We have entered the Age of Irresponsibility.
Nothing is anyone’s fault. There is no bad or sinful behaviour. Everything is a medical problem.
Back in my Crusading Reporter days, had a number of medical sources. A number of psychiatrists and psychologists, even then, said that many of their patients were “cringing whiners.”
Back then, they got guidance, encouragement, set goals and deadlines, etc.
Now, they get a pill that has proved ineffective!
I had Strep throat. After an hour in the waiting room the Dr. gave me a scrip for penicillin. Absolutely NO mention of “rest and fluids” or ANYTHING - just pills. Pills were the only answer - making me thing - “It seems I needed the pharmacist a LOT MORE than the Dr..”
It is difficult to walk out of the Dr.’s office WITHOUT a prescription. I had elevated liver function as a result of rapid weight gain (15 lbs after I gave my dog to my brother and stopped walking daily, also taking a new GF out to dinner several nights a week, etc). Luckily that precluded me from being prescribed something for my (slightly) high cholesterol.
All I really needed was exercise and weight loss and to adjust my diet - but pills was the first answer - and he seemed rather disappointed he wasn't getting me on some form of pill or another!
Don't get me wrong - I develop life saving therapeutics for a living - but EVERY drug my company makes is for severe illness - not for any little thing that might not feel 100%!
Impotent? - the Dr. wont tell you to quit smoking and lose 20 lbs - he will prescribe you a blue pill.
Overweight? They got a pill for that!
Anxious? Depressed? They got a pill for that!
Child disruptive in class? They got a pill for that!
I see the regimen of pills my father is on. If I start now by the time I am his age I will be on pills to counteract the activity of the pill I am taking to treat the syndrome brought about by a different pill - all to treat a rather mild initial symptom that could probably be treated through non therapeutic intervention!