Just to add some facts to the debate - I found some numbers that show just how much we spend on research. Here's a Wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care
In section 2:
Quote:
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In terms of pharmaceutical R&D spending, Europe spends a little less than the United States (€22.50bn compared to €27.05bn in 2006) and there is less growth in European R&D spending. Pharmaceuticals and other medical devices are the leading high technology exports of Europe and the United States. However, the United States dominates the biopharmaceutical field, accounting for the three quarters of the world’s biotechnology revenues and 80% of world R&D spending in biotechnology.
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