Don't forget to mention the YUGE pharmaceutical lobby that has lobbied successfully for many years against the government Medicare negotiating drug prices like they do in almost every other country in the world.  US patients pay most of the drug company R&D costs.  I myself had to take a drug for 16 weeks that cost $112,000.00!  I was told by a doctor from Sri Lanka that many people here who can't afford the drug (i.e. have no insurance) go to India where the SAME drug made by the SAME company cost $1000.00 for a 12 week supply!