Are we sick or just pill crazy

I was reading an article by Melody Petersen in Sunday's Opinion section of the LA Times and came across a number that rivals the "how many times does a hummingbird beat it's wings every second" number. I can never remember the number because it seems too high and too impossible.

But a new number appeared in Ms. Petersen's article that simply blew my mind. Her article was called Pharma's queasy feeling...and dealt with the pharmaceutical industry.

In 1980 Americans spent $12 Billion on prescription drugs.
In 2003 Americans spent $197 Billion on prescription drugs.

$197 Billion dollars.

Heck that's only 197 days in Iraq.....no big deal....which brings up another number that I always seem to forget because it seems impossible.

Do we spend a billion dollars a day?
a week?
a month?

I keep forgetting and I'm not sure why I keep forgetting....mostly likely it has something to do with my anti-war viewpoints, which aren't anti-Iraq war but anti-war...PERIOD.

I think there has been some rather fancy drugs appearing on the market since 2003 so that 197 has probably ballooned to 250.

And when they talk about the cost of the Iraq war are they including the treatment needed for soldiers after they come home?

I wonder how much the pharmaceutical companies make from the government on treatment for military personal?

When one hears that a hammer can cost $600.00 then I would imagine it is safe to assume that a strong pain killer for a wounded vet could run in the five figures.

If you add all the dollars being generated by all drug dealers...legal and illegal...which includes anything that is classified as a drug....which includes the beer in your hand and the cigarette in your grandma's mouth....is there any larger industry?

I'm going to do a little research and I'll get back to you later.

How many times does a hummingbird beat it's wings per second?

Can Barack overcome Hillary's big lead in California?

Can GW's approval rating fall into the 20's by November?

Can the Dodgers win the World Series?

Does anybody really care if New England goes undefeated?

Just some of the little things that confront some of us on a daily basis.
What are some of your important questions?

A friend asked me the other day who I prayed to......and it's taking me a few days to prepare my answer...
Maybe I should take some Plaxil or Zoloft and try to come up with a great answer.....but first I'll have to stop taking the Zantac and the Lipitor and the Viagra....

And I'm wondering how it got to $197 Billion?

Just kidding....I do have a morning coffee and caffeine is a drug.

Chavez from Venezuela has a little different dealio with his chewing on COCA leaves everyday. That could explain his energy level and his certain viewpoints.

and one more time....

Iraq....is it a billion a day, a week or a month?

I do know one number that sticks in my head.....3,940 American soldiers have died to pave George and the Real Dick's Freedom Highway in a country where roads are made of sand....and now those roads are made of sand and blood.

Couldn't we just get the drug companies involved and somehow dose the entire Iraqi population of males between the ages of 18 and 30....with something to subdue their attitudes? Maybe inject it in the dates.

Imagine the increase in revenue for that drug dispersal.


Michael Timothy McAlevey