PILLS for the Asking

25 Aug PILLS for the Asking

Not a day passes where one cannot avoid seeing an advertisement from Big Pharma touting their Miracle products.

Undoubtedly some of these drugs are great break throughs ranging from heart and cancer treatment drugs, and according to Mr. Trump, “Fat” drugs.

And as the music plays and one hums along, then come the disclosures in tiny print (almost impossible to read).

Some of the side-affects:

• can lower your ability to fight infections.
• may increase your risk of certain cancers.
• Blood clots in the veins of the legs or lungs and arteries can happen
• upper respiratory infections, headache, feeling tired, injection site reactions, and fungal skin infections
• may cause other fatal sicknesses
• and, oh yeah do not take if you are allergic to its unknown ingredients.

The commercials rival the classic commercials from General Motors, “see the USA in your Chevrolet”, Verizon, “can you hear me” or Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus, “the Greatest Show on Earth”; these old classics do not even come close to BIB PHARMA advertising, which are well- choreographed and upbeat and lively, with great tag likes such as “nothing is everything”.

In other words, just like aspirin or acetaminophen, this stuff can kill you, but the soothing music plays on. Oh yeah, call your doctor if side if you have side effects from taking these miracle drugs.

The jingle “nothing is everything“ rings true.

Perhaps, clearer skin or weight loss, but also nothing left in your bank account. And once you start taking these miracle pills, the recurring revenue model kicks in for Pharma.  KA-Ching, KA-Ching, and just like your waistline, your wallet gets skinnier too.

Let’s take a look at pricing for fun and grins

And yes, insurance offsets some of these costs but then so does Canadian insurance.

Gee Willikers, why does this happen?

Are the drugs less potent in Canada than in the US and why does one pay different fees whether or not you have insurance?

You would think the insurance carriers negotiated a lower rate so when you go to the drug store you pay lower rate.  Why then does the cost sky rocket back up if you do not have insurance?

All one needs to do is look at contributions made by Big Pharma to members of Congress.

Data compiled by the nonpartisan watchdog Open Secrets shows that the broader sector Pharma contributed $50 million during the 2024 election cycle, with $29 million directed to Democrats and $21 million to Republicans.

Possibly believing they had Mr. Trump’s “sows’ ear”, in 2024, Big Pharma gave the Harris campaign three times more than the Trump campaign.  (Talk about be non-partisan, Big Pharma greased the pig on both sides to manage and escape difficult political issues to assure they would not be denied their “pork”, irrespective of the winner.)   Baby-Back Ribs, anyone?

This is peanuts compared to total lobbying spend by big Pharma. According to Open Secrets, the Pharmaceutical industry spends over $300 million per year on federal lobbying alone. In just the first half of 2025, pharmaceutical and health product companies spent $226.8 million trying to influence government policy.

Obviously, the fix is in.   Money talks and big money talks, BIGGER!!

Whether lobbying the Republicans or Democrats, when confronted about the undue influence on cost of medication, Congress quickly changes the subject and the lobbying spend causes the disparity in cost and everyone pays more. The solution is to block this abusive lobbying lest we bankrupt Medicare and our health insurance premiums increase at double digits, while big Pharma profits at our expense.

Our Congress should learn from Canada. The US House and Senate should stop accepting subsidizes from big Pharma to campaign, stay in office or go on vacation.

Just a thought as

I am the dumb guy