Anderson Observer

It is highly unlikely that anyone reading this editorial today does not have a family member or close friend who took up arms for this country. Some of them did not return home, but more than 20 million did. All of us owe them a debt we cannot repay, which is why we take one day a year to remind these courageous men and women that we appreciate them.

Of the 25 million veterans:

1.7 million The number of veterans who are women.

9.5 million The number of veterans who are age 65 or older.

2.3 million The number of black veterans. Additionally, 1.1 million veterans are Hispanic; 276,000 are Asian; 185,000 are American Indian or Alaska native; and 25,000 are native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander.

8.2 million The number of Vietnam-era veterans. More than 30 percent of all veterans served in Vietnam, the largest share of any period of service. The next largest share of wartime veterans, 3.9 million or fewer than 20 percent, served during World War II.

16% Percentage of Persian Gulf War veterans who are women. In contrast, women account for 5 percent of World War II vets, 3 percent of Vietnam vets and 2 percent of Korean War vets.

32,000 The number of veterans who served during both the Vietnam era and in the Gulf War.

In addition,

Today is the day to thank those veterans for keeping us free and safe. So make that call, take a veteran to lunch and if you see a man or woman in uniform, say thank you.

As Congress continues to pile amendments onto national health care legislation at the pace of roughly 300 per week, little attention is being given to serious problems in the current structure which will likely go untouched if or when a bill makes it to law.

One such issue is the price regulation of generic drugs. At first blush, the idea appears sound, and if fact could be sound if implimented as intended. Major pharmaceutical companies are allowed a 20-year patent on drugs, which begins with clinical trials, effectively giving the companies seven to 12 years of exclusive rights to the medication. After that time, other comapanies are allowed to produce generic versions of the medication, containing identical active ingredients at, theoretically, lower costs.

Once a brand drug comes off patent, generic equivalents quickly emerge, but they cost far more than they need to because of FDA over-regulation and other factors driven mostly by greed.

Many health insurance companies require their clients to purchase generics when available, which has helped lead to companies which produce generics to inflate the price of some medications to an even higher price tag than their name brand counterparts. The hope is that many companies will produce the same generic medications, thus prompting competition. But sadly, this often is not the case. Tempted by a system which requires the purchase of generics, prices remain inflated, thus creating an ever greater burden on consumers.

The reason for high-priced generics is not because the active ingredients are expensive. On the contrary, compared with complicated nutrient extracts, the ingredients in drugs are usually synthetic chemicals that cost less than pennies a day. The culprit behind overpriced generic drugs is an archaic regulatory environment that functions to protect pharmaceutical financial interests, forcing consumers to pay artificially inflated prices for their generic medications, coupled with makes of generic drugs who see a consumer base ripe for the picking.

So as the health care debate rages on, it is time to turn our attention to things which can be fixed more quickly and with less partisan politics. New regulations requiring generic medications to reveal the cost of production of the almost-as-good medications would be a start, followed quickly by price regulations which reflect such production costs.

The annual cost of prescribed medication has more than doubled since the late 1990s to nearly $200 billion last year. Curbing these costs through regulating the cost of generic drugs would be one step in the right direction.

NEXT: Health Care Regulations Cripple Care

Tuesday night Anderson County Council rightly disarmed a proposed ordinance which would have made it illegal to shoot any firearm within 300 yards of a residence or business in unincorporated areas of the county. Though County Councilman Tom Allen likely had the best of intentions in presenting the ordinance, even he had to know the chances of such a law passing in a county where the majority of folks are gun owners was less than slim.

No question the combination of growth and the lack of countywide zoning has created some strange population densities across the county. There are numerous places in incorporated areas where subdivisions back up to farm land and other open acreage creating the potential for problems during hunting season or other times when someone may be target shooting on their property. Anderson County Sherfiff John Skipper reported to council that 982 shots fired incidences were called in during the past year, with only 276 leading to further investigation. But just because no serious injuries or deaths have been reported, council was also correct to aks for further study on thei issue, particularly in relation to those areas of dense population growth.

Meanwhile laws are already in place to take care of those who are reckless, careless or malevolent with firearms in Anderson County. Aggressive inforcement of such laws is a far more reasonable approach to the problem than infringing on the rights of the overwhelming number of our neighbors who who are responsible gun owners and do not deserve such restrictions on their own property.

The South Carolina Budget and Control Board's decision to cut all state agency budgets by 4 percent is yet another example of government of expediency.

Hard to imagine any thoughtful process which would have led to the conclusion that all state agencies provide comparably essential services. Take a look at the list for yourself and decide http://sc.gov/Portal/OrgList.aspx

Some, such as the Board of Cosemtology, were scheduled to sunseted in the 1980s, but remain due to bobtailing legislation and special considerations. Meanwhile other agencies, such as the state Fire Academy receives the same level of reduction in budget. The cut will also cut another $85 million from the state's public schools.

The cuts also mean more problems for colleges, health care and prisons. In a little more than a year, more than $1.3 billion has been slashed from spending as the recession pounded tax collections.

The Board is made up of the Governor, the Treasurer, the Comptroller General, the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and the Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee.

These members of the budget and control board have had months to consider which agency budgets to trim and by how much. To make across the board cuts reflects a lack of wisdom and leadership at a time we so badly need direction.

If you are one to express your opinion and agree we expect better from this board, let them know. Here is there contact information:

SC Budget and Control Board
Box 12444 · Columbia, SC 29211
(803) 734-2320 | FAX:(803) 734-2117

This Labor Day weekend kicks off with a new event, one which we hope becomes our annual activity to say goodbye to Summer.

On Saturday, the "Tour De La France" will offer a 13.74-mile Bicycle trek, which begins at 8 a.m. at La France Elementary School, and a mini-ride of 1.8 miles for beginners and chidren, which begins at the Great Escape and ends at the Anderson County Farmer's Market. Electric City Transit will provide transportation back to the school or the Great Escape.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Cancer Association of Anderson. So dust off your old bike and go register today.