On Cartoon Network the other night the "Specimen Z" episode... (season 11 episode 3)

Shows exactly that. There is a much more truth to it than anyone really knows. We all know that Seth McFarlane pull punches all the time and rips everyone as much as possible. There is a grain of truth (or more) in nearly everything he does. Pokes holes and fun at everything from the President to History to socially unacceptable discussion... to a lot of stuff typically verboten.

The metering happens with technology, medicines and many other things, for maximal profit.