maybe this is why americans haven't woke up

[donsu]

http://www.willthomas.net/Articles/ProzacWar.html

THE PROZAC WARS

For too many months, a worried world has wondered why an administration professing Christian values refuses to heed calls to desist from such a disastrous course. Unprecedented worldwide protests, even appeals from the Pope and other national leaders, have been met with a baffling intransigence from Bush and his closest advisers, who continue to enjoy wide support among Americans with children as precious and innocent as those they are about to kill.

Again and again, appeals to morality, compassion, American values, international law and common sense gave been met with denial so deep, even the deaths of children do not matter.

-snip-

It simply does not make sense.

Until we realize there is no reasoning with people and potentates whose thoughts and moods are being daily altered by sophisticated media, and powerful chemicals linked to violence and emotional numbing. From the highest levels of the U.S. government, through the robotic ranks of a genocidal military that bombs irrigation dikes and water purification plants while scattering radioactive munitions, to the flag-waving public who support them - welcome to the Prozac Nation.

-snip-

read what these drugs coupled with the media is doing to americans

"Prozac was quickly followed by Zoloft, Paxil, Luvox, Effexor and Serzone, as well as diet pills like Redux with a "fen" in their description, which inhibit appetite by blocking serotonin."

consider this:

1 in 5 american children claimed to have ADD
1 in 5 american children are on Ritalin
1 in 7 americans take mood altering drugs
note the side effects of these drugs
10 to 14 million americans are alcoholics - out of their minds with
addiction

much, much more in this article

[Cat Atomic]

1. The U.S. is 1 part Orwell, 2 parts Huxley.

A gram is better than a damn.

[arcane1]

2. GMTA

I was just about to say the same thing!

:evilfrown:

[lovedems]

3. I think they need to ban pharmeceutical commercials like they ban

cigarette commercials. I saw a commercial for ADD medication the other day and it offended me beyond belief. It was presented in a way that any child could have suffered from ADD because they made the symptoms so widespread. As the mother of 4 boys who get wound up from time to time, and are prone to paying attention when they feel like it, I could have freaked and ran off to the doctor insisting that something was wrong with my boys. Instead, I know when boys are being boys and am able to distinguish between rambuctious behavior and ADD. It scares me that some parents will fall for those commercials and unneccessarily medicate their children.

I had a friend who was in medical school and at the time, doctors would receive incentives (rewards) from pharmeceutical companies for prescribing their brand of medication (I don't know if it still happens) but when you have patients running to a doctor demanding medication because of an ad they saw and a doctor getting incentives for giving medication, there doesn't seem to be a voice of reason to stop people from medicating themselves unneccessarily. It is a scary combination.

[mac2]

4. They're too busy trying to keep their heads above water?

[Dogmudgeon]

5. We're far too afraid of drugs

They all have potentially terrible side-effects, and they do affect the thought processes. But they simply don't make people into zombies unless a huge dose is used. Such fears can be as crippling as the drugs!

Mind you, I'm not defending these drugs. I took Prozac and Zoloft for a year and they ripped my stomach to shreds and destroyed my sex drive. But I was never rendered incapable of cognitive thought, and I still maintained a healthy disrespect for authority.

The strength of the human spirit can defeat these drugs. We should try to liberate that spirit in a more consistent way. Then, drugs would become unnecessary (except in dire circumstances) and the fear of "brainwashing" or covert hypnosis would also fade.

--bkl

[maggrwaggr]

6. I took Paxil once and it turned me into a stoned-like zombie

I couldn't remember what I was doing from one minute to the next. I'd go to the grocery store, come home, and leave the groceries in the car because I forgot about them. I felt completely numb. I hated it.

[Desertrose]

8. but its more than just the drugs....its the combination

of the 24/7 media proclaiming this or that...all the "reality"( escapist lets see who is worse off than me shows)....its the terrah alerts....its the chemicals in the food we eat...who knows how the crap we eat combines with meds?

We need more beef- no wait, less beef- tainted this or that...milk? milk is for calves not humans...but don't tell the lobbyists that...

Americans are probably chronically dehydrated...does anyone drink just plain water...its all diet sodas (don't get me started on that) , coffee tea....tooo much sugar...

Its not just one thing...its everything combined and whoever is masterminding this mindnumbing society we are living in is making bazillions and I'd lay odds they don'teat it drink it or use it....

just my observation....
DR

[TrogL]

9. Do tell me about diet sodas

I think they're doing something to me, but I'm not sure what.

[VTMechEngr]

11. I drink Diet Mountain Dew, I'm fine

I'm not dehydrated or fail to see the BS of this administration, or the events around the world. I get a bunch of caffeine, but hey, so does every college student.

[donsu]

12. when you stop drinking them you will feel bad for awhile

but eventually you will feel fine and your body will thank you.

[info being]

10. You're right, of course.

We are all responsible for recognizing these forces in our own lives...and resisting with everything we have.

Those who fail to accept this responsibility are on a downward spiral.

[TrogL]

7. Utter nonsense

When I grew up there were plenty of kids who didn't have a hope in hell of paying attention in class and they'd sit there bouncing their feet and flapping their hands. There were lots and lots of people who were suicidally depressed and being treated with tranquilizers and were zombies. Alcoholism was rampant. It seemed like everybody was half-drunk all the time - being hung over at work was standard operating procedure.

Now we've got treatment for these things and people like this author consider it a bad thing. Go figure.