tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1086764876629036045.post7785905599009698140..comments2023-10-06T06:29:02.689-04:00Comments on A Bright Cape: Too Good to be TrueSkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10723733406348223879noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1086764876629036045.post-22968402385297517542010-02-15T14:04:32.190-05:002010-02-15T14:04:32.190-05:00Is it a scam? Google it!Is it a scam? Google it!Cousin Patnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1086764876629036045.post-29471608332959087952010-02-10T16:59:55.828-05:002010-02-10T16:59:55.828-05:00I don't think the FDA is part of a conspiracy ...I don't think the FDA is part of a conspiracy to suppress cures, but I do think that drug system is set up in a way that puts the job of finding cures in the hands of people who don't want cures to be found. There is no law that says it is illegal for a person to figure out how to home brew a simple product that cures a significant disease, but if someone was able to do that it would be nearly impossible for that person to ever legally promote or market their product. Part of this is useful consumer protection, part of it is concentrating a great deal of political power in the hands of organizations that actually do make money by keeping people sick rather than helping them be healthy.Sthennohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05429676469805661834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1086764876629036045.post-13320760423389579432010-02-10T12:19:22.968-05:002010-02-10T12:19:22.968-05:00This makes me wonder what the exact scam is in tho...This makes me wonder what the exact scam is in those persistent internet ads to lose weight/gain muscle with supplements. They charge 1.95 shipping and send you several bottles of product for free, so I assume it is either credit card fraud or some other kind of crazy scam or both at the same time.<br /><br />I kind of doubt the FDA is really suppressing anything of significance. Big drug companies have some pretty heinous practices to be sure, but plenty of new health ideas come out on a regular basis so I can't believe some kind of giant conspiracy theory is at work. I would like to quote Tim Minchin on this particular topic though:<br /><br />"You know what they call alternative medicine that works? MEDICINE!"Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10723733406348223879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1086764876629036045.post-85526163882986488442010-02-10T11:15:05.505-05:002010-02-10T11:15:05.505-05:00One of the most interesting scams I've seen is...One of the most interesting scams I've seen is a particular medical secrets book. I saw the infomercial on TV one day. The author actually advertises that he has been sued repeatedly by the FCC and the FDA to stop making false claims. He says this is a conspiracy to keep the big drug makers in business by preventing you from knowing cures to diseases when they want you to stay sick and keep taking their drugs. To top this off, he was *giving* his book away. You pay shipping and handling and he just sends you the book for nothing. Obviously I had to look this guy up to see what was going on.<br /><br />What is going on is two things. First, the book contains no information, but directs you to his paid subscription website where full articles with the miracle cures can be found. The reason for this, he explains, is that he can't publish these things and call them cures because he would be sued and his book would be removed from shelves. The second is that this guy has multiple convictions for credit card fraud. It's hard to imagine he is not currently building up a database of numbers from those shipping and handling payments.<br /><br />What is so clever and infuriating about this scam is that I think it is actually very reasonable for an intelligent person to believe that the FDA is either intentionally or unintentionally but systematically suppressing information that would keep us healthy to the financial benefit of big drug companies. Being repeatedly sued for making false claims should diminish your credibility, but this guy has totally turned it to his advantage. It's a shame that the reality of drug research is so dismal that he can pull this off.Sthennohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05429676469805661834noreply@blogger.com