Hypothetical Question Regarding Govt. vs Individual

[Toffler]

A middle aged chemist awakens his wife in the middle of the night.

"Honey, I just figured it out. I've got an idea how to cure AIDS."

The next day he quits his job and sets up a laboratory in his basement. 3 years pass and now his wife wants a divorce. They are bankrupt. He has been inattentive to his wife and kids and has his family living in poverty.

But, sure enough, he on the 1st day of the 4th year since his quest began he has a cure for AIDS. His price: $10,000.00 per dose. His production cost is $250.00 per dose. Within days he is fabulously wealthy.

The US Government becomes irate. Senators accuse him of price gouging and preying on the poor. He is told to lower the dose or the Govt. will confiscate his cure. He replies that he has hurt no one. He claims he has only helped people previously beyond help. He argues that $10,000.00 per dose is a bargain as it is a life saver and this is priceless to most people.

Should the Govt. confiscate his cure and distribute it? Should he be forced to lower the price?

[BCPVP]

No

[HDPM]

No of course not. He should be able to charge anything he wants and it is none of the government's business.

[slamdunkpro]

Since he neither patented it or went through 5 years of FDA trials the Fed would prosecute him, and confiscate (steal) his drug. 15 years later they might let him try it

[lehighguy]

Whatever the standard patent length is.

[FishHooks]

What he said lol

[coffeecrazy1]

I agree that's what would happen, but I think the OP was talking about philosophical things, not realistic ones.

And no, I don't think the government has any right to the drug, nor to force him to sell it at x.

[Shaun]

[ QUOTE ]
A middle aged chemist awakens his wife in the middle of the night.

"Honey, I just figured it out. I've got an idea how to cure AIDS."

The next day he quits his job and sets up a laboratory in his basement. 3 years pass and now his wife wants a divorce. They are bankrupt. He has been inattentive to his wife and kids and has his family living in poverty.

But, sure enough, he on the 1st day of the 4th year since his quest began he has a cure for AIDS. His price: $10,000.00 per dose. His production cost is $250.00 per dose. Within days he is fabulously wealthy.

The US Government becomes irate. Senators accuse him of price gouging and preying on the poor. He is told to lower the dose or the Govt. will confiscate his cure. He replies that he has hurt no one. He claims he has only helped people previously beyond help. He argues that $10,000.00 per dose is a bargain as it is a life saver and this is priceless to most people.

Should the Govt. confiscate his cure and distribute it? Should he be forced to lower the price?

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely not. He is the one who sacrificed, not the government- and he should benefit from his labor. Other benefits come about because of his discovery. If the government really wants to be charitable they can buy the doses for all the AIDS patients. Individual > government.

[natedogg]

[ QUOTE ]
Should the Govt. confiscate his cure and distribute it? Should he be forced to lower the price?

[/ QUOTE ]

Only if you want to ensure that the next horrible disease never gets a cure. If you're fine with that, then by all means, take the candy now even though the store will close later.

natedogg

No. The government has no right to it.

I wonder what some of the liberals on here like Gray think about it.