Harvenut Puritan Guest Rants

'Candy For Everyone'

So I was in the drug store the other day, trying to get cold medication. You ever try to pick one of these out? It's not easy. It's a wall of cold medication, you stand there, you're going Alright, alright, alright, okay, what the hell--this is quick acting but this is long lasting, when do I want to fell good, now or later? Opening Monologue, Seinfeld, "The Stranded" Season 3, Episode 10, 1991.

It really spell bounds me with all the medical and scientific advances over the years there is still no cure for the common cold. All of us have frequented drug stores and it's safe to say it is overwhelming when we see the vast amounts of "remedies" for illnesses especially the common cold.

Benylin has five different cough syrups: cough and chest congestion, dry cough, mucus and phlegm, chest congestion and cold and cough control. Dimetapp has three cough syrups: runny nose and sneezing, dry cough and nasal congestion. Tylenol has various "treatments" such as cold and flu severe day/night, regular strength, extra strength, eight hour muscle aches and pains, cold max and cold and head.

According to Drugwatch.com the global market for pharmaceuticals topped $1 trillion in sales in 2014. The world's ten largest drug companies generated $429.4 billion in revenue.

Johnson and Johnson is a leading pharmaceutical enterprise. It was founded in 1886 and their headquarters is located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The company employs 127,100 people and has a revenue of $79.07 billion. An article in Forbes June 4/15 stated they had $16.3 billion in profit, $131 billion in assets and $276 billion in market value.

The drug establishment Boehringer Ingelheim was founded in 1885. They are located in Ingelheim Rhein, Germany where they employ 47,000 people. In 2014 their revenue was $19,551,000,000 Canadian dollars.

In 2011 they took quite a risk spending $464 million on advertising their blood thinner Pradaxa. It turned out to be a tremendous gamble...the following year the drug passed over the $1 billion sales mark according to Drugwatch.com.

You could say the F.D.A. (Food and Drug Administration) is the overseer of all pharmaceutical companies. However they are responsible for protecting public health by assuring the safety, efficiency and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, the United States (U.S.) food supply and cosmetic products that emit radiation.

It was founded on June 30/06. Their headquarters is located in Silver Spring, Maryland and has 223 field offices and 13 laboratories and employs just under 15,000 people. It's 2012 budget was $4.36 billion. Some of the F.D.A. is funded by tax payers but most of their budget arrives from user fees which are paid by drug companies.

Pharmaceutical companies have a flourishing operation. According to Health Impact News the U.S. ranks 49th in the world for life expectancy but 1st in health care costs. Americans spend more than $230 billion a year on over the counter prescription drugs and drug companies cause 106,000 deaths annually.

Another article from Health Impact News started with the statement, what class of drugs:

- causes more deaths a year than heroin and cocaine combined.

- killed 16,000 Americans in 2010.

- adds $72.5 billion a year from misuse to the U.S. health care system.

- according to the C.D.C. (Center for Disease Control) directly contributed to a sharp rise in the U.S. suicide rate.

- all have been approved by the F.D.A.

We've all seen T.V. (television) commercials where the drug companies are advertising their prescription medication. Is it just me or does it appear that half of the ad is describing the possible side effects from these drugs they can produce.

Some of these repercussions (I'm not talking about nausea or drowsiness) are truly frightening and scary. It's difficult for me to believe that medication is suppose to ease a person's illness but may also kill them with the possible reactions such as stroke, suicidal thoughts or heart condition. At times, it's not much of a choice, take the drugs, you may die, don't take the drugs, you may also die.

Quite often we see television commercials where lawyers are taking pharmaceutical businesses to court. They are representing clients who have consumed faulty drugs that the F.D.A. has approved. Drugwatch claims the F.D.A. is required to only endorse drugs that have greater benefits than dangers.

Earlier in the rant I mentioned the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim that developed the blood thinner Pradaxa to reduce strokes in 2010. The following is from Drugwatch. In 2011, 540 patients died from using Pradaxa. Boehringer Ingelmeim agreed to pay $650 million which averaged out to $162,500 to each claimant. What I can't understand is in 2012 Pradaxa sales hit $1.5 billion...I don't get it.

The following is the dialogue from a cartoon by Michael Higgins from Cancer Treatment Watch.

Researcher #1 - I just found a cure for cancer.

Researcher #2 - Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear that.

Researcher #1 - No, I said a cure for cancer, not that I have cancer.

Researcher #2 - Yes I know, now we'll both be out of a job.

Researcher #1 - Hmmm...Maybe I haven't found a cure.

Researcher #2 - Phew! You had me worried for a moment.

It also amazes me and I'm highly suspicious "they" haven't found a cure for cancer either. I found the You Tube video by Len Richmond titled "What IF Cannabis Cured Cancer," thought provoking. The clip stated in 1974-75 at the Medical College of Virginia a study led by Dr. Albert Munson discovered T.H.C. (tretahydrocannabinal) slowed down the growth of three kinds of cancers: lung, breast and virus induced leukemia induced in mice. A short time later the research was shut down as well as any other testing of anti-cancer qualities of marijuana by the Government...very strange and unusual, wouldn't you say?

My E.A.'s (Executive Assistant) niece died from cancer in 2001...she was thirteen years old. Obviously it was a trying, stressful and hellish time for the sweet innocent teenager and her loving, adoring and affectionate parents.

My E.A. and myself travelled to the G.T.A. (Greater Toronto Area) to visit her niece a couple of months prior to her passing. She was so good natured, extremely pleasant, remarkably friendly and amicable, no one would have ever known this delightful and thoughtful darling knew she wasn't going to be celebrating her fourteenth birthday.

I recall she was wearing a scarf around her head, probably from her chemotherapy treatment and watching the T.V. sitcom Fullhouse (1987-1995) starring Bob Saget and the Olsen twins. Whenever I see 'bits or pieces' of Fullhouse I immediately think of that pleasant and warm hearted little girl we would never see again.

It's dreadful and horrible that people have contracted cancer or have a loved one pass away or dying from the death dealing terminal disease. Medications for serious health issues are exceedingly expensive and cancer drugs are no different,

My E.A.'s niece's parents were spending thousands of dollars a month for the 'so called treatments'...kind of a false hope from the drug companies and Government don't you think? However any one of us who were in a heart breaking predicament like that would do the same thing...the dismal thought about that scenario is again the pharmaceutical outfits are earning millions and possibly billions of dollars.

Sadly the trumped up wish was a failure...the cancer won the battle against my E.A.'s niece. Hopefully she is in a painless, peaceful and happy world...R.I.P. and God rest your soul sweetie.

Kevin Trudeau (no relation to our vain and teenage Prime Minister) wrote a book in 2005 titled "Natural Cures They Don't Want You To Know About." I never did read his novel but I watched a few of his infomercials.

On one of his episodes he stated the University of Calgary in Alberta discovered the cure for cancer in 1972. He went on to say when the F.D.A. heard about the magnificent triumph they paid the institute millions and millions of dollars to keep the achievement, shall we say, hush hush. He has also stated there are twelve known cures for cancer.

Some of the authorities such as New York City Trade Commission, I.R.S. (Internal Revenue Service), the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission and especially the F.D.A. whole heartedly disapproved of Kevin Trudeau.

These powerful agencies did everything within their capabilities to charge him with some sort of criminal offense. Finally they had their day. On March 17/14 Kevin Trudeau was convicted of criminal contempt and sentenced to ten years in prison.

There are many articles on the internet (most of them negative) about Kevin Trudeau. Is this guy a shyster and scammer? The government certainly thought he was a swindler or were they threatened by his existence and beliefs?

Isn't it unusual and peculiar Evangelists Ernest Angley, Benny Hinn and Peter Popoff who claim to heal people appear to be bomb proof from any government harassment...strange, very strange.

Getting back to Trudeau and his statement about cancer and the University of Calgary...do I believe his story? I'm not saying yes and I'm not saying no. All I know from fact cancer medications are truly and supremely expensive and the drug companies and F.D.A. have a thriving, profitable and rewarding corporation...they are a cartel.

H.I.V. (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or better known as A.I.D.S. (Acquired Immune Deficiency) has intrigued me for quite a while.

I recall watching Frank Zappa (1940-1993) on the Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson back in the late 1980's. Johnny asked Frank, "where do you think A.I.D.S. came from?" Zappa replied with three answers, (1)A.I.D.S. was accidently let out of a government lab, (2)A.I.D.S. was purposely let out of a government lab, and (3)A.I.D.S. came from outer space. As bizarre as his answers may seem to be to some people, Frank Zappa was an exceptionally intelligent individual.

I don't find his number one and two answers far fetched at all. Drastically diminish the population but at the same time pharmaceutical companies and the F.D.A. are prospering from the medication income the A.I.D.S. patients are purchasing trying to prolong their lives.

There have been conspiracy theories about A.I.D.S. and H.I.V. I happened to read a few on M.S.N. (Canada) months ago. One claim stated A.I.D.S. and H.I.V. was actually created by none other than the United States Department of Defence in order to make the pharmaceutical industry wealthier and reduce the global population, exactly what I previously said.

Another concept was W.H.O. (World Health Organization) created the virus in 1974 and some theorists believe H.I.V./A.I.D.S. is caused by the very drugs that are meant to treat it...again, you be the judge.

About fifteen years ago a work friend mentioned to me he had a buddy who was employed in a laboratory at a Mississauga Ontario hospital. His pal said there is a cure for A.I.D.S. but "they" don't want to reveal the remedy.

Planned Parenthood H.I.V./A.I.D.S. had an article which stated the following: there is currently no cure for H.I.V./A.I.D.S. But there are treatments for people living with H.I.V./A.I.D.S.

The write up continued to say A.I.D.S. patients can take combinations of medicines called "cocktails". They are very EXPENSIVE, may have 'serious side effects' and may not be 'available' to 'everyone' They 'only work' for 'some people' and 'only work' for 'limited periods of time'.

Notice I capitalized the word expensive. Just like cancer medication A.I.D.S. medicine is extremely costly. When folks find out the horrible news that they or a loved one has contracted a fatal disease, they become desperate...it's human nature.

If there is any hope, even the slightest chance the medication may work, they may go to extremes to pay for the drugs...it's literally a do or die situation and the drug companies, well, they continue to grow with fortune.

The pharmaceutical operation pays doctors who prescribe drugs to their patients. An article in Consumer Reports Sept. 30/14 stated new government data showed more than 500,000 U.S. physicians have industry ties to drug companies.

The National Post stated in their article on March 28/16 that ten Canadian based drug companies have agreed to divulge how much cash they hand over to physicians and health organizations each year.

A very good friend of mine swallows at least twenty different prescription drugs every day. He said to me one day, "I don't even know why I'm taking half of these pills", and his ankles are swollen like mini tree trunks.

We all know there are some powerful and mind altering and controlling drugs on the market. My friend (I just indicated) and neighbour (R.I.P. and God rest your soul) experienced unspeakable and horrifying nightmares, literally screaming and yelling in maximum fear and terror while they were prescribed certain medication.

Less than ten years ago I had knee surgery...my A.C.L. (acute cruciate ligament) was completely snapped. I was given a mild tranquilizer before my operation. It took about five minutes to "kick in" and then "PRESTO"...I was in seventh heaven, entirely relaxed and calm. The world was a lovely, splendid and wonderful place...I didn't have a worry in the world. To this day, I could very easily become addicted to those "magic pills".

Epilogue

As we become older, doctors will be "feeding" us more drugs...it's a world wide reality. I believe there is a cure for cancer, A.I.D.S. and even the common cold. There is vast amounts of scientific technology, enormous quantities of resources and knowledge for there not to be cures for some illnesses. I am also convinced there are natural cures for some ailments but the government, as usual, is playing games with us and the drug companies are enjoying an exceedingly lucrative enterprise on behalf of the population,

The End

The Harvenut Puritan Project