Special to L. Neil Smith’s The Libertarian Enterprise

You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.
— Buckminster Fuller

Recently there was a news story to the effect that the family chiefly benefiting from the recent opioid addiction epidemic had gained over $13 billion in profit. It happens that a great many other families have suffered enormously from addiction through prescription.

How do we fight the existing system? Of course, we cannot, even if we wanted to do so. The established interests in big pharma and in the medical associations have created interlocking cartels. They have the politicians and bureau-rats of the several states and of the federal government firmly in their pockets. As we related last week, the mutual aid societies which helped bring about low cost medical care for working people all over the country were banned by the state governments because the medical doctors were upset that working men and women were sitting in judgement over medical professionals.

Creating alternatives to the existing system starts with the people. Waking people up to the problem but the issue is people are actually brainwashed into using these drugs. Then it’s explained as “ok” if you are dependent but not addicted? The ridiculousness is beyond belief. They are told they need the drugs for quality of life? What is really needed is a mindset change.

People who are using opioids or other painkillers are always able to justify it with medical research or with a doctor who says they aren't exhibiting any red flags and therefore are only dependent and not addicted. But it is the same condition, it is the same debilitating syndrome, no matter what it is called. The medical system normalizes all of this when it’s not only not normal but it’s not healthy.

Or look at ocular health- eyes have muscles. These atrophy with glasses and contacts yet we could all work those muscles if that info was available. Get rid of the support but eye care is a multi billion dollar industry...they want repeat customers. Woe betide you if you cannot pass the eye test at your driver licence bureau.

Instead, we suggest that people who want open source healing learn more about healing. We recommend you look at books, web sites, videos, and other publications for the purpose of learning how to heal yourself, how to ameliorate and treat conditions that can be improved through diet, exercise, hygiene, and the careful application of nutrients, supplements, yoga, breathing exercises, massage therapy, acupuncture, and other activities.

Yes, of course there are still going to be conditions you won't be able to treat in these alternative ways. You'll still face the prospect of surgery or chemo-therapy or other complex treatments with medicines that you are not allowed to access without permission from a licence-bearing medical doctor. But, doing what you can to reduce the amount you depend on that system saves you time, money, and frustration, and is certainly worth doing.

There are alternatives to the existing insurance system. Jeff Kanter and Charles Frohman of My Academy of Healthcare Excellence MyAHE.org have developed an approach that seems to work well for their clients.

Similarly, Kaneh LLC has developed products that we believe can be useful and none of which require special permission to acquire. We've showcased some of these here:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/kaneh-healing-our-world/x/22214758#/

You can help support our work by participating in our IndieGoGo campaign. And, of course, we can help support your health by answering questions and helping with your situation. So please be in touch if you wish.

Mimi Johnson is an inventor, entrepreneur, and ceo of Kaneh LLC.

Jim Davidson is an author, entrepreneur, and cfo of Kaneh LLC.