The Greatest Show on Earth

Legend has it that P. T. Barnum, the great showman, once quipped, “There’s a sucker born every minute.” Whether or not he actually said it, the quote endures because it rings true — especially when the spotlight swings toward today’s healthcare scene. Barnum built “The Greatest Show on Earth,” and some days, health policy feels like it’s still under that big top — complete with jugglers, sideshows, and more than a few illusions.

Smoke, Mirrors, and “Free” Deals
There’s no shortage of marketing ploys designed to make us feel like winners when, in fact, we’re just the audience being played. Everyone has fallen for one: the classic “Buy One, Get One Free” that’s really just a price hike in disguise, or the “Free Gift with Purchase” that only appears after you’ve spent more than you planned. And who hasn’t signed up for a “Free Trial” that turned into a monthly subscription battle?

In healthcare, the illusions are even more dazzling — and more costly.

Math 101: The Discount That Defies Gravity
Who doesn’t love a discount? Military, teacher, student, and senior discounts are small perks that make us feel appreciated. But lately, we’re seeing “discounts” that defy logic — and math.

Prescription drug prices are undeniably high, so today when the President Trump and Dr. Oz touted massive discounts — 65%, 80%, even 500% off — it sounds like great news.

But hold the applause. If a medication costs $100, a 50% discount brings it down to $50. A 100% discount means it’s free. Anything more than that? That would mean the seller owes you money to take the drug off their hands.

Yet these wild claims keep making the rounds — because “500% savings” sounds like a show-stopping deal, even when it’s just an illusion.

That’s Not How Science Works
Sometimes the circus extends to science itself. During a cabinet meeting under this week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. referenced studies suggesting that taking Tylenol during pregnancy might be linked to autism. He admitted, “This is not dispositive, this is not proof. We are doing the studies to make the proof.”

Except… that’s not how science works. Research isn’t supposed to start with a conclusion and work backward to “prove” it. That’s like deciding the magician really did saw the assistant in half — and then designing experiments to confirm it.

Wait — What?
On Monday, acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill approved the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) vaccine recommendations for COVID-19 and chickenpox. He suggested that vaccine makers “break up the MMR shot,” separating measles, mumps, and rubella into three distinct injections — an idea also promoted by President Trump.

That might sound reasonable until you realize that no such single-disease vaccines exist in the U.S., and there’s no scientific evidence that separating them provides any benefit. In fact, it would mean six shots instead of two, more office visits, more sore arms, and a higher risk of missed doses.

To make it happen, vaccine companies would need to run new clinical trials, reconfigure production facilities, and secure FDA approval for three separate products — a years-long, costly process.

And the Final Act
P.T. Barnum may not have said, “There’s a sucker born every minute,” but journalist H. L. Mencken — who really did say, “No one ever lost money underestimating the intelligence of the American public” — spent his career exposing the charlatans and snake oil salesmen of his day. He praised science and reason while skewering those who profited from ignorance.

A century later, Mencken might find that little has changed under the tent. Whether it’s illusionary discounts, dubious studies, or policy sleight-of-hand, the show goes on — and we’re all still buying tickets

Happy reading,
Suzanne Daniels,Ph.D.

Suzanne Daniels, Ph.D.
AEPC President
P.O. Box 1416
Birmingham, MI 48012
Office: (248) 792-2187
Email: [email protected]

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