--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every American has got to recognize, we…" description: "\"Every American has got to recognize, we are the only major country on Earth not to guarantee health care to all people. We pay by far the highest price..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ea/john-lewis-1310_care_every-american-has-got-to-recognize-we-a_1114734.jpg" --- # Every American has got to recognize, we are the only major… ![“Every American has got to recognize, we are the only major country on Earth not to guarantee health care to all people. We pay by far the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs because the pharmacy, the pharmaceutical industry is out of control ripping us off.” quote by John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ea/john-lewis-1310_care_every-american-has-got-to-recognize-we-a_1114734.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ea/john-lewis-1310_care_every-american-has-got-to-recognize-we-a_1114734.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ea/john-lewis-1310_care_every-american-has-got-to-recognize-we-a_1114734.jpg) > “Every American has got to recognize, we are the only major country on Earth not to guarantee health care to all people. We pay by far the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs because the pharmacy, the pharmaceutical industry is out of control ripping us off.” [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The U.S. uniquely lacks universal health care, leading to exorbitant drug prices due to unchecked pharmaceutical power. **In simple terms:** America lacks universal health care, causing high drug costs. Key Takeaway Advocate for health care reform. Themes health care justice economics policy Mood urgent determined Type political advocacy When to use this quote - voting - activism - patient advocacy Key Concepts public health government accountability Questions to Reflect On - What policies could lower drug prices? - How can citizens influence health care legislation? A Different Perspective Implementation faces political opposition and funding challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Drugs Pharmacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs-pharmacy-2988445/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Guarantees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guarantees/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majors/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pharmaceutical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pharmaceutical/) [Pharmaceutical industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pharmaceutical-industry/) [Pharmacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pharmacy/) [Prescription drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prescription-drugs/) [Prescriptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prescriptions/) [Prices World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prices-world-2824111/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Prescription](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-prescription-635939/) ## Related quotes > [Let's ask why it is that we pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs, and your medicine can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/let-s-ask-why-it-is-that-we-pay-by-far-the-highest-prices-in-the/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I do not accept the belief that the United States of America and our government can't stand up to the ripoffs of the pharmaceutical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-do-not-accept-the-belief-that-the-united-states-of-america-and-our/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [We try to remember that medicine is for the patient. We try never to forget that medicine is for the people. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-merck/we-try-to-remember-that-medicine-is-for-the-patient-we-try-never-to/) [George W. Merck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-merck/) > [It is simply no longer possible to believe much of the clinical research that is published, or to rely on the judgment of trusted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-angell/it-is-simply-no-longer-possible-to-believe-much-of-the-clinical/) [Marcia Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-angell/) > [That's one of my issues with the pharmaceutical industry - they believe pharmacy is a panacea for absolutely everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-layfield/that-s-one-of-my-issues-with-the-pharmaceutical-industry-they-believe/) [John Layfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-layfield/) > [Love is a medicine for the sickness of the world; a prescription often given, too rarely taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-a-medicine-for-the-sickness-of-the-world-a-prescription-often/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The cost of prescription drugs in this country is far, far higher than in any other country. 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Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) ## More by John Lewis > [ I happen to believe that this election year \[2016\] is...one of the most important elections that we're going to face in a very long… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-happen-to-believe-that-this-election-year-2016-is-one-of-the-most/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [If you're not hopeful and optimistic, then you just give up. You have to take that long hard look and just believe that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/if-you-re-not-hopeful-and-optimistic-then-you-just-give-up-you-have/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [The reward for playing jazz is playing jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/the-reward-for-playing-jazz-is-playing-jazz/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [I am very, very hopeful about the American South - I believe that we will lead America to what Dr. King called 'the beloved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-am-very-very-hopeful-about-the-american-south-i-believe-that-we/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [ \[Donald Trump's inauguration\] will be the first one that I miss since I've been in Congress. 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Now we have to create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/now-we-have-black-and-white-elected-officials-working-together-today/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [“For me, the nomination of Barack Obama as a candidate for president and his inauguration in Washington represents a brief glimpse at the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/for-me-the-nomination-of-barack-obama-as-a-candidate-for-president/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [Too many people struggled, suffered, and died to make it possible for every American to exercise their right to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/too-many-people-struggled-suffered-and-died-to-make-it-possible-for/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [The vote is precious. 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