Tuesday, December 21, 2004, 6:19pm
Tuesday, December 21, 2004, 6:19pm
Tonight is one of those rare times when I’m late to the station and the train is even later. Underway soon, the 6:05pm Express will probably wind up being the unofficial 6:20 Express.
This morning’s bitter cold has softened to a balmy 33 degrees and predictions for the next day or two are downright tropical by comparison – in the forties tomorrow and fifties on Thursday. After Thursday, hell can freeze over for all I care, since after Thursday I’ll be on-vacation till January 4th with no need for an arctic expedition to Ashland Station until then.
I didn’t mention this morning how Monday this week was a day spent in Ashland because the train schedule wouldn’t get me home in time for a doctor’s checkup later in the day. Later that morning the appointment was canceled and rescheduled for Christmas Eve morning. By then I’ll be far from the MBTA railroad schedule with little more than sugarplums and coffeecake dancing in my head.
Enough of the future, it is but an idea and a promise and little more.
On some level we pay attention to media news to improve our odds in a world full of uncertainty. Today’s latest example is about yet another chronic pain-reliever suspected of causing heart attacks and strokes. The big news isn’t the drug. It’s how the government reacted. Like an old pooch catching whiff of a passing skunk (and with a promise of human cuisine not far behind) the FDA suddenly lurched from its customary industry-lapdog position onto all-fours, touching manicured claws to earth – striking the posture of an obligatory attack-dog.
Perhaps the greatest oxymoron of all is ‘government action.’
Why do this? Why would the FDA turn on the very hand spoon-feeding them? It was easily fabricated bluster, little more than a required feign with no real harm done, and the ‘hand’ knew this all along and expected it and even wanted this to happen for the sake of political public relations value.
The FDA, on the other hand, needed to safeguard their credibility and reputation just as any sort of watchdog worth its salt. After all, even the kindest and most obedient animal sometimes growls at its owner from the other side of a closed door – to say that it’s still alive and should not be forgotten when feeding time comes around. Also, I must presume also that a number of administrators within the FDA actually consider the health and well being of ordinary people. After all, not everyone in government forgets the notion of public service or the realization that they still work for individual Americans.
Yet the institutionally minded at FDA who run the show are not high-minded like this and they will disown their cozy industry relationships first and foremost out of self-preservation once a lighthouse of media attention comes swinging their way – reacting much like a cop with a hooker zipping his pants just in time to make a more credible arrest – until the lighthouse beam swings some other way.
Once the high-profile lawsuits are settled and the spotlight ebbs, FDA climbs back into its drug industry loft with rubber stamp in hand and nose to the wind sniffing for new trouble brewing.
This is not being cynical. This is simply how things work whenever the government attempts to regulate extraordinarily powerful industries.
With respect to individual uncertainty and the oft-obsessive reactions to health risks, drug companies cultivate a public relations myth that can never be met – ‘Buy our drugs – and live forever! Listen to the government watchdogs – and die today!‘
In reality, we’re a lot better off facing reality – admitting to how there is no way to completely alleviate suffering or prevent death in the long run – or attempt either of those objectives without serious risk-taking in the meantime. Doctors try to tell us that most people would be better off with regular exercise and decent food. Most minor health issues arise from disuse more than injury.
In a city so unfriendly to cars it’s no mystery why so few obese people walk the streets of Boston. We can’t be obese and easily get where we need to go. That’s not such a bad situation either. Once I adjusted my schedule accordingly the walking portion of my commute is the healthiest part of my day, and as far as I can remember I’ve never felt inclined to take a pill for some random walking ache or pain. I accept a little bit of discomfort because I accept that I am mortal.
Medications can be useful. It’s the willy-nilly prescribing that is harmful and ineffective.
Anyhow, the train is running fast and we’re we’re approaching Ashland sooner than expected, so I need to pack up for my fast walk into the night.
