Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports magazine, has produced a hilarious spoof song and animation entitled, "The Drugs I Need." The song makes fun of prescription drug advertising (you know, the drugs we didn't declare war on), asking consumers to take action on upcoming legislation in Congress. You can view and download the animation and/or an MP3 of the song at www.prescriptionforchange.org. It's really funny.
My wife, Kathy Mitchell, runs Consumers Union's national e-action system, and this is her latest pet project. I'm really proud of her, and the song and animation are first class. I thought Grits readers would love it, and hope you'll help spread it around. Consumers Union commissioned the Austin Lounge Lizards to write and perform the song (they're perhaps Texas' top satire band), and the terrific animation was done by Austin's Animation Farm.
After viewing, it takes viewers to an action alert where they can tell Congress -- big hearings are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday -- to make drug companies release all the results of their testing (they don't have to now) and improve oversight of drugs already on the market.
Check out the song, and thanks, folks, for any help you can give spreading word about this fun project.
UPDATE: This thing has gotten wide play already. BoingBoing picked it up today! (3-1) They called it "awesome" and "raunchy." Fun!
Yes, Eileen, that's exactly your problem, you wallflower. If only we could find the right mixture of medications so you could break out of your shell!
ReplyDeleteAnd g.e., how about, if taxpayers fund the trials, or if public universities carry them out, the results should be public? I'm sick of taxpayers subsidizing these guys so they can spend more money on advertising, then whine about how expensive research is.