Stuck in the Middle

Summary: Headline: WHAC-A-MOLE ECONOMICS: WHEN YOU NEED A MIDDLEMAN TO FIGHT THE MIDDLEMAN

Panel 1: Visual: A stylized, abstract line drawing of a frustrated consumer playing "Whac-a-Mole." The moles popping up are labeled "Bird Flu Eggs," "$772 Car Payments," and a massive, glowing "Medical Bills." Hook: "Inflation is a game of Whac-a-Mole. But healthcare is the boss level."

Panel 2: Visual: A sleek, stylized silhouette of a professional negotiator livestreaming a deal from a dealership floor. Hook: "Meet the new flex: Paying a guy $1,000 just to fight your car dealer. You're hiring a middleman to fight a middleman."

Panel 3: Visual: A non-literal, chaotic maze made of giant pill bottles and hospital bills. A tiny patient silhouette stands confused at the entrance. Hook: "Now imagine doing this for healthcare. 4 in 10 Americans skip their meds because the price is a total mystery until you're at the register."

Panel 4: Visual: A symbolic line drawing of a giant insurance executive wearing a "Middleman" nametag, holding a smaller puppet middleman (representing Pharmacy Benefit Managers). Hook: "Politicians say 'just shop around!' But healthcare isn't a Honda. Dr. A and Dr. B charge wildly different prices for the exact same surgery."

Kicker: "If you need a middleman to fight your middleman, the market isn't working. It's a trap. 🪤💸"