Says Who? Science and Public Understanding

Some of the happiest people on American TV suffer from chronic illness of one sort or another. High cholesterol, excess weight, depression; all these conditions have sufferers apparently bathed in sunlight and surrounded by their carefree, laughing families. Or so it would appear in drug commercials. One almost wishes for a serious affliction so that one can enjoy the lifestyle that follows, thanks to the products of the pharmaceutical industry. Even Homer Simpson can be perfected in this way: