Its about CONTROL... Today's topic: "Vitamins".

Very true. To reveal innuendo of the "control" aspect of my title, it hints more toward control that we as a people "do" and "do not" have. When it comes to an agency like the FDA, its my understanding that the general public does not necessarily get a voice in their actions, and that makes said agency a bit of a "parent" type force dictating what is good and bad. I agree, they do seem to have far more "good" in their intent than "bad" but there are some areas of personal study that don't entirely conform to their guidelines in some cases.

In my opinion, should the FDA actually decide to take vitamins off a shelf, there wouldn't be much we consumers could do about it really. I don't see them taking them away though. I would think their decision would be along the lines of demanding a physicians prescription for it instead. That of course would affect someone like myself that requires not only all 13 of the regular daily vitamins as everyone else, (we typically get from food), but an additional supplement to keep healthy, to go out of my way.... visit a doc.... jump through whatever hoops he/she deems necessary.... run tests.... all just to get a prescription for something I ordinarily could walk into a supermarket and get right off the shelf.

The Liberals GOP Twin wrote: I don't think so, but the other alternative is to shack up, stock up and give up and then move to Burland and wait for the revolution.

And on that note, as a strategist, Burland would be a very poor geographical location to be if a revolution were to take place.

Badger

I think it more likely their control would be more in line with how they regulate over the counter drugs not prescriptions. But your scenario sounds more scarier.

Yes, and I admit that scenario was chosen because of its "off the wall" nature. Might not make sense, but my entire original post serves many purposes, some direct, some very indirect.

Not to get off topic, but my first post was sort of 'baiting' and filled with innuendo. The "control" aspect falls in with the perceived reality point I mentioned in other posts. Some of the first post directly challenges everyone in here to think individually and not from a platform or "right or left" politics.... Hence my disclaimer section, yeah I'm odd, but you knew that.... others not so much, but on the serious side of it the whole thread was designed to provoke thought and show that "control" IS in who we as individuals elect, and sometimes, for whatever reasons we opt to give up our control. "How can you pick on the FDA, its not a right/left issue?!?!?!".... No, its a choice issue, its a WE issue and we're all riding in the very same boat.

The FDA is not a group we can vote upon. If they make a decision, good or bad, WE have to deal with it whether we accept it or not. Its readily understood their intentions are for a greater good, but there those who are comfortable having decisions made for them. That's fine, I cannot/will not argue what's right/wrong for someone else. But when you think about it..... do we really need a "Do not install while engine is running." disclaimer on a fan belt for a car? Makes us sound pretty stupid in my humble opinion, and yet it makes perfect sense at the same time..... what the hell have we become? Rhetorical.

As far as the link I posted, that one was chosen to show how someone can not only fly off the handle, but distort potentiality to serve their own propaganda and believe it or not there is a TON of that in this very forum. Those who are so far into a cause tend to fall into a 'groove' if you will and would practically believe everything that even minorly coincides with their platform. Every now and then I simply like to be the wrench in the gears and offer a morsel of abstract thought. Those so hardcore in their beliefs will simply walk away from discussion and continue in their closed box thinking... others may be enlightened but never admit. After all, few ever admit to the wow factor as its embarassing.

Badger

In some instances it would actually be helpful to have an agency like the FDA to regulate vitamins and supplements. My MD recommended Red Yeast Rice for me to help lower cholesterol because I am unable to take statins or other Rx drugs. I did my research, and found that though there are many brands out there, and each states a particular mg, the sampled products varied widely on what they actually contained....and, even within a brand different lots had different percentages of ingredients, although their labels were identical. The Red Yeast Rice is supposed to have a natural statin effect, but many of the brands didn't even have the ingredient that provides this benefit. I doubt this is the only supplement that has this issue. I'm not big fan of regulation, but know that left to their own devices, many, if not most, companies will not police themselves and will make claims that are untrue, or put misleading and false information on their labels.