This is me not complaining — because I don’t vote see, and in this country you don’t have a right to complain if you don’t help pick the next American Idol… I mean president…  It’s in the constitution…

*Side note* — So if I write myself in for every position, does that count?  I mean, I would still be voting right?  No such thing as a wasted vote, right?  I think I might change my mind about this whole voting thing.  I’m voting for YOU this year; just gonna go straight down my blog roll.

Anyway, this is what (according to my insurance company) $105 worth of Clarinex looks like.  If you’re counting, that’s 30 tablets of 5mg desloratadine which happens to work WONDERS for my seasonal allergies.  That’s $3.50 per pill… for allergy medication.  I’m really not even mad about the cost – drug companies have to make money and I’m all for the making of money.  What bothers me is that the REASON it’s $105 is that it’s only available by prescription and the reason it’s only available by prescription is because the government said so.  Well, maybe the FDA thinks this is a dangerous drug that could be misused… nope.  The makers of Clarinex claim that switching the drug to OTC (over the counter) would hurt their ability to make money off the drug…  I wish I had that kind of federal protection for my freelance web design business.

Enter Canada.  Clarinex is classified as an OTC drug in Canada.  I can get 20 tablets for less than $20 in Canada (http://www.canadadrugs.com/otc/product/Clarinex/431/).  Same drug, same manufacturer, different government, different price.  Can anybody guess where Paul will be buying his next supply of Clarinex from?  Anyone?

Another note — this is not me saying that I prefer Canada’s form of government.  I’m not in favor of unviersal healthcare or other social programs run by the government.

 ”Christians in Germany will face the terrible alternative of either willing the defeat of their nation in order that Christian civilization may survive, or willing the victory of their nation and thereby destroying our civilization.  I know which of these alternatives I must choose…”

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

This was said about National Socialism in Germany and Hitler’s rise to power in 1933 — but are we far off from such a decision?

Concerning the travel to Cuba for organizations conducting “religious activities” -

The meaning of the term “affiliated.” To be considered “affiliated” with your organization, individuals or groups traveling under your license must be involved in religious activities with your organization apart from their travel to Cuba. This authorization may not be used for soliciting the affiliation of persons for the purpose of their travel to Cuba. For instance, you may not solicit the participation of individuals not affiliated with your organization for purposes of engaging in travel related transactions involving Cuba through the use of your website or television or radio advertisements. Individuals who associate with your organization primarily for the purpose of traveling to Cuba are not authorized to travel under your license. Such unauthorized use of your license can result in suspension or revocation of the license, fines, and criminal penalties.

Sorry, you can’t go on our mission trip to Cuba because the government said you aren’t “affiliated” with the Church…

http://www.treasury.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/cuba/cuba_cl.pdf

Apparently the US Treasury department said back in 2004 that it is illegal for American citizens to purchase or consume Cuban cigars or other products – ANYWHERE in the world. I laughed out loud when I read it and said, surely this is a joke.

The question is often asked whether United States citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States may legally purchase Cuban origin goods, including tobacco and alcohol products, in a third country for personal use outside the United States. The answer is no. The Regulations prohibit persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States from purchasing, transporting, importing, or otherwise dealing in or engaging in any transactions with respect to any merchandise outside the United States if such merchandise (1) is of Cuban origin; or (2) is or has been located in or transported from or through Cuba; or (3) is made or derived in whole or in part of any article which is the growth, produce or manufacture of Cuba. Thus, in the case of cigars, the prohibition extends to cigars manufactured in Cuba and sold in a third country and to cigars manufactured in a third country from tobacco grown in Cuba.

- http://www.treasury.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/legacy/ccigar2.pdf

The best part:

Criminal penalties for violation of the Regulations range up to $1,000,000 in fines for corporations, $250,000 for individuals and up to 10 years in prison. Civil penalties of up to $65,000 per violation may be imposed by OFAC.

We won’t even get into how they plan to even attempt to enforce this. Land of the free? I think the federal government has (long ago) lost its mind.