I heard on the radio a call for volunteers to step forward and take part in a clinical trial for a new drug to help people quit smoking. Well, that's nice. Thank goodness medical science is there to step into the breach when people are too weak-willed to do it themselves.
I mean, it's not like it would be at all helpful if any one of a number of actual diseases get cured. Oh no. Let's spend our time trying to help people stop doing something that is not only *entirely* voluntary, but is actually, explicitly and utterly proven to kill them. Good Lord! And we're supposed to stand up and cheer that they have a pill to assist these people? These people are continuing to smoke of their own free will, despite the fact that every single one of them knows it places them right on the tracks of the cancer-express from South Carolina. What's next? A pill to help people stop playing Russian Roulette? A course of medication to wean stuntmen from jumping off tall buildings?
Here's a radical idea, quit on your own and stop soaking up valuable research time and pushing up the cost of my healthcare. How about that?
It's right up there with pills to help people lose weight without needing to exercise. Sure, go ahead, eat what you want and no, no, don't ever consider actually trying to exercise. Just take two of these little beauties every day, and you'll be fine. No, don't get up. Just stay in the chair. Heck, why not lie down on the floor; it burns fewer calories to do that. Would you like me to send you a cheeseburger over?
The simple fact is, that the drug companies are pandering to our desire to have everything and pay nothing. I want to stop smoking, but I can't do it myself, that's too much like suffering. I want to be thin, but heck, you don't expect me to actually *work* for it do you? We're to blame more than they are, but they LOVE US FOR IT. THEY LOVE US.
I suppose I shouldn't complain. Maybe one day they'll produce a pill to help me quit finding Jim Carey annoying. Although even if they did, would I want to take it?