Prescription Drugs

Imagine a primitive society. Despite its backwards views on many issues, this civilization had an amazing knowledge of various herbs, and their medicinal qualities. These herbs had led to a dramatic increase in quality of life and longevity for the citizens of said community. But over time, a group of elders emerged as “The Keepers of the Herbs.” This group of elders, highly prized for their wisdom, often recommended particular herbs to citizens. But over time, the elders became so powerful, that they took control of all herbs, refusing access to private citizens. The only way citizens could access these remedies, was to go to the elders, and ask for permission. At first a citizen would offer a chicken, or a bushel of wheat in exchange for a few minutes with the elders, to ask permission to treat his/her ailment. But over time, the cost increased, and citizens had to pay 3 or 4 chickens, and wait up to half a day in order to meet with the council of elders for a few seconds. A few citizens tried to circumvent the elders, as the herbs themselves were quite cheap, and readily available. To prevent the downfall of their monopoly, the elders had these individuals imprisoned. Despite the fact that many citizens could no longer afford enough chickens to seek council with the elders, this elite group maintained its authority as the gatekeepers of life and death remedies to the people.

The current US requirement that a citizen go to a doctor to get a prescription forces one man to get permission from another man to treat his own body. Think about that for a second. In the United States, one man must get permission from another man to treat his own body. You can not accept that fact, and truly believe in freedom. The two are mutually exclusive. “Yeah, but without consulting a doctor, you could take the wrong drug, and possibly hurt yourself.” Congratulations. You’re absolutely right. You believe we are so stupid, that we need the government to protect us from ourselves. You’re also the reason the silica gel packet says “DO NOT EAT” all over it. You’re the reason McDonalds has to put “CAUTION! MAY BE HOT!” on their coffee cups. The reason the flight attendant has to teach you how to buckle a seatbelt. And the reason the TV channel has to tell you “Warning. Do not try this at home” before a guy lights his hair on fire and jumps over a football field on his motorcycle. You are responsible for the collective dumbing down of society. By shifting the responsibility for common sense from citizens to the government, ours is the first society (possibly in history) to almost completely eradicate social Darwinism. We vehemently protect our idiots, and by so doing, allow them to further dilute the collective gene-pool.

Amy and I recently tried to buy sea-sick patches before a cruise. Apparently there are two types. An over the counter product that causes severe drowsiness, and a far superior “Prescription Only” version without the side-effects. So $80 in co-pays, and 3 hours in a waiting room later, we finally got signed permission from one of the “elders” to avoid nausea on a boat. Seriously?! You’re OK with that? I can purchase enough tobacco and alcohol to kill an elephant, yet I can’t be trusted to make the oh so crucial “anti-nausea” decision without a clinical consult? The government deems me a responsible enough citizen to carry a loaded firearm into a crowded building. Yet I’m unqualified to wield the weapon of amoxicillin against my strep-throat?

Remember, by repealing oppressive prescription laws, you’re not taking away someone’s right to see a doctor- just the obligation. A wise individual will still see a doctor most of the time. The same way we seek professional help in every other aspect of life, without a government mandate. But when your child’s got their 4^th ear infection of the year, and they’ve been prescribed the same dose of antibiotics every time, you know exactly what the doctor’s going to recommend. And when your child’s in agony on a Friday night, you have a choice. You can pay $500 to sit in an ER/Urgent care for 5 hours waiting to speak to “the elders”, or you can let your child writhe in pain all weekend.

Just because “That’s the way it’s always been” doesn’t mean it ever made sense.