens of North Dakota.

Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

If enough people want the “care and service” the local pharmacies provide then they should do just fine when Walmart comes in.

but walmart wont move to a town of 800 or even 2000….... they will just close the little town drug stores. the little town guys need the monopoly to exist. they can make $100K a year on fargo, but wont make near that if they dont have 100% of the little town biz, so they will leave. yes, i know its the fault of the local folks that will drive to the big town or get things on line.

I am totally convinced I am confused over this one. I really can see both sides, but i just can see myself voting to let the pharm biz go the way of walmart ithout more info on the overall impact of it. so for now on this one i am totally hypocritical.

A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.
Thomas Jefferson

Mine is better than ours.
Benjamin Franklin

...they will just close the little town drug stores.

Not really.  If the little town drug stores don’t offer something extra to justify their higher prices, they should go out of business, but it will be their choice(and the choice of the people who take their business to WalMart), not WalMart’s.

If govt control of the economy were the way to go, the Soviet Union would be the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world.

Thanks to Obama, America remains the only country where it is illegal to drill our own oil!

Not really.  If the little town drug stores don’t offer something extra to justify their higher prices, they should go out of business, but it will be their choice(and the choice of the people who take their business to WalMart), not WalMart’s.

yes, thats what i said when i wrote….

yes, i know its the fault of the local folks that will drive to the big town or get things on line.

A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.
Thomas Jefferson

Mine is better than ours.
Benjamin Franklin

Let Nannaw and Pappaw have their pills and potions at ever day low prices!

No Free Lunch

I agree with Rob. The threat of large retail chains coming in and putting the local retailers out of business, has stymied the economic growth in this state as long as I can remember. In Grand Forks CVS pharmacy dominates because its schedule is very flexible so it can serve its customers almost 24 hrs a day. The drawback is that at times you have to wait longer in line than when it was Osco Drug. The other 3 drug stores in town seem to be hanging in there.
Even though they don’t stay open as long as CVS, the drugs are cheaper and the wait is shorter. Until the legislators in this state stop seeing us “a bunch of dumb Norwegians” nothing will change.

yes, i know its the fault of the local folks that will drive to the big town or get things on line.

It’s not a “fault” to get the best deal for yourself and your family.  In fact, in our system, it’s the duty of the consumer to do exactly that.  Subsidizing inefficiency hurts us all.

If govt control of the economy were the way to go, the Soviet Union would be the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world.

Thanks to Obama, America remains the only country where it is illegal to drill our own oil!

The threat of large retail chains coming in and putting the local retailers out of business, has stymied the economic growth in this state as long as I can remember.

examples please?

A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.
Thomas Jefferson

Mine is better than ours.
Benjamin Franklin

The threat of large retail chains coming in and putting
the local retailers out of business, has stymied the economic growth in this state as long as I can remember.

The only thing that stymies economic growth is social engineering to try to get equal outcomes, instead of getting the best deal for the people.

If govt control of the economy were the way to go, the Soviet Union would be the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world.

Thanks to Obama, America remains the only country where it is illegal to drill our own oil!

It’s not a “fault” to get the best deal for yourself and your family.  In fact, in our system, it’s the duty of the consumer to do exactly that.  Subsidizing inefficiency hurts us all.

not from a small town, huh? my fam is from small towns and i work LOTS in small towns. first, these people honestly dont understand why all their towns are withering away when they come to fargo to chop, when they drive 30 miles to fill gas thats .10 cheaper or grocery shop elsewhere to save $1.00 on a pizza. thats why i say ‘fault’. there actions have a result. i think they chose to ignore that result.

with drugs my concern is that the old people that need the drugs often dont have the means to get to the big town as easily as the average folks. those people keep their money locally, but there is not enough volume generated by those people to keep the store open. no walmart is opening there, so they have no store.

A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.
Thomas Jefferson

Mine is better than ours.
Benjamin Franklin

Yea, why should the North Dakotans be able to benefit from $4 prescriptions at Wal-Mart?  Much better that they have to pay full price at the small mom & pop drugstore.

not from a small town, huh?

Whether I am or not is irrelevant to the economic truth here.
ad hominem.

I guess you have a problem with free people making free choices, eh?  Do you really want to force your standards on everyone else?

If govt control of the economy were the way to go, the Soviet Union would be the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world.

Thanks to Obama, America remains the only country where it is illegal to drill our own oil!

Whether I am or not is irrelevant to the economic truth here.
ad hominem.

no. however, you clearly dont understand the ramifications. all i need is an answer; when the pharmacies close, where do you propose the old people get their medications? if it’s ‘f’ them they should move or die (which is what i read into your statements), i guess i disagree, but youd be sticking to your guns.

I guess you have a problem with free people making free choices, eh? 

you actually think we are free to make the choices we see fit? seriously? go take a tv from your next door neighbor. better yet, dont pay your taxes. let me know how that works out for you. i will leave the light on.

Do you really want to force your standards on everyone else?

that happens to everyone every day.

A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.
Thomas Jefferson

Mine is better than ours.
Benjamin Franklin

Yea, why should the North Dakotans be able to benefit from $4 prescriptions at Wal-Mart?  Much better that they have to pay full price at the small mom & pop drugstore.

how many walmarts or similar stores with pharmacies do we have in north dakota?

A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.
Thomas Jefferson

Mine is better than ours.
Benjamin Franklin

The New World Order [Global Government] is not a myth - it’s the final destination!

Interesting; I’m talking economic and personal freedom, and your mind goes right to crime.  Your supposition that the pharmacies will close, without being replaced by a more efficient operation, is naive.  Again, social engineering to try to achieve equal outcomes is not only subsidizing inefficiency, it’s communism.  Is that what you’re trying to sell here?
If you are really that cynical and negative, I pity you.

If govt control of the economy were the way to go, the Soviet Union would be the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world.

Thanks to Obama, America remains the only country where it is illegal to drill our own oil!

(which is what i read into your statements),

An arrogant mistake on your part.  That’s your thinking, not mine.

If govt control of the economy were the way to go, the Soviet Union would be the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world.

Thanks to Obama, America remains the only country where it is illegal to drill our own oil!

A point that is being overlooked, most chain grocery stores are running pharmacies now. Is that not allowed in ND, either. Is it the law that pharmacies have to be stand alone, non-chain businesses?

Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

Oops, meant to add, if that is the law who authored it, and how much do they personally profit from it?

Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

One thing you’re not taking in to account in the rural pharmacy vs. large chain pharmacy argument is that mail order pharmacies like the ones being increasingly used by large insurance companies to cut costs are gaining a share of the market daily.  They will hurt the small town drug stores long before the chains will, and ND has no law against the mail order pharmacies that I know of.  This will serve rural folks well in that it gets the drugs to their door at a minimal cost to them without them having to go to town or make a special trip.  It’s a great service.  The downside is the service that accompanies it, ie. no pharmacist to consult if you have questions about dosage or to report side effects.  Also, drugs sitting in 110 degree/-30 degree mailboxes, etc… could have a negative impact.  I think a responsible elected official will embrace new means of drug delivery, while working with private industry to encourage better ways to serve customers in rural areas who will be experiencing a marked change in drug service.

Not just rural, WB! My healthplan mandates that any maintenance drug that you take for 3 months or longer be serviced by mail order pharmacies. I’m not rural anymore, but that trumps Wal-Mart and all the local boys!

Having said that, there is one prescription that I can get cheaper at Wal-Mart than any where else, so where do you think I prefer to get that one?

Shrugging off the mindless, baseless attacks of Liberal hyenas and jackals since 2007

”(Proof) You’re, as we say in Hawaii, No Ka Oi!”

-unsolicited testimonial

WiseBruin: My mail order pharmacy has 24/7 availability of pharmacist consult by phone, toll-free.  Any medications that require refrigeration are delivered in insulated packing with cold packs, good for at least 24 hours, and are delivered by UPS, not the Post Office.

If govt control of the economy were the way to go, the Soviet Union would be the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world.

Thanks to Obama, America remains the only country where it is illegal to drill our own oil!

Proof:  Precisely.  Mail Order is a game changer for all demographics, rural and urban.  The three month supply is another benefit to mail order, whereas 90 day supplies are often hard to come by at local pharmacies, preferring to have you make more trips to the store.  The market is producing cheap and incredibly dynamic solutions to prescription access (4 dollar prescriptions, Mail Order, TakeCare Clinics, Express Pharmacies, etc…)  The difficult thing in ND is that people are very resistant to change when they’ve been going to see the same pharmacy for 35 years.  To sell the idea of getting rid of the ownership law, legislators have to: 1. Demonstrate that things will change regardless of the ownership law (mail order is really starting to make an impact, and will probably soon be the go-to system used by medicare part D).  Keeping an outdated law on the books in this changing environment is going to hold us back.  2. Demonstrate that jobs will be created by doing away with this old policy, and will keep NDSU pharmacy grads in the state to fill these quality jobs.  3. Demonstrate that, as health costs continue to rise, the legislature should never stand in the way of alternatives.  It’s a winning strategy.

Robert108:  That is a testament to how fast an industry can adapt to market conditions when they have the incentive to do so.  It is sad that we will have a large swathe of the legislature stand in the way of enterprise like this to protect the status quo under the guise of “keeping pharmacists in control of pharmacy, not big corporations with poor customer service and no investment in the community.”  Look at what can happen when the market is allowed to WORK.

WB: Absolutely, and that incentive is profit.  Social engineering to protect the status quo and produce equal outcome produces poverty.

If govt control of the economy were the way to go, the Soviet Union would be the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world.

Thanks to Obama, America remains the only country where it is illegal to drill our own oil!

Jimmypop, I’m assuming you’re not familiar with small town Wal-Marts? The one where I grew up was just a regular sized store. And House Springs, MO., while a booming little town now, was a sleepy rural area. Far from putting other stores out of business, Wal-Mart was surrounded by competitors (this is true of most Wal-Marts btw).

This fear that Wal-Mart will put pharmacies 30-40 miles away out of business can only be realized if these businesses are SOOOO bad that every single customer would rather drive an hour away to Wal-Mart. If the local pharmacies are that bad, they deserve to knuckle under.

It’s all political bullshit. Liberals (and Robert108) lie and spin and twist and obscure and distract and cheat to protect their guys and hurt the opposing team. It’s like wrestling. They distract the ref while their team mate hits you with a chair. There’s no rule they won’t break, no law they won’t skirt, no crime they won’t forgive as long as they can win.

I live in a small town in Alabama, we have a Super Walmart with Pharmacy, 2 CVS, 1 Wal-Greens and about 15 “Mom and Pop” Pharmacy.  The most popular in town is a Mom and Pop because the owner is a great guy and will get up in the middle of the night to fill your prescription.  You can’t beat good customer service people.  Provide good customer service and people will be a path to your door.

Jimmypop, I’m assuming you’re not familiar with small town Wal-Marts? The one where I grew up was just a regular sized store. And House Springs, MO., while a booming little town now, was a sleepy rural area. Far from putting other stores out of business, Wal-Mart was surrounded by competitors (this is true of most Wal-Marts btw).

House, MO is not a small town as far as ND goes. 800, heck 2000 is a small town. towns like house actually have fire departments with paid staff.

A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.
Thomas Jefferson

Mine is better than ours.
Benjamin Franklin

An arrogant mistake on your part.  That’s your thinking, not mine.

nice work!! way to avoid everything i said.

A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.
Thomas Jefferson

Mine is better than ours.
Benjamin Franklin

nice work!! way to avoid everything i said.

Once you made your arrogant assumption, the rest was crap.  If you think you have an argument, make it in your own words; don’t try to put words in my mouth.

If govt control of the economy were the way to go, the Soviet Union would be the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world.

Thanks to Obama, America remains the only country where it is illegal to drill our own oil!

House, MO is not a small town as far as ND goes. 800, heck 2000 is a small town. towns like house actually have fire departments with paid staff.

When I grew up there, the size of the town was less than a third of what it is now. They might have police and fire department now, but when I moved out several years ago, they were still relying on their neighbors for such functions.

It’s all political bullshit. Liberals (and Robert108) lie and spin and twist and obscure and distract and cheat to protect their guys and hurt the opposing team. It’s like wrestling. They distract the ref while their team mate hits you with a chair. There’s no rule they won’t break, no law they won’t skirt, no crime they won’t forgive as long as they can win.

Once you made your arrogant assumption, the rest was crap.  If you think you have an argument, make it in your own words; don’t try to put words in my mouth.

AHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHA! nice work.

A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.
Thomas Jefferson

Mine is better than ours.
Benjamin Franklin

Still no argument, I see.

If govt control of the economy were the way to go, the Soviet Union would be the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world.

Thanks to Obama, America remains the only country where it is illegal to drill our own oil!