Comments on: It’s not a conspiracy, take off the foil hat.

By: Son of Grok

Son of Grok — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:06:06 +0000

While my wife is convinced that the governement is slowly trying to kill off the population with medication and poor nutrition advice, I prefer to think that we are just victims of our own capitalism. I think that the food industry and the drug industry ARE larely behind the health crisis in America. BUT I believe that they are motivated simply by making money. Big business. I don’t think the motives are anymore sinister than that. Taking advantage of a system for profit… sure then maybe. Taking advantage of peoples laziness, gullibility (lol is that even a word) then maybe. Lets be honest… there is money to be made in bad health and medicine. Until people wake up and take responsibility for themselves then it wont change. You can’t really effectively try to protect people from themselves. Then you are addressing a symptom and not the problem.

The SoG

By: cmason

cmason — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:05:16 +0000

Thanks for the add! There are a number of blogs I’ve been reading lately that I plan on adding to my blogroll when I update it next, yours is certainly among them. I’d add your blog for your banner graphic alone.

I agree completely with you that their marketing tactics are questionable, if not at times outright criminal. (Naturally the drug companies are trying to wash their hands of any role in the story I linked).

So I think we’re in agreement. I’m not trying to give the companies a pass for exploiting people’s gullibility. I’m just saying that that is all they’re doing – they’re pandering to people looking for a quick fix. This isn’t OK, but there’s a big difference between than and a conspiracy to keep people unhealthy.

By: DR

DR — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:36:37 +0000

Chris,

Loved your post…and your comments on my blog.

I won’t speak for my commenters, but seeing as it was my post about the obesity drug market that got the ball rolling, I thought that I should chip in my 2 cents.

Personally, while I don’t ascribe to any sort of conspiracy theory, I do think that the drug companies are full of crap when it comes to the efficacy of their obesity/weight loss drugs.

I am a real geek for this stuff and over the years i have developed friendships with a bunch of people involved in the most bleeding edge research into obesity.

And they are nowhere near understanding all of the science behind obesity. It seems like the more they learn, the more they realize that obesity is waaaaayyyy to complex for a “magic pill” solution.

But, the drug companies (and the diet book authors, supplement manufacturers and diet services) have no problem telling us that their drug is that magic bullet we’re all waiting for.

For that reason, I consider their marketing efforts to be dishonest at best.

They know that their products aren’t going to work nearly as well as eating right, supplementing right and exercising right.

And they also know that most people are lazy and either hopeful or stupid. They want the easy solution to obesity that only a pharmaceutical can provide.

I look forward to your comments at my blog…and i think my readers will definitely find this post (and others) very interesting, so I am adding you to my blogroll

By: Kelly Turner

Kelly Turner — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:45:52 +0000

i dont think a company selling their product and doing everything they can to make sure they are number one is a conspiracy- its called business. supply and demand. I am so sick of people blaming faceless corporations for their problems. its the tail wagging the dog. a friend of mine is a pharm. sales rep and i dont think that gives anyone that has high blood pressure the right to run up to her on the street and blame her for their daily pills.

if you really think the food and drug industries are responsible for our health crisis, perhaps you can make a few trips to the gym and the produce aisle and get off those meds that are being “forced” down your throat.