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When many of us were youngsters back in the 1940s and ‘50s, there wasn’t much need for a great deal of medical care. For most adolescents, the only time we ever saw a doctor was to get stitches or set a broken bone. We got a few “baby shots,” a polio shot in the ‘50s, and perhaps a tetanus shot if we were playing barefooted and stepped on a rusty nail.
As we older folks begin to start showing our age more and more, the need for medical care becomes more acute. Unlike me, my Grandpa Jones was quite a healthy specimen right up until his death at almost 90 years old. I suppose much of his longevity can be attributed to a lot of hard manual labor on the farm. He also had no problems with alcohol or tobacco use, and in addition he had to have had overall good genes. Dr. Russell used to prescribe him a “rest medicine” pill for his aches and pains, and if he was having a “sick spell” from the consumption, he’d prescribe some penicillin — “pen-cil’-yen” as Grandpa called it. Having been discovered only a few years before he died, Grandpa thought of it as a miracle drug. When compared to the average elderly person of today, he took almost no medications.
About 10 years ago during a doctor visit, I was told that my cholesterol and my blood pressure were both getting a bit high. I was also informed that I two options to resolve my dilemma. I could either radically change my lifestyle and eating habits or I could take a couple of pills each morning. After carefully studying the situation for just under a nanosecond, I decided to become a drug addict.
I’ve read that America has become the most overmedicated society in the history of the world, and that only takes into consideration the legal prescription drugs. Factor in the illicit dope trade, and it’s no wonder we’re rapidly destroying the greatest nation of all time. Medication side effects are supposedly the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. annually. In addition, over 100,000 of these deaths are a result of taking medications correctly, as prescribed. If we actually knew how many other mistakes were covered up, I’m sure we’d be astounded.
Today there seems to be a pill for everything — if not, just wait until next month and big pharmaceutical corporations will provide one. These drug manufacturers flood the airwaves with ads and have an army of attractive well-dressed representatives scouring the facilities of healthcare providers to ensure the prescription drug trafficking goes on to the next level. Instead of being taught discipline and respect, our children are being medicated to control behavior. A huge segment of the population is taking antidepressant medication to be able to cope with today’s stresses. Others, like me, instead of changing diet and behavior, choose to take pills instead.
Just like Ponce de Leon, we’re all looking for the Fountain of Youth, and the easy way to get there. There seems to be a magic potion just around the corner for all our woes. We just have to figure out how to find it. Hey, maybe there’s an app for it that I can download to my smart phone. If I had one...
Larry M. Jones is a retired Navy Commander and aviator who raises cattle and hay in the Brock/Lazy Bend part of Parker County. Comments may be directed to nowhearthis@pwhome.com.
Viewpoints
COLUMN: Better living through chemistry
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Letters to the Editor – May 23, 2013
America is being destroyed by voter fraud and the buying of votes by the followers of Karl Marx.
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CNHI EDITORIAL: Seizure of AP phone records an insult to independent press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
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NOW HEAR THIS: ‘What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate’
This famous quote addressing communication failure is a classic line from the 1967 movie “Cool Hand Luke,” starring Paul Newman. Strother Martin, who played the role of the warden in a southern prison, would use this phrase every time he gave Luke a good whack with his baton. The concept resonated so well with moviegoers that it was voted No. 11 of the 100 all-time favorite movie quotes according to the American Film Institute.
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Letters to the Editor – May 19, 2013
Do you remember the “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” sign that the personnel on the USS Abraham Lincoln displayed to greet President Bush when he went out to greet them?
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Guest opinion: Campaign with honor
All politics is local and personal! I hope that you and your family have a wonderful summer, filled with relationship building experiences and times of relaxation. As you do all the things that re-charge us for the next round at work and involvement in community and political activities, let’s reflect on the 2013 local elections for a moment.
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TISCIONE: Woe for calling evil good
You don’t often see “woe” used in an article. It’s a word that has fallen out of usage in our day. But it’s a word that ought to be understood and taken seriously.
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Letters to the Editor – May 17, 2013
As mercury pollution threatens our waterways and carbon pollution-fueled climate change worsens extreme weather, we need someone in Washington who knows how to get things done.
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Letters to the Editor – May 15, 2013
I just wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to the slobs, idiots and inconsiderate people who continually decorate the beautiful Texas landscape with their trash. I guess it’s really a form of art with beer bottles and cans, boxes, plastic drink containers, food packaging and just about anything else you can think of. It just doesn’t appeal to me. Thank you.
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NOW HEAR THIS: Not by the hairs of my chinny chin chin
I had never really considered this possibility, but every one of the Three Little Pigs was almost certainly a guy. I know that assumption is not particularly popular from an equal opportunity standpoint, but the fact is fairly certain. How do I know? They all three had hair on their chinny chin chins.
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ESTES: Securing a bright future for Texas
Texas businesses have created more than 500,000 jobs since November 2011. Our economy is growing nearly 50 percent faster than the rest of the country and our cost of living remains low.
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Letters to the Editor – May 23, 2013
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
