Why not BAN pharma/heathcare advertising and political contributions?

Since big pharma and the healthcare industry claims that the costs have to be high so they can be competitive, here is a good idea to help them reduce their costs: ban any sort of advertising and any sort of political contributions.

Simple, easy and would also conveniently starve some wingnuts on the airwaves, as well as some congressmen who could then concentrate on why they were elected in the first place: the interest of the People.

I know. Will never happen. But should make for a nice smart-ass answer.

They don't want to ban it because you and I are already paying for it,

I thought it was a promise (oh well, another one...)

Seriously, America is one of the few countries that allows drugs advertising.

If a drug is good, the doctor would know and prescribe it.

Of course, they would still wine and dine doctors (which they already do), invite them golfing (which they do) and send them hookers (ok, sorry, I know...).

Advertising is tax deductible?

When did that happen? Who is responsible?

Maybe ban ALL campaign donations from corporations and cap individual donations.

You know, like in Europe.

No more stupid attack ads, smaller conventions, and back to the discourse of ideas.

The national average IQ will go over 100.

And the Supreme Court says that money equals speech, thus any ban is a first amendment violation.

No, "Europe" does not have a 1st amendment, but freedom of speech is guaranteed in pretty much all of them by law.

What I'm saying is that they have a different legal and constitutional system than we do. Unfortunately our Supreme Court has ruled that money = free speech and since freedom of speech is in the constitution, it's unconstitutional in this country to regulate political advertising like they do in Europe.

Even more unfortunate is that this decision was made under a far more liberal Supreme Court than the one we have now.

There were a lot more entertaining.

That's the total 2008 compensation for the top 10 health insurance execs.

Honestly advertising is a very small part of their expendatures. And unfortunately you cannot cut the costs where it really is expensive...In order to produce drugs safely one its a skilled profession..you need to hire people often with advanced degrees and lots fo experience..That means competitive salaries because its a field where there is more jobs than people in some places.
Two, production needs to be in aseptic monitored controlled environments..very costly...special engineering, skilled labor and obviously special handling of materials. Also, because its a HIGHLY REGULATED environment there is lots of paperwork time and money spent on compliance issues.
So while I think the idea of cutting advertising is a nice idea, in reality it won't do a thing to lower costs.