Ten years ago, this town used to be a place where you could count on your neighbors. Back when folks still talked about what was best for everyone, not just the bottom line.

Last night, Eli Lilly, an American pharmaceutical company known for their diabetes medication Mounjaro, made headlines by pressuring UK officials to approve steep price increases for their drugs within the National Health Service (NHS). The move comes as they push aggressively to eliminate rebate schemes that benefit taxpayers and healthcare consumers.

It’s not the first time we’ve heard of this kind of behavior from big corporations. Remember back when people still believed in fair play? Not so much anymore, it seems.

The company’s actions are indicative of a larger trend within Big Pharma to prioritize profits over public health needs. This is particularly disheartening given the NHS's role as one of the world’s largest healthcare providers and its commitment to equitable access for all British citizens.

With every decision like this, it feels like we’re moving further away from those days when community mattered more than quarterly earnings reports. It used to be different around here, but times have changed. Or rather, priorities have.

I’ve lived in this town for 40 years now, and the last decade has seen a marked shift towards profit at any cost. From corporate giants pushing their agendas in local councils to lobbying efforts that seem more focused on cutting corners than providing service, it’s hard not to feel like we’re being let down.

These changes didn’t just happen overnight; they've been brewing for years. Previous administrations have tried to curb some of the excesses, but as long as there's profit to be made, corporations will keep pushing their limits.

The pattern is clear: whenever big pharma or any major corporation sees an opportunity to make more money at the expense of public services and consumer welfare, they'll take it. There’s no shortage of examples from recent history that illustrate this point.

So what can we do about it? Well, for starters, we need to hold these companies accountable. We need to remind them that there are consequences when you put your profits above people's health and well-being.

Will things ever go back to the way they used to be? It’s hard to say, but one thing is certain: if we don’t start pushing back now, who knows what else will change next?