Farewell, EpiPens, Ombudsman Report and #MoneyTalk
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Last week, we said goodbye to the Olympics and to the Tragically Hip as well. I was never a rabid Hip fan, but I enjoy much of their music (and if you listen closely to the lyrics, you might just learn something about Canada). Some might say, “life goes on,” but that doesn’t mean we can’t feel sadness about the passing of time. Also, the summer is almost over.
How much are you willing to pay to save your life? The entire price of EpiPen silliness in the U.S. really does make me wonder if big drug companies assume they are like banks and can charge whatever they want, and there will be no repercussions. As a Pfizer stockholder (still), I suppose I am a hypocrite for making that comment. However, Pfizer’s big money-maker is still Viagra, and if you want to gouge men who want to have a drug which has a possible side effect of “… an erection lasting more than 4 hours…”, then so be it.
I was disturbed to read the Ontario Ombudsman’s report “Nowhere to Turn”, where the Ombudsman called for a systemic overhaul to help adults with developmental disabilities in crisis. The quote in the report that concerns me is:
There is still marked inconsistency in how limited funds are prioritized and distribute and families struggle with interminable waitlist delays, leaving some so desperate that they have abandoned their loved ones.
Ontario Ombudsman
My Writings for Week Ending August 26th
I started the week writing about inflation, and the arithmetic cogitations that make the numbers appear good, but the calculations that tell a different story, with Electricity Prices Continue to Sizzle in July. Electricity prices continue to go up (especially here in Ontario), while gas prices appear to be dropping, which is nullifying the effects of the electricity price jump. Fun with Numbers.
I also had a lovely conversation with one of my favourite folks, Kerry from Squawkfox, and she was doing research for some work she is doing for the Globe and Mail. The topic of RESPs came up, and I remembered that I had started an article RESP Proof of Enrolment and its importance to the cashing out of the RESP funds, so I finished that one off. I typically get inspired when I chat with smart money folks, so thanks Kerry.
An Excellent Question
An interesting question from a follower:
