Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Should Perscription Drugs Be Allowed in TV Ads?

Q: Do you agree or disagree with Stephen King's ad? Should drug companies be allowed to advertise prescription drugs directly to consumers through TV ads?

A: I agree with Stephen King and the point he is trying to get across to Americans. He states that the American public soaks up the ideas that the TV ads show and how they will create a fast-acting relief to get rid of whatever they are advertising. It is pretty pathetic when the Merck's U.S. ad budget is far bigger then Pepsi Co. What does that tell you? These ads are showing the public what they want to see, immediate relief. When will you ever see an ad showing what could happen when using the drug for a long period of time or how it effects certain people? Never. Unfortunately, Americans get bamboozled into the quick fix they are being shown only because they WANT to believe that there is something out there to solve all their problems. Every ad has some sort of little talking animal character or showing a before and after clip of someone who has taken the drug. Stephen King made many great points to how we just soak up what is said and hope that what was said is true.

These drug ads should not be allowed to be advertised unless they show the full results of what will happen for each situation. Pharmacists are there for a reason, to be able to prescribe and give advise to people around the nation of how to cure whatever pain they are experiencing. England and many other European countries have banned the ads from their television sets, and for a good reason. They have gone through the experience of the thalidomide resulting on their community and why would they want to go through something that drastic again? Good thing we did not have those ads on our sets or the idea would of been gobbled up by the American public in a flash. Bottom line, these drug ads should not be allowed to advertise on television and sway the public to a fast acting relief idea without knowing the true potential these have. There is a reason of doctors.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Samuelson's Article

Q: What is Samuelson's point? Why does he believe this?

A: Samuel believes that we are in the same state as we were in the 1920's when the Great Depression was happening. Panic in the states, both political and economical, are overcoming the people and becoming the enemy.

Many similarities are occuring now as they were in the 1920's, but there are differences as well. one would be that the federal government is much more involved in the economy then it use to be during the Great Depression. In 1929, it was ony about 3%, but now it has grown to 20%. The Federal Government now is involved in building new roads, Social Security, and defense. Now, they are trying to contain the problem quicker then they ever have done in the past.

He focuses on the fact that many "economic slumps" have occurred since the Great Depression, but none were as bad as that. Yes, there is a greater unemployment rate, but none have been able to scale as that of the 1930's. The closest we have had is 9.0 from 1973-75 and 10.8 from 1981-82, but they still do not compare to the numbers of the 1930's. In september, we were at 6.1% unemployment.

These changes in our economy, as well as many other aspects that afffect our American society, are all because of the immense amount of money being spent, over borrowing, and overinvestment. He does not believe that it will scale as it did during the Great Depression, but the numbers will flunctuate many times before it will finally become stable.