Look to Canada for drug pricing sense

For the past few days we have heard plenty from all sides about the increase in price for EpiPen (“EpiPen Increase Reignites Debate Over Drug Pricing,” Aug. 24). The price of a two-pack of EpiPens increased from about $100 to more than $600. In my opinion, we are partly to blame. Most of us want things that cost less. We also want government to stay out of our lives. We do not want government to control prices. We believe in a free-market economy. The list is never ending.

Then comes the news about the EpiPen and a dramatic price increase since 2007. Of course, Mylan looks bad and its CEO passes the blame to others.

In order to do some checking, I looked up the Toronto Star, a Canadian newspaper. The EpiPen is in the news in Canada, too. However, Canadian citizens can buy a single EpiPen for $100. It is made by Mylan but distributed locally by Pfizer. A spokesperson for Pfizer states that it does not anticipate a price increase for the EpiPen in Canada because of regulation by the Patented Medicine Price Review Board.

We need to ask our politicians why we cannot buy the EpiPen here in the U.S. for $100 or legally buy it from Canada. When you get their answer, please let me know. ABBEY VIJLEE

Kennedy Candidates, Poll Finds,” Aug. 21) would be no surprise in a normal presidential election. But I find it difficult to believe that in this election some Catholics would view Hillary Clinton’s stand for a woman’s right to choose, which is a fundamental health issue, as the moral dividing line justifying a vote for the amoral, ignorant and dangerous Donald Trump.

Ms. Clinton certainly is no saint, and I personally have serious issues with some of her actions, but there can be no doubt she has the intellectual capacity, experience, gravitas and demeanor to move this country forward in these uncertain times.

Mr. Trump, by extreme contrast, has no knowledge of critical world events and no interest or even the capacity to grasp these issues.

His cutthroat business experience is of absolutely no relevance to governing, and he jokes and is sarcastic while campaigning for the most powerful position on Earth. His bullying and demeaning attitudes (such as the border wall and establishment of an immigration deportation force) would set this country back decades. BRIAN RAMPOLLA

Whitehall

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was “simply wrong.”

FactCheck did an extensive investigation, including discussions with Charity Navigator and CharityWatch, two independent organizations that rate charities (see posting by Robert Farley on FactCheck.org, June 19, 2015). Both agencies stated that the Clinton Foundation is a public charity and is required to file IRS Form 990, which is available for public inspection. Analyzing this document, the rating agencies determined that the amount spent on “charitable works” was around 80 percent. This can be compared with a national average of about 75 percent for a typical charity. The overall rating of the Clinton Foundation by CharityWatch for 2015 is A, the highest rating.

Anyone who reads the PostGazette knows that Jack Kelly takes any and every opportunity to trash the Clintons. However, he should be required to use statements that are true in pursuit of that objective. HARRY L. MORRISON

Hempfield