Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK)

All Comments on MRK

  • commenter
    relmor
    May 05 10:51 PM
    Stay Clear of Traditional Asset Classes [view article]
    Mike, you are very naive to think healthcare can be solved by eliminating lobbyists. They go go behind closed doors then, big deal. You have to root out the problem in healthcare. The problem is, we need it too much. Heres a thinker. If you attacked the problem from the reason we all spend too much money at the doctor, we can keep the current system, and just use it 50-80 percent less. I know, you cant make people eat healthy, but you can make companies responsible for the crap they feed us. If they want high frutose corn sryup to be legal, hydrogentated oils, artifical sweeteners, etc... then they need to convince me that it is food. Food gives life, and energy. If its not food, then its taxed, like crazy. That money goes to health care. You would see a huge shift to real products made with actual food. Problem solved. Educate people on why they are given pills, what antibiodics really are, and that doctors now are nothing more than salesmen for drug companies. If you break your arm, fine. O, and cancer, curable by eating apple and peach seeds. Vitamin b17 is why we get cancer. We dont get it anymore. The lowest rate of cancer on the planet is in an area of Nepal where they actually use peach seeds as there system of currency. Through making companies responsible for the products they produce, and educating americans on the realities of health, will improve things way more than eliminating lobbyists ever will. Everything you wrote in your article I agree with. Your right on, but your a little too opptimistic, i know, you opptomistic, lol. Reply
  • commenter
    relmor
    May 05 10:42 PM
    Stay Clear of Traditional Asset Classes [view article]
    Magman, your wrong, and he is completely right. He said oil would continue to go up, and gold and gold stocks are perfect to buy soon, if not now, if the Comex raiders are going to use the sell in may and go away as a chance to skyrocket gold while everyone isnt looking, putting the 850 price buying opportunity at a very quick chance. Everything he lists is a winner. The stock market is a shell game, and its based on very little reality in most cases. For example, $45 a share for Merril Lynch? Why would I give $45 of my hard earned dollars for one share of a company that cant make money. KB Homes went up today. LOL LOL People actually think that their going to be building homes and selling them this year? That stock should be $1. All bank stocks should be priced between $.10 cents and $2, if everyone was informed correctly. Reply
  • commenter
    Plantinseeds
    May 05 06:39 PM
    Stay Clear of Traditional Asset Classes [view article]
    I think your article is great Mike. I just don't think it went far enough as too how ugly it most likely will get. I am not defending Bernake at all but he inherited a corrupt and blantantly " I don't give a crap about ethics and morals I just wanna have all the power" economy and goverment.
    To the person who stated an Armageddon style forcast by Mike, well, I can assure you that Mikes scenario as bleak as it is is not even a fraction of how bad it will be when this world gets close to tribulation times.
    I too beleive that we need to go ahead and feel that pain now. Let those that are partly responsible for this mess to loose their shorts so that we can start rebuilding.
    Ultimatley though you and I are responsible for the corrupt goverment and the power elite with no morals or ethics. Even us investors don't want to know how the money flows to our investments we just want our share too.
    I know I'm gonna catch alot of flack for this post...thats ok. I was once greedy and didn't care bout no morals either :)     Reply
  • commenter
    globalmacro
    May 05 03:55 PM
    Stay Clear of Traditional Asset Classes [view article]
    Wow, for a fairly typical bearish commentary similar to many others I've read in the last 9 months, this was a pretty good piece. I actually found myself reading most of it. I think I kept reading because you made a solid recommendation of Chinese and Latin American stocks which are clearly a great value at current levels. So, you're a reasonable fellow. Reply
  • commenter
    stockowner
    May 05 02:29 PM
    Merck, Schering-Plough Waste Money on Ineffective Allergy Drug [view article]
    Most others countries discovered years earlier that Singulair has very minimal effects on asthmatics and even less with allergic rhinitis. There is common agreement that inhaled corticosteroids are the best defense for inflammatory mediators that are found in the lungs and nasal tissues of asthmatics and allergy patients. 95% of Mercks worldwide sales of Singulair occur in the US. The company was only able to effectively market this weak medication on the backs of parents who believe the hype that kids like to take medication that is easy to swallow. I will take an inhaler who's benefit is that it will save lives over a tablet that is easy to swallow. This is an example of effective marketing by Merck. Reply
  • commenter
    exsgpguy
    May 05 02:22 PM
    Merck, Schering-Plough Waste Money on Ineffective Allergy Drug [view article]
    I worked at Schering-Plough in the 80's, 90's and 00's. I was very involved in the US pharma business and we had concluded in the early 00's that based upon studies we performed with the combo product there was no benefit vs the individual products alone. The new S-P team resurrected this "dead" product as a last gasp to prove they are smarter than previous management. All they did was waste shareholder money and FDA time. Unless they were going down the data manipulation road they tried with the ENHANCE study until they got caught. Reply
  • commenter
    iThinkBig
    May 05 01:08 PM
    My Website
    Stay Clear of Traditional Asset Classes [view article]
    You got it Mike. Also, if Washington is serious about America, it would enact an emergency energy bill of 2008. Subsidize $200 B into alternatives (coal, solar, nuke and non-corn biodiesel) from Treasury. With We the People backing the investment, investing in America again to create a viable competing market for big oil worthwile for the global investor and great for the American and global consumer. We could be such a massive exporter of energy, healthcare, education, agriculture and metals but affordable energy is key to all these things. Coincidentally, such an investment opportunity as energy would sure fix balance sheets in the banking system in a hurry. It would also create millions of jobs in the service economy rather then millions of Americans learning to dig ditches or work for $9 an hour at a final assembly plant with no benefits somewhere in east bumcluck. Reply
  • commenter
    Ordinary man
    May 05 01:01 PM
    My Website
    Former Merck CEO Prods Industry on Drug Pricing [view article]
    With the direction the medical care and the pharmaceutical industry is going, reevaluating its moral stand and humanitarian role is an absolute must. Nowadays it is more and more questionable why are these industries still allowed to be “for profit” establishments.

    Profiteering based on people’s health-sickness and life-death matters are not just completely unacceptable and a total shame; it’s plain wrong. Yet, this is exactly what is going on. It is only a matter of time, until the society will turn against such profiteering and hopefully governments will follow suite. Today, seeing the deluge of medication ads (mostly for prescription drugs) on the TV is disturbing. Why hasn’t that been banned yet? All those loopholes need to be closed! Now! This is a huge sign that profiteering and not humanitarian reasons are driving the industry’s development; that has to change.
    Reply
  • commenter
    texasgolfer
    May 05 12:59 PM
    Stay Clear of Traditional Asset Classes [view article]
    Because oil is at a "high" doesn't mean it can't/won't go higher. If the current cycle of reducing spending continues and asset values continue to decline (I have not see anyone saying they probably won't) then the government will not hesitate to raise taxes since their enlightenment must survive even at the expense of the taxpayers. Two defeatocratic candidates say they will raise taxes by not extending the tax cuts and possibly increase taxes in other "financial impact" areas including capital gain (we need change).
    Can we grow our way out of the deficits plus cover rising expense from boomer retirement and medicad/soc security cost? Maybe but probably not with our service employment based on junk food and unskilled mom/pop business, call centers, tele marketing and landscaping contractors. High school grad rates are down and we seem to be creating a society of slightly educated and somewhat educated. I teach at a community college and rarely can my classes handle reading for comprehension and 6/7th grade basic math or understand percentages. My son's speaker at his coming college graduation is a life long criminal with a triple murder conviction that was up held by a second trial and he was ultimately released as the prosecutor did want a 3rd trial after 22 years. This is suppose to inspire learning? Drive and observe many of our favorite cities and cast a very critical eye as to what progress you see. Recent employment gains seem to be government sponsored not business generated. Many public service workers seen to work for their early retirement benefits and view labor negotiations as a type of future lottery for their benefit. While I can see the writer being called too negative, I never see anyone providing a achievable solution to the areas addressed. If seems we are giving away money to home buyers are are not capable of owning a home without massive government assistance from our tax dollars probably just to keep some money from R E taxes flowing to the
    state. Most government statistics are cooked and even wall street
    knows not to believe them or rely on them for accuracy. If our elected "leaders" lie and we know it, they we have no reason to believe or support government. We can not even agree to an official English language and while we are allegedly trying to stop illegal immigration we have sanctuary cities not enforcing the laws.
    I am a Vietnam vet that fought on the rivers for the LBJ lie and I see many more dark clouds than beams of sunlight. Just seems like no one wants to lead or maybe they lack the capability and we as a nation may be just clearing our zenith and heading down. My favorite anecdotal example of change is being the only English speaker in the local post offices in Southern California including the employees. We need solutions, not the B S from Congress.     Reply
  • commenter
    Mike Stathis
    May 05 12:29 PM
    Stay Clear of Traditional Asset Classes [view article]
    Magman, just so there is no confusion, SKF is an Ultrashort Financial EFT. Hence, to take a short posture in financials, one would buy (not short) it.

    As for the treatment options to avert this potential economic catastrophe, Washington must restructure free trade and healthcare, America's biggest problems. To enable this, voters must demand an end to lobbyists donations. As long as money flows from corporations to Washington, America will be controlled by corporate America and working-class Americans will suffer.     Reply
  • commenter
    adrian
    May 05 11:36 AM
    Stay Clear of Traditional Asset Classes [view article]
    What is "Must Read" about this "News"? Reply
  • commenter
    MSmailbox
    May 05 10:41 AM
    Stay Clear of Traditional Asset Classes [view article]
    Although, this near-Armageddon scenario may not occur, so it may. This is the clearest and most coherant "big-picture"... of the possible reaction, which I've seen (read). While I would stress that this may not occur, it appears plausible and anyone would be wise to devote a portion of their investments, to address this contingency... Many things could change to make this picture somewhat better, or, even worse. I doubt whether I will have a flat tire, over the next year or two, based on my experience, however, I devote 25% of my investment in tires to address the possibility of a failure (4 active and one spare)... I would not hesitate to devote 25% of my financial investments to a defensive strategy, addressing the issues which the author raises. Are the speciific investments that he recommends, the best? I don't know, just as I don't know what brand of tires might be best, but I sure believe in carrying a spare, even though I haven't had a flat in many years.

    Excellent analysis of the elements of risk, contained within our national economy! Not a very pretty picture, but "good job" on revealing the underlying pathology, of our economically-challenge... patient, indeed! I'm not sure about the treatment options, but the prognosis is sobering and ought to affect the patients lifestyle, so long as the patient still desires to live.     Reply
  • commenter
    Old Bull
    May 05 07:56 AM
    My Website
    Stay Clear of Traditional Asset Classes [view article]
    Wow, this guy really is way ahead of the curve! Short SKF...after the financial crisis has been discounted, buy gold three years into a bull market? Buy oil when it's close to its all-time high? How can we possibly lose? Reply
  • commenter
    garyc
    May 05 12:36 AM
    My Website
    Fixing Pfizer [view article]
    I have owned shares in gnbt for the past five years and I think it is a worthwhile effort to develop a form of insulin delivery other than the NEEDLE. Also I have bought and sold gnbt several times and made some money each time. That can't be to bad! Reply
  • commenter
    Bugs
    May 04 02:33 PM
    Fixing Pfizer [view article]
    Perhaps Pfizer should pump 10 to 20 billion dollars into Washington Mutual and enter the retail banking business. Reply

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