23
POPSThreat To Medicines From Plant Extinctions The world's most widely-used cancer drug, is Paclitaxel, which is derived from the bark of several species of yew tree. Its complex chemical structure and biological function has so far made it impossible to produce artificially. ----- 80 per cent of the global population - rely on traditional plant-based medicine as their primary form of healthcare. -----
22
POPSWal-Mart "You Bastards"!!!! The company persuaded a federal district court judge and the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to award it the full amount, even though Shank's family had paid for the lawsuit. Nor did it matter that the settlement covered a fraction of her expenses and losses. Wal-Mart's healthcare plan clearly states that it gets first dibs on any money recovered by injured employees. Such provisions aren't uncommon in health plans, and Wal-Mart isn't the first to enforce one. Doing what the law allows isn't the same as doing the right thing, however. The company made itself whole at the expense of a helpless former employee who will never be whole again. Instead of having some resources to improve her care, Shank will receive only the basic services afforded her by Medicaid and Social Security. Nor will the trust fund be in a position to reimburse Medicaid (i.e., taxpayers), which stood to collect any unspent money upon Shank's death.
20
POPSAn Immoral Philosophy
More: It must be about philosophy, because it surely isn't about cost. One of the plans Mr. Bush opposes, the one approved by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the Senate Finance Committee, would cost less over the next five years than we'll spend in Iraq in the next four months. And it would be fully paid for by an increase in tobacco taxes. So what kind of philosophy says that it's O.K. to subsidize insurance companies, but not to provide health care to children? So his philosophy says that the government must be prevented from solving problems, even if it can. In fact, the more good a proposed government program would do, the more fiercely it must be opposed. denying basic health care to children whose parents lack the means to pay for it, simply because you're afraid that success in insuring children might put big government in a good light, is just morally wrong. it seems, more basic decency in the hearts of Americans than is dreamt of in Mr. Bush's philosophy.
19
POPSIs anyone surprised? Meanwhile, back at the homefront, soldiers and their families continue to bear the burden and suffering of the present conflicts, ALONE. Often, those who express their deepest concern and have the highest level of awareness, are NOT in a position of power to do anything about the present debacle, and the coming avalanche of human misery. We veterans and families of military easily discuss our expereinces of betrayal we have with our governmental agencies and organizations. Yet we are somehow silent when we look at or sit next to our neighbor and fellow citizens. We accept our isolation and alienation as our fate as if we will always be misunderstood or disregarded misfits.
16
POPSStill a Democracy. 'How about you?' The voters will decide, with a far stronger opposition media than exists in the USA proselytising against the government. Venezuelans have not lost civil liberties the way people in the US or the UK have in recent years, and ordinary citizens continue to have more say in their government, and share more in its oil wealth, than ever before. It is doubtful that the referendum will reverse these changes, regardless of the outcome. He does seem to be trying to give the poor some healthcare and some hope. 'How about you?'
14
POPSThe Uninsured are Dying Who says it isn't hurting anyone to be without health insurance....not I...it makes sense to put off check ups when you don't have the money to pay or to wait as long as you can hoping you feel better when you get sick...They know it is hurting us, They did a Study on on it. So how can we ignore the truth?
14
POPSThe Bushies Pre-emptively attack Michael Moore
Once again the Bushies have decided to preemptively attack Michael Moore over his new documentary, SICKO. This is a film about the lack of adequate health care in the richest country in the world; the United States of America. Understand, that there are certain things Michael Moore does and says that do not meet with my applause, but when he is right he is right. The U.S. should be embarrassed by its lack of health care for every citizen of the country, no matter what their financial situation. Health care is not a privilege, it is a right. This is especially true in a country as vastly wealthy as the U.S. It is criminal for tens of millions of people to be out of the loop for proper medical care. The Bushies and the conservative Republicans will say or do anything to scare the citizenry away from national health care. But just ask the people of Canada what they think of their system, even with the problems it faces. It is not perfect. But no one is left uncared for.
13
POPSThe Lowest of the Low Every time I believe the right-wing nutters have reached their bottom when it comes to smear tactics, I find myself being shocked back into reality. Now we have Rush Limbaugh, Michellle Malkin, Mark Styne and Senator Mitch McConnell attacking a 12-year-old boy whose family made use of the schip program to help pay for the medical needs he and his sister incurred in a serious automobile accident. They accuse this child of lying for political reasons. This is the same kind of thing Limbaugh and his cronies did to Michael J. Fox when he campaigned for stem cell research, when Limbaugh claimed Mr. Fox was faking his symptoms in order to gain sympathy. Do these people have no feelings whatsoever? To smear a sick child for their own even sicker political purposes is beneath contempt.
11
POPSIslamophobia Worst Form of Terrorism, Islamic Foreign Ministers Say Sorry bub, I don't buy it! You made your own bed and have been doing so for 1400 years, give or take. Your issues with us are nothing new. Islam has fundamental problems which FAR outweigh the problems of the other major religions of the world. Do I sound biased? I'm not. I'm merely stating a fact which is rapidly becoming common knowledge in many parts of the world. Please don't bother to issue a fatwa calling for my death. I'm not concerned!