Why We Can't Have Nice Things...

[Toolulu22]

I took the statement to mean popping pills daily as opposed to the occasional need and I do agree to a point. We love to pop pills instead of look at prevention or more holistic treatments. I think we should prevent instead of treat things like diabetes and high blood pressure after the fact. The pharmaceutical treatment isn't always the best yet it seems to be our society's default for every ailment.

All merely my opinion.

There are lifestyle factors that contribute to disease, and eating healthier diets and increasing exercise for example may reduce one's chances of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and other ailments. However, you may not always prevent disease. There is a genetic factor that holistic treatments will not treat. A child born with Type 1 diabetes needs insulin for a lifetime, as well as lifestyle adjustments. An epileptic will need anti seizure medication. There are a myriad of diseases that legitimately benefit from modern medicine.

When you say the "we love to pop pills instead of look at prevention or more holistic treatments' you make a huge assumption about people you've never met and their health journey. I would think that the average person doesn't go from zero to taking a ton of medication, nor would choose too.

I was hospitalized a few years ago when I had a spike in otherwise normal blood pressure, and had to be monitored by a cardiologist for a while afterward to be sure that it went back to normal. Turns out, I have a problem with my thyrold, and that caused a whole lot of problems including that very high blood pressure. I was given medication, which I have to take for the rest of my life, which caused my blood pressure to go back to normal and other symptoms subsided. What I have to take is a synthetic hormone. There is no holistic alternative for it. I would prefer not to have to take medicine every day, but it keeps me healthy. Its ignorant when people make blanket statements about everyone else without knowing why they do what they do.

 

[ronandannette]

Rockefeller Center is privately owned. So they can keep calling it a Christmas tree.

I'm not sure how the White House is able to get away with calling their tree a Christmas tree? Maybe it has to do with the religion of the presiding presidents. If they celebrate Christmas, they get to call it a Christmas tree?

There is still the Easter egg hunt on the white lawn, too.

Genuine question: Is this some kind of joke? Is it illegal in the US to call a Christmas tree a Christmas tree? Who would be enforcing this law on the White House and is it the President that's ultimately accountable? What would the penalty for this infraction be?

I couldn't imagine living without my Nexium!

Reflux meds are by prescription only here. It's a real drag; my GP will only prescribe 90 days' worth at at time even though I've been on the same one (Previcid) for almost 10 years. I'd trade you OTC Previcid for OTC Tylenol with Codine which I understand is not available in the States.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

Genuine question: Is this some kind of joke? Is it illegal in the US to call a Christmas tree a Christmas tree? Who would be enforcing this law on the White House and is it the President that's ultimately accountable? What would the penalty for this infraction be?

I won't link the Snopes article for fear of retribution but google Fact Check: White House Christmas and you will get your answer. Spoil alert: The tree at the White House has always been called a Christmas tree under all administrations. More fake news being spread.

 

[kimblebee]

Genuine question: Is this some kind of joke? Is it illegal in the US to call a Christmas tree a Christmas tree? Who would be enforcing this law on the White House and is it the President that's ultimately accountable? What would the penalty for this infraction be?

Reflux meds are by prescription only here. It's a real drag; my GP will only prescribe 90 days' worth at at time even though I've been on the same one (Previcid) for almost 10 years. I'd trade you OTC Previcid for OTC Tylenol with Codine which I understand is not available in the States.

Can we get Codeine OTC? I don’t look for it because I’m allergic but I’ve always thought it required a prescription.

 

[Imzadi]

Genuine question: Is this some kind of joke? Is it illegal in the US to call a Christmas tree a Christmas tree? Who would be enforcing this law on the White House and is it the President that's ultimately accountable? What would the penalty for this infraction be?

There is a constitutional law that there must be a separation between church & state. So technically, the White House shouldn't be having any "religious" tree. In recent years, people started complaining about the Christmas nativity displays, (the baby in the manger, visited by the 3 wise men,) in their city/town owned town squares and other city property - that had been traditionally there for decades. They complained about the need for separation of church & state and how religious items shouldn't be on display on city property. (Not talking private property or private corporations.) Some others complained that it wasn't their religion so they shouldn't see them there and their taxpayer's dollars shouldn't be paying to have them there.

Out of being overly politically correct, that's when the nativities and other Christmas religious decorations started being removed. I think, in an effort to keep the Christmas trees in places, some places renames them "Holiday trees" and along with saying "Happy holidays," to be inclusive of all the December holidays, instead of just "Merry Christmas."

 

[ronandannette]

Can we get Codeine OTC? I don’t look for it because I’m allergic but I’ve always thought it required a prescription.

Yep - Tylenol w/Codeine or LifeBrand also has a generic. It's behind the counter and the Shopper's Drug Mart by my house asks me for my name and ID about half the time. They do kinda keep tabs though. I always buy the smallest bottle (30 count) and use it for occasional dental pain - I'm a night grinder. Once I dropped and spilled most of one bottle I'd recently purchased and when I went back shortly after (would have been within the same month) to get another they wouldn't sell it to me.

 

[cruiser21]

Genuine question: Is this some kind of joke? Is it illegal in the US to call a Christmas tree a Christmas tree? Who would be enforcing this law on the White House and is it the President that's ultimately accountable? What would the penalty for this infraction be?

Reflux meds are by prescription only here. It's a real drag; my GP will only prescribe 90 days' worth at at time even though I've been on the same one (Previcid) for almost 10 years. I'd trade you OTC Previcid for OTC Tylenol with Codine which I understand is not available in the States.

No it's not illegal you can call a Christmas tree a Christmas tree. 90% of people in this country call it a Christmas tree. We have freedom of speech you can call it whatever the heck you want to call it. There's a certain percentage of loony tunes who think we shouldn't most of us just ignore them.

 

[cruiser21]

I won't link the Snopes article for fear of retribution but google Fact Check: White House Christmas and you will get your answer. Spoil alert: The tree at the White House has always been called a Christmas tree under all administrations. More fake news being spread.

Yep. You are so right and hopefully that never changes. I can guarantee you at least the next couple of years it will be called a Christmas tree.

 

[kimblebee]

There is a constitutional law that there must be a separation between church & state. So technically, the White House shouldn't be having any "religious" tree. In recent years, people started complaining about the Christmas nativity displays, (the baby Jesus in a manger, Mary & Joseph, & being visited by the 3 wise men,) in their city/town owned town squares and other city property - that had been traditionally there for decades. They complained about the need for separation of church & state and how religious items shouldn't be on display on city property. Some others complained that it wasn't their religion so they shouldn't see them there and their taxpayer's dollars shouldn't be paying to have them there.

Out of being overly politically correct, that's when the nativites and other Christmas religious decorations started being removed. I think, to keep the Christmas trees in places, some places renames them "Holiday trees" and along with saying "Happy holidays," to be inclusive of all the December holidays, instead of just "Merry Christmas."

One long standing Christmas tradition here is that a major insurance company has put up a display of the three wide men. I don’t remember any complaints about it. Maybe because it’s not on public property?

https://goo.gl/images/te5qch

 

[cruiser21]

There are lifestyle factors that contribute to disease, and eating healthier diets and increasing exercise for example may reduce one's chances of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and other ailments. However, you may not always prevent disease. There is a genetic factor that holistic treatments will not treat. A child born with Type 1 diabetes needs insulin for a lifetime, as well as lifestyle adjustments. An epileptic will need anti seizure medication. There are a myriad of diseases that legitimately benefit from modern medicine.

When you say the "we love to pop pills instead of look at prevention or more holistic treatments' you make a huge assumption about people you've never met and their health journey. I would think that the average person doesn't go from zero to taking a ton of medication, nor would choose too.

I was hospitalized a few years ago when I had a spike in otherwise normal blood pressure, and had to be monitored by a cardiologist for a while afterward to be sure that it went back to normal. Turns out, I have a problem with my thyrold, and that caused a whole lot of problems including that very high blood pressure. I was given medication, which I have to take for the rest of my life, which caused my blood pressure to go back to normal and other symptoms subsided. What I have to take is a synthetic hormone. There is no holistic alternative for it. I would prefer not to have to take medicine every day, but it keeps me healthy. Its ignorant when people make blanket statements about everyone else without knowing why they do what they do.

You are talking about the minority's and I don't think anyone is referring to people with a genetic need for meds.

 

[cruiser21]

People do have lingering and life long battles with pain. I wonder if the people who are unkind about “pill popping” are just fortunate enough to have never truly needed pain pills or long term medication even of the non pain management variety? I’m glad that most people haven’t needed such, but if you’ve ever been there or watched a loved one need such medication, it’s a blessing. If medication makes your life better, do it.

I agree with you, but you unfortunately we have a large percentage of people that abuse the system. It costs the health care system tons of money. I don't know what the answers or how to solve it.

 

[Imzadi]

One long standing Christmas tradition here is that a major insurance company has put up a display of the three wide men. I don’t remember any complaints about it. Maybe because it’s not on public property?

https://goo.gl/images/te5qch

You're in Canada right? You have different laws than us. I hope you never have this ridiculous political correctness and have to get rid of your decorations.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

You're in Canada right? You have different laws than us. I hope you never have this ridiculous political correctness and have to get rid of your decorations.

Untruths and inuendo. Nobody seems to be buying what you're selling.

 

[ronandannette]

One long standing Christmas tradition here is that a major insurance company has put up a display of the three wide men. I don’t remember any complaints about it. Maybe because it’s not on public property?

https://goo.gl/images/te5qch

We don't have a legally-entrenched division between church and state, nor apparently have we ever as a nation seen the need for such a thing. Whether or not a public institution or private company displays anything of a religious nature is a matter of policy or maybe judgement but it's not illegal. That said, people everywhere are entitled to complain about anything they want I guess and the pressure of opinion can always have influence.

 

[Imzadi]

Untruths and inuendo. Nobody seems to be buying what you're selling.

Please be more specific. What are the untruths? What are the inuendo? There have been nativity scenes taken out of city public venues.

Embrace Google. Google is your friend:

https://www.google.com/search?q=navitity+scenes+removed+city&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

And you can Google "Christmas tree renamed holiday tree" to come up with some results. Most are too political to link to. Also "Politically correct renamed holiday tree." Some trees were luckily renamed back to Christmas tree.

Here is an article from the Washington Times:

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2005/nov/29/20051129-120703-5977r/

By - The Washington Times - Tuesday, November 29, 2005
House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert has told federal officials that the lighted, decorated tree on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol — known in recent years as the “Holiday Tree” — should be renamed the “Capitol Christmas Tree,” as it was called until the late 1990s.

The Capitol’s senior landscape architect confirmed the name switch yesterday for The Washington Times.

“It was known as the ‘Holiday Tree’ for several years and just recently was changed back to the ‘Capitol Christmas Tree.’ This was a directive from the speaker,” said Capitol architect Matthew Evans.

“The speaker believes a Christmas tree is a Christmas tree, and it is as simple as that,” said Ron Bonjean, spokesman for the Illinois Republican.

The Capitol tree, traditionally overshadowed by the White House’s “National Christmas Tree,” was renamed a “holiday tree” several years ago, according to the Capitol Architect’s offices, in an effort to acknowledge the other holidays of Kwanzaa and Hanukkah — although no one seemed to know exactly when the name was changed or by whom.
​

The part in red sounds like a lot of trying to be politically correct, to me.

 

[Imzadi]

Here is a news article in the Detroit Free Press about a navitity scene taken down from public property: (bolding mine.)

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/11/30/nativity-scene-removed/94658978/

Nativity scene removed in Michigan's U.P. after complaints​

Associated Press Published 9:11 a.m. ET Nov. 30, 2016 | Updated 2:42 p.m. ET Nov. 30, 2016


MENOMINEE -- A nativity scene that’s been displayed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as part of a longtime Christmas tradition has been taken down following years of complaints.

Menominee City Manager Tony Graff tells WLUK-TV that the display was taken down shortly after being put up this year. He says the city attorney determined that the display was “a violation of our own policy” governing what can be put up on public property.

The Madison, Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation had sent several complaints to the city. Ryan Jayne, an attorney with the foundation, says the group first reached out to the city in 2007 after a complaint from a Menominee resident.

Following the decision, Graff says he hopes a local church will put up the display.
​

 

[cabanafrau]

Probably already been mentioned, but having to show my license to buy 15 allergy pills and then return to the store every 15 days to purchase more so I don't have to be without it is the WORST. I wish my doctor could write a prescription.

I was told by the pharmacy that your doctor can write a letter they can keep on file to allow you to get a larger supply at one time.

 

[Missy1961]

I've resisted asking this question from the beginning, but my curiosity is getting to me.

The premise of the thread is about things that are no longer available because others abuse them. Your first item on the list is not being able to buy Disney gift cards with Target gift cards. I presume that is about the stacking of the discount that was being recommended to save money on Disney trips? I don't understand what the reasoning would be otherwise?

Besides the stacking abuses, a lot of stores don't allow you to buy gift cards with anything but cash or debit cards. When I asked a store why that is, I was told that they found that people who stole credit cards would buy lots of gift cards before the credit card would be cut off.

 

[Toolulu22]

I agree with you, but you unfortunately we have a large percentage of people that abuse the system. It costs the health care system tons of money. I don't know what the answers or how to solve it.

Or perhaps it is a small percentage of percentage of people who have made life difficult for a larger majority.

 

[cruiser21]

Or perhaps it is a small percentage of percentage of people who have made life difficult for a larger majority.

I meant it's a small percentage people born with heart defects high blood pressure and diabetes. Most of those issues are due to poor life style choices and non compliance.