Well, it has been awhile since I last posted - couldn't wait to get back on here! I read some news put out by Hillsdale College that highlights the state of our healthcare system. Now, don't get me wrong - I am thankful to live in America where I have access to healthcare unlike many other nations. However, I realize that compared to other wealthy nations, we pay over twice the amount for this healthcare. The average a person here pays is over $12,000 a year, whereas a person in other wealthy nations pays half that. Another disturbing thing is that the clinical trials for medicines is overshadowed by the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture the drugs. One crazy example I read about is a drug brought to market for diabetes called Trulicity. Turns out that 327 people have to be treated for 3 years before 1 person is kept from having a non-fatal heart event. Now, if I were that person who benefited, I would be extremely grateful to the drug company. It seems, however, that the pharmaceutical companies influence the outcome of drug trials in order to be able to produce the product regardless if it really helps people. The bottom line is that the shareholders are more important than the consumers. To me, there should be more accountability. I don't mind companies making money - that is free enterprise. BUT, the drug being made and sold should really help people. Big pharma should not be the ones to police themselves! And one other thing, our life expectancy is