In these cold dreary days of winter more things annoy me. Here are just a few:

— All the prescription drug commercials on television. They show people who have been suffering from various diseases or conditions that for the most part I have never heard of. But now their diseases are cured and life is good. However, in slightly lower tones we are told that we should not take this drug if we are allergic to any of its ingredients. This begs the question of how we will know we are allergic to the ingredients if we have no idea what the ingredients are. On top of this we are told that in certain cases this medication could lead to suicidal thoughts, heart attacks, strokes, and serious infections all of which could cause death.

Until 1997 pharmaceutical broadcast ads were rare because of the airtime it would take to read required safety information. Then In 1997, the FDA established a loophole that allowed companies to recite that vague “major-risk statement” and then point viewers to a website, toll-free number, or print insert for more complete information. Those referrals to websites, toll-free numbers and print inserts must be in the fine print in these commercials because I’ve never noticed them. This new loophole denied patients vital safety information required for them to make an informed decision and has had a clearly negative impact on public health.

A study found that when patients request advertised drugs physicians were 17 times more likely to prescribe drugs requested by patients, with many feeling pressure to maintain patient satisfaction scores even when prescriptions were inappropriate. As an example, exposure to statin commercials raised the odds of low-risk patients being diagnosed with high cholesterol by 16 to 20% and starting statins by 16 to 22% even though a lifestyle change might have worked just as well.

Then there are the financial impacts of prescription medications that patients who complain about affordability should consider. Patients in regions with high drug advertising were 40% more likely to switch to heavily promoted drugs without clinical benefit, adding $400 to what they pay for medications in a year.

— I am also annoyed and tired of Olympic competitors who while theoretically representing the US take the bait from liberal reporters and make negative statements regarding the U.S.

Freestyle Skier Chris Lillis stated he was “heartbroken” about domestic events, mentioning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. Freestyle Skier Hunter Hess felt “mixed emotions” about representing the U.S., noting that wearing the flag does not mean representing “everything that’s going on”. Figure skater Amber Glenn who won a Figure Skating Team Gold noted it has been a “hard time” for the LGBTQ+ community under the current administration, and she would not be quiet about it.

I wish all of these hard working athletes nothing but the best in their competitions but they are also representing a nation and people who have supported their efforts. The Olympics are not the place to bash that nation and its people. They should wait till they get home.

However some like snow boarder Chloe Kim expressed pride in representing the U.S., citing the “opportunity” it gave her immigrant family. Snowboarder Maddy Schaffrick stated she is “proud to represent the U.S.” and views the Olympics as a celebration of cultures coming together. Figure skater Nick Goepper said he aimed to project “classic American values of respect, opportunity, and freedom” to the world, acknowledging the country has faced issues for 250 years. 

— It’s obvious fraud exists in New York’s Medicaid program and Democrats don’t care. The coverage rate statewide is 44% or 7% higher than any other state and 20% above the national average. The Empire Center for Public Policy estimated that 5.5 million New Yorkers are eligible for Medicaid while actual enrollment is 8.5 million meaning that there could be 3 million ineligible enrollees. On top of that a recent audit by State Comptroller DiNapoli determined that the Department of Health paid $2.6 billion to nonresidents.

Sen. George Borrello (R-Sunset Bay) introduced an amendment to the Medicaid spending bill that would have required an independent audit of state spending programs including Medicaid and referring proof of fraud, waste or abuse to law enforcement. It would also have authorized recertification of the Medicaid rolls. Of course the Democrats defeated it. And, we think Minnesota has a problem.

— It’s annoying how governments at all levels spend our money. While being hampered by Democrats and their complicit judges the President and the Republican Congress are attempting to control spending at the federal level. That’s fine for states like Florida and Texas where budgetary sanity seems to exist but for states like New York where there is no budgetary sanity and Democrats think money grows on trees, taxpayers will be paying higher taxes in order to make up the difference after the federal cuts. And I am sure that by later this year the state will be bailing out the communist mayor of New York City.

Our county is not much better with money. The Chautauqua County government workforce has increased by 140 individuals since 2020 while the total population decreased by nearly an estimated 3,000 in the same time period. Having worked in retail management for most of my working life I can testify to the fact that you can accomplish the same amount of work or even more with fewer employees and they are happier being busy.

Also the county payroll increased by $18.4 million from 2021 to 2025. In a county where the median family income was $58,351 with 50% of households earning under $50,000 the increase in the county payroll is a little out of line. I understand that the county wants to attract the best people and with those increases they better have.

Then of course there is the $38 million the county has been sitting on while continuing to raise our taxes. Rainy day funds?

Thomas Kirkpatrick Sr. is a Silver Creek resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com