Healthcare Hullabaloo: Blackbird Bargains

The SR-71 Blackbird remains the most sophisticated aircraft that the US Air Force ever flew – at least that we know about.

Until it was retired in 1998, the Blackbird spy plane was the fastest thing in the skies. It still holds numerous air speed records, and, at least on one occasion, flew coast to coast in just a hair over an hour. Top that, Southwest. Most experts say that the SR-71 most likely flew even faster than that, but, nearly 15 years after it’s retirement, its top speed remains classified.

Because of the extreme speeds it flew, everything on the plane was designed to deal with the heat that was generated from friction between the airplane and the atmosphere. It was said that the engine oil in the Blackbird, at over $200 a quart, costs more then the finest Scotch Whiskey. Such high operating expense was one of the primary reasons why this super spy plane was retired in 1998.

The SR-71 allowed the US to keep a close eye on our enemies during the Cold War, and there is no doubt that it was instrumental in bringing that terrible phase in world history to an end.

Thank goodness that the engine oil for the SR-71 wasn’t manufactured by the US Pharmaceutical industry – if it were, the Blackbird probably would have ever gotten off the ground.

Tonight, I picked up some prescription eye drops. Even though I have a prescription plan, a 2.5 ml bottle of these drops still cost me a ridiculous $35.00. Yeah, I know that $35 is not a ton of money these days, but this was for a TINY bottle. At this rate, the eye drops cost around $13,250.00 a quart – and that’s with a prescription plan. If I had to pay full price for the drops, the best price I can find on-line was $91 for the same 2.5 ml bottle.. This translates to an outlandish $34,500.00 a quart. Even worse, this is for a .01% solution. So, if I paid retail price for the active ingredient alone, that quart of ‘pure’ eye drops would have set me back almost 3 ½ million dollars a quart.

Which makes the SR-71 engine oil – or the world’s finest Scotch Whiskey – seem like a real bargain after all.

Which is a good thing. After figuring out what these prescription drugs are actually costing us, I think I’m going to need a stiff drink.

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