On at the very least one concern, Elon Musk and Sen. Bernie Sanders are on the identical aspect, nearly allied.
The picture appears uncommon given the ideological variations between the billionaire CEO of Tesla (TSLA) – Get Free Report and the impartial senator from Vermont.
For Sanders, an icon of the progressive left, Musk represents the image of the rising inequality between the poorest and the 1% of the very wealthy. Musk can also be, in line with the senator, the face of those that don’t pay sufficient tax. Sanders has made a profession of seeking to tax the wealthy.
“Anyone who thinks we do not have an oligarchy right here in America is sorely mistaken,” the self-described socialist lawmaker stated in a speech final March. “Multibillionaires like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson are off taking joyrides on their rocket ships to outer space.”
The serial entrepreneur has usually counterattacked his critics. And within the face of Sanders’s remarks, Musk absolutely did not sit silent.
“I keep forgetting that you’re still alive,” Musk responded to Sanders in November 2021 when the senator, who’s 81, demanded that “the extremely wealthy pay their fair share.”
He continued: “Ok, how much do you think is fair? Does 53% seem reasonable?”
Musk can also be not shy about seizing alternatives to assault progressives. Last November, for instance, the billionaire took benefit of the progressive lawmaker’s criticism of the pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly (LLY) – Get Free Report to lecture him.
Sanders Sees an ‘Outrageous Price Boost’
In view of those battles, it may be straightforward to conclude that Sanders and Musk are usually not on the identical aspect.
But biotech Moderna (MRNA) – Get Free Report has pulled off the feat of bringing them collectively — at the very least during a controversial determination.
Moderna plans to cost between $110 and $130 per dose for the covid-19 vaccine within the U.S. as soon as its authorities contract expires, Chief Executive Stephane Bancel advised The Wall Street Journal.
“I would think this type of pricing is consistent with the value,” Bancel advised the WSJ on Jan. 9.
This represents a rise of 323% to 400% as the federal government at the moment pays some $26 a dose for the most recent accessible variations of Moderna booster pictures. This will represent a brand new expense for American shoppers, who’ve to date acquired vaccines freed from cost.
Unsurprisingly, the information was badly acquired.
Sanders referred to as the worth hike “outrageous” and requested Moderna to “refrain from any price increase in light of the role the federal government has played in the development of the vaccine.”
“Your outrageous price boost will also increase private health insurance premiums. Perhaps most significantly, the quadrupling of prices will make the vaccine unavailable for many millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans who will not be able to afford it,” Sanders wrote in a letter to Bancel.
“While the price hike planned by the company would make the life-saving vaccine unaffordable for millions of Americans, estimates show that the cost of producing the vaccine is now as low as $2.85 per dose.”
Musk Amplifies Sanders’s Outrage
This outrage has simply been amplified by Musk, who took benefit of a message posted by a Twitter person to strongly criticize Moderna’s determination.
“This seems extortionately high,” the billionaire lambasted. “It also isn’t clear whether, all things considered, a second booster helps or hurts.”
The transfer comes when the epidemic appears to be selecting up once more and well being authorities concern an explosion in covid circumstances. Musk and his 125 million Twitter followers may assist increase public outrage about this controversial worth hike Moderna is contemplating. The uproar towards the corporate on social media has began.
“Shots only for the rich! Go rich go” mocked a Twitter person.
“Pure greed,” blasted one other person.
Moderna shouldn’t be alone in contemplating a rise in its covid vaccines. Pfizer (PFE) – Get Free Report stated final fall it was contemplating charging $110 to $130 per dose for its covid-19 vaccines as soon as authorities purchases finish this yr.
Moderna’s potential pricing is thus aligned with that of its most important competitor.
Source: www.thestreet.com
