I'm not sure if this is where you were going with this, but I think this is a subtle attempt of the author to discredit or impugn the target of the article.
They could have used the term "libertarian" or "protester" or "political objector" but they go all the way to use "anarchist" as if people making medicine to save their own lives or maintain their own autonomy somehow equates to anarchy.
This to me illustrates in a profound way many problems with health care, and to some extent, politics today: people are told by a privileged, protected elite that they are to take responsibility for their own welfare, but then if you actually take that seriously, you're branded an extremist.
The powers that be--drug companies, the FDA, the federal enforcement agencies, the pharmaceutical companies, physicians--are unwilling to open up competition to reduce their monopolies and regulatory capture. They are squeezing the last drop of blood out of people to line their own pockets, and using safety as a mantra to do so.
To me, this dynamic is so obvious and it's unclear to me why this doesn't get more discussion. People don't have any control over their healthcare, no ability to take responsibility for their own health, because they're legally unable to do so, because it's not in the financial interests of powers that be.
People lash out against homeopathy and antivacciners, but the obvious is staring us in the face: when you have no autonomy in the realm of traditional, scientifically-grounded healthcare paradigm, your only option is to reject it in favor of something else.
Same here: if people have no options to go to, they need to do it themselves, or go without medicine. People do this not because they want to, but because their back is against the wall.
The current regulatory regime, all the way from the FDA to current licensing regulations to drug enforcement, is completely and utterly broken. Not at risk of breaking, but a complete failure.
The attempt was not that subtle. IMO the author spends a considerable amount of time openly mocking Laufer, with the clear implication being that if you cannot take the man seriously how can you do the same for his ideas.
They could have used the term "libertarian" or "protester" or "political objector" but they go all the way to use "anarchist" as if people making medicine to save their own lives or maintain their own autonomy somehow equates to anarchy.
This to me illustrates in a profound way many problems with health care, and to some extent, politics today: people are told by a privileged, protected elite that they are to take responsibility for their own welfare, but then if you actually take that seriously, you're branded an extremist.
The powers that be--drug companies, the FDA, the federal enforcement agencies, the pharmaceutical companies, physicians--are unwilling to open up competition to reduce their monopolies and regulatory capture. They are squeezing the last drop of blood out of people to line their own pockets, and using safety as a mantra to do so.
To me, this dynamic is so obvious and it's unclear to me why this doesn't get more discussion. People don't have any control over their healthcare, no ability to take responsibility for their own health, because they're legally unable to do so, because it's not in the financial interests of powers that be.
People lash out against homeopathy and antivacciners, but the obvious is staring us in the face: when you have no autonomy in the realm of traditional, scientifically-grounded healthcare paradigm, your only option is to reject it in favor of something else.
Same here: if people have no options to go to, they need to do it themselves, or go without medicine. People do this not because they want to, but because their back is against the wall.
The current regulatory regime, all the way from the FDA to current licensing regulations to drug enforcement, is completely and utterly broken. Not at risk of breaking, but a complete failure.