To: Members of the U.S. House of
Representatives Judiciary Committee
I am writing in my capacity as publisher
of TodaysSeniorsNetwork, a compilation
of leading informational web sites
dealing with issues facing an aging
America, to urge you to vote against the
so-called Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)
markup to be considered by the House
Judiciary Committee Thursday, December
15, 2011.
As presented, the markup will result in
depriving all Americans—especially
Seniors—from their only option to escape
the high prices of prescription
medicines in the U.S., the highest in
the world by denying them access to
safe, affordable medicines from
reputable, licensed, registered
pharmacies in Tier One Countries whose
standards of safety and efficacy meet or
exceed those of the U.S.
This is because of ceding of
prosecutorial authority to the
Pharmaceutical industry to initiate
unmerited actions against millions of
American citizens for whom personal
importation of prescription medicines
has provided health benefits that would
otherwise be denied them simply because
they cannot afford their medicines.
SOPA ostensibly is designed to protect
the intellectual property rights of
American manufacturers, a commendable
goal. But, to support SOPA as presented
in the markup would endanger the health
and well-being of Americans, all under
the guise of ‘protecting’ them from
‘bogus’ pharmacies and counterfeit
drugs.
This ignores the fact that for more than
a decade, millions of Americans have
exhibited their capability to act in a
responsible manner to purchase safe
medicines from outside the U.S.
Ironically, SOPA would likely benefit
only the bogus pharmacies that the
legislation claims to want to shut down
by doing just the opposite and forcing
legitimate pharmacies out of business,
leaving the next rash of bogus
pharmacies to fill the void that will be
created, thereby endangering the health
of Americans even more.
Added to the many flaws of SOPA is that,
should it be enacted the health of the
many Americans for whom personal
importation offers access to vital
medicines would rapidly decline,
generating not only the loss of their
right to the health that access to a
regimen of vital medicines provides,
but also would create additional costs
and burdens of care upon an already
strained American health system.
Fortunately, there is an alternative.
The OPEN legislation being forwarded by
Representative Darryl Issa (R-CA) and
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) is a
thoughtful, well-considered approach to
distinguishing the real issues of the
challenge of protecting American
intellectual property rights, without
the necessity of another, equally
serious type of infringement—one upon
the health of the American public.
Thank you for your consideration of this
position.
Daniel Hines
Publisher
