I thank God that at least so far our government gives us the right to make our own decisions on the matter.Sorry for nitpicking, but...
You are
not free to make your own decision in this matter and I find it absurd that you would think so. If that were so you wouldn't need a prescription from an M.D. to get the medication and your only "decision" is to follow, or not to follow, the M.D.'s advice after he gives you the prescription. Further, the FDA (the government) has to approve a drug before it can even be sold, again removing "us" from having to make any "decisions". The decisions are all made for us.
And prescription drugs aren't sold over the counter like some other drugs are. They aren't called controlled substances for nothing.
You just go on, though, believing that "our government gives us the right to make our own decisions on the matter. IMO "we" are given very little choice in the right to make our own decisions on any number of matters. "Our government" is always doing what is "best for the people of America", and they vocalize that frequently, whether it is or isn't. What matters is that those making the rules for the rest of "us" believe it is "best for the people of America".
You make some valid points, and I don't dispute them. The only point I was trying to make is that his argument is like a lot of liberals trying to protect those who they perceive as misguided from themselves. I don't need to be protected from myself, I've done countless hours of research on the subject myself. I'd hate to someone like this guy get in control and decide that all these drugs are bogus and should not be available. I am thankful that I can obtain access -- granted, that I have to jump through some hoops to do it. When you've been deeply depressed and had the drugs make a major difference in your life, jumping through a few hoops is a small price to pay.