According to an article I read recently, the Canadian government is expected to crack down on cross-border trade in lower-cost prescription drugs. An estimated 2 million Americans buy mail-order drugs from Canada. President Bush met with Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin Nov. 30 in Ottawa for trade talks.

According to that article, within a week of the Bush visit, there was a complete turnaround to restart importing beef from Canada. I guess the Bush administration feels it’s OK to import everything to the U.S. except prescription drugs.

Administration officials claim it’s dangerous to import drugs, yet it’s all right to import beef that has proven to be contaminated with mad cow disease in Canada. After all, it takes up to 10 years before symptoms of mad cow disease show up. By that time, Bush and his followers will be out of office.

In the meantime, U.S. drug companies will have plenty of time to reap profits from the elderly and young.

Higher drug prices mean higher insurance rates for everyone. Maybe the drug companies will make even more money if they find a cure for mad cow disease. Maybe not.

Will Japan, who just started buying beef from the U.S., stop buying when they learn that the U.S. is importing from Canada?

Bob Soucy, Lewisto

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