no third solution » American Politics
Edwards on Rx Advertising
“With such aggressive and often misleading drug company marketing, it’s too easy for advertising — instead of doctors or proven results — to influence families’ health decisions.” — Democratic Presidential Hopeful, John Edwards Ummmm, no matter how much is spent on advertising, and no matter how sexy or appealing a certain drug may sound to the lay person, isn’t the decision to write (or not write) a prescription ultimately made by a doctor? This isn’t a choice between two brands of beer (e.g.,) that we’re talking about here – you can’t just go to the Pharmacy and pick up some Plavix just because the commercial is catchy. And you can’t simply go to your doctor and request a prescription for a particular drug, either. It’s just not that easy. Then … Read entire article »
Filed under: American Politics, Legalese
Mmmm. Cloneburgers
The FDA has decided [stale link] that it is safe to eat cloned animals, and with all the starvation and suffering in the world today, you’d think that everyone would rejoice at this news. But everyone isn’t: “Meat and milk from cloned animals have no benefit for consumers, and consumers don’t want them in their foods,” [Consumer Federation of America spokesperon, Carol Tucker] Foreman said Meat and milk from naturally conceived animals has no benefit for consumers, either. Unless, you know, they eat the meat and drink the milk. As to whether consumers do or do not want cloned product in their foods: the only way we could say that with any degree of certainty is if we put those products to the market test. If consumers buy … Read entire article »
Filed under: American Politics, Food & Drink
The Slippery Slope
A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. That’s the second amendment, folks. And I intend to show what prior courts and my opponents have neglected to take into account: the context of the amendment, the necessity of the protection it affords us, and the necessary limitations on the rights granted to the State. Here are the arguments, and discredited: Guns are a tool, and nothing more. The same can be said about a can-opener, an automobile, an lead pipe, a piano-wire or a computer. This is a null-statement, devoid of any meaning applicable to this debate. Many right wingers are opposed to any sort of regulation of guns that might limit the … Read entire article »
Filed under: American Politics, Gun Control