U.S. continues to subsidize the health of the world

From a CNN report today:

"It appears they are going to get well over $1.9 billion," The Associated Press quoted Nancy Powell, the U.S. coordinator for health, science and the environment, telling reporters in Beijing.

The United States has promised more than $334 million to fight bird flu, the largest pledged by any country.

The EU on Tuesday raised its pledge to $121 million. The 25-nation bloc, which is co-hosting the conference along with China and the World Bank, initially announced a pledge of $100 million."

This isn't anything new, the U.S. is always the largest giver to similar international causes. Granted, Americans have a vested interest in preventing the spread of virus that could infect them, but no more so than the 300 million+ member EU. What is the EU only giving about a third? Well, the short answer is, they don't have much money. The EU is your friend who never leaves a tip, who always forgets the tax; you look the other way because you know things are kind of tight. Well, actually, the EU is that friend, only they constantly berate you for being too rich and greedy and think you should be ashamed of your money (not to mention never acknowledging that you've picked up the bill for their security system for the last 60 years). They try and make you feel guilty for being successful, yet whenever trouble pops up they are first in line asking for some of that "success." They talk about how "compassionate" they are vs. the greedy Americans. For instance, Canada and the EU impose certain price controls on prescription drugs (that's the mystery to why "Canadian drugs are cheaper"). The governments dictate to the drug companies what prices are acceptable and unacceptable--in response, the drug companies charge whatever they can in the one place they are allowed to (America)in order to finance their large research budgets (you know, so we can get new drugs). So Americans subsidize the drug bill for the rest of the world. The next time a Canadian starts bragging to you about his health care, just tell him a simple "thank you" will suffice.

America quietly goes along, $300 million here, several new blockbuster drugs on the cheap there. Thank goodness we're not as "compassionate" as the Europeans or the world would be in real trouble.