Greedy Buzzards

Okay, okay, I'll admit it.  Buzzards is not the word I wanted to use, but I thought I would go easy on you.

I see a dangerous trend in our country today, and I felt compelled to blog about it.  There is a war on anyone who DARES to make money!  GASP!  The HORROR!  Who is behind this assault on capitalism you ask? Funny, some of the loudest are those making the most money!  There is a following from Hollywood, The rich millionaire left, and lawyers.  I tire of the statement that X company "Makes too much money", everyone from Wal Mart, to Exxon Mobile, to Pfizer.

"Wal Mart is evil, so buy your groceries at Sprouts!"  Hmm, let's look at some statistics.
Wal Mart Profit Margin
Sprouts Profit Margin

I don't care if you want to shop at Sprouts instead of Wal Mart, go for it!  All of those with 6 figure salaries and can afford to pay double for your groceries and necessities?  Have a ball!  Go nuts!  Unfortunately, not everyone can afford (or has the desire) to do that.

Another article I found trashed big Pharma for "creating customers, not cures".  One person commented that the drugs were prescribed with side effects that caused a patient to return for yet more drugs.  POPPYCOCK!  There are a couple of reasons this doesn't make sense:
1.)  The vast majority of extreme side effects from drugs are from patient's using the drug incorrectly (either accidentally or intentional abuse)  This is something that the drug company simply can not control.
2.)  A drug company isn't really able to say "Hey, let's put out this medication for low thyroid that causes higher cholesterol levels so we can THEN sell this same patient this medication to lower cholesterol!"  Anyone who believes a drug company is doing this, well, here's your tin hat!

Another person commented that "unnecessary drugs were being "pushed" on unsuspecting people who didn't need them, like drugs for ED or hair loss.  Once again, there is faulty logic here!  Why?  Well, let's examine this closer:
1.)  Not all ED patients are dirty old men.  A young man who has been paralyzed from the waist down can use these meds so they can, well, be a part of the marital bedroom activities.  I would say this is a good use, but that's just me.
2.)  Doctors don't stand on the street corner (or Bingo halls) and whisper to old men, "Hey, buddy, I have this drug that can make you feel like you're 19 again!"  No, patients go in and ask for the meds.  Is this medically necessary?  No.  But neither is plastic surgery, or chocolate, birth control or wine.  Let's not get into trying to legislate morals, that's another blog post.
3.)  A drug company is...wait for it...A PROFIT COMPANY!  I know!  Greedy Buzzards!  How DARE a company create a product that the consumer WANTS and will PAY MONEY for!  GASP!  The horror of it all!

I see the same arguments about oil companies, and restaurants that stay open on Thanksgiving, and...the list goes on and on.  My stand is quite simple:  Don't want to pay for it?  Don't.  We still (last time I checked) lived in a free society.  Any company/individual/organization is allowed to create a product or provide a service (within some legal limits) in order to make money.  I know I don't want the government telling me how much money I can charge for a full body Swedish massage!  If I provide a service that is legal, I have the right to charge what people are willing to pay for it.

And that is the SwampPoodles rant for today!

I'm Baaaaack!

I know some of you have fallen into a deep depression while waiting for an updated blog post from me.  For that, I apologize!  I hope the alcohol, Xanax, chocolate and 50 Shades of Grey was enough to keep you occupied while I was gone.

I have had some major life changes while gone; some good, some bad.  We lost 3 of our standard poodles and gained a newbie.  He's really cute, don't you think?  His name is "Waypoint's Sweet Child O' Mine", aka Axl.  (Fair warning- NEVER name a dog anything "sweet".  Just saying.)

I was laid off when my company decided it was cheaper to pay a group from India to do my job than it was to pay me to do it.  This was the push I needed to get out of the industry.  Since I still wasn't sure what I wanted to be when I grew up, it took me a while to find a path I was happy with.  I am now a licensed massage therapist!  (Yes, the number of people who claim me as their best friend has tripled in the time since we last spoke)  It is a refreshing change to have a job that doesn't require me to sit on expanding back side for 10 hours a day and stare at a lit up screen.

I have also found a renewed desire to complete my novel, "Guilt by Innocence".  Yes, I know, you are dying to read it just by the title.  You can't hide it from me!  I can see the glimmer in your eyes!  Now, write that title down so that when it is published you can buy it and read it.  Go on, make that note, I'll wait.  I've got time.

Done?  Great!  I can't promise to blog every day, but am motivated to get back to it.  I miss writing the shorter pieces.   Perhaps I'll post some scenes from my novel, you wouldn't want to miss that, now would you?  I didn't think so!