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After Rick Perry's Stem Cell Treatment, Misplaced Enthusiasm?
oxide7 writes "Presidential candidate Rick Perry underwent a controversial stem-cell treatment this past month, prompting some doctors to fear the high-profile event would send the wrong signal to desperate patients. 'As a highly influential person of power, Perry's actions have the unfortunate potential to push desperate patients into the clinics of quacks,' Dr. George Q. Daley said."
Don't use Stem Cells. Mr. Perry - please explain yourself.
Your Friends,
~The Tea Party
A candidate who has prayer rallies as part of his campaign is into quackery? Gee, who possibly could have seen this coming.
There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
Well, he isn't being too much of a hypocrite. Rick Perry earlier said he was against embryonic stem cell research http://www.chron.com/news/article/Perry-speaks-out-against-abortion-stem-cell-1498123.php So instead he's using his own stem cells in a poorly studied and as yet not very well understood process. He could have been a real hypocrite and done something with embryonic stem cells. But nope, he's pushed for the screwing over of science and medicine and he's going to stick with it. Of course, there's the secondary problem that even reliable, well-studied adult stem cell research is based to a large extent on information we got from studying embryonic stem cells. So even if this does work he will be benefiting from the research he despises. So I guess there is a small bit of hypocrisy but it isn't nearly as bad as it could have been.
Yes, Rick Perry is against embryonic stem cell research. Yes, this treatment did NOT use embryonic stem cells.
Please do not say that Republicans or conservatives are against stem cell research. Conservatives are against the destruction of an embryo for the purposes of scientific research. Embryonic stem cell research is still government funded provided that it uses old stem cell lines or adult derived stem cells.
With that said, let's leave the straw-men in the field.
There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
preface: Rick Perry's public statements have lead me to believe he is a very ill-informed or decietful person with regards to his political views. That is not what this post is about.
Before anyone jumps the gun and goes for the "hippocrite" line, the stem cells used were adult, not embryonic as his party as absurdly become opposed to for poorly informed reasons. Just worth noting.
Yes, if you're going to be The Decider, your decisions will be under a lot of scrutiny. If you've fallen prey to false claims in the medical field, you're likely to be manipulated by political quacks too.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
Sorry, but being gullible to quacks does not speak well of one's suitability to hold perhaps the world's most powerful office.
"clinics of quacks" actually appeared in the summary, and yet NOTHING from "Dr" Bob yet?
"Candidate's love of tuna + mac-n-cheese is extreme and wildly outside the mainstream..."
If the candidate has a political platform against tuna + mac-n-cheese, then yes.
(However, the embryonic vs non-embryonic is the difference at stake here)
Then there are others whose main problem is their *central* nervous system. Had yours checked lately?
For anyone thinking of voting for Mister Perry let me inform you as someone who has met the man and lived in the state he's governed for most my life he is not someone you want in your white house. He's managed to distance himself over the last few years from Bush Jr but that's only political maneuvering they are still part of the same good old boys club and move in the same circles. He's even using the same tactic as bush and trying to get in good with the religious circles to try and get votes. The one time I met and spoke with the met I came away feeling dirty, he's got the feeling of a snake oil salesman.
If God is the creator of life, and the one who decides when your time is up, then isn't tricking your cells into becoming stem cells again defying God's will (or playing God)?
No, I don't have an answer to that, it's just a question. Just wondering where people draw the line between medicine and "playing God", since "God's will/province" is a central concept in the fight against embryonic stem cell research and abortion.
make imaginary.friends COUNT=100 VISIBLE=false
Name one politician who isn't in a good ol boys club.
The very act of getting elected induces them into the "goodest, oldest" boys club there is: that of the people who rule over us with impunity.
Or are you operating under the illusion that there is one group of politicians who are the good guys and another that are the bad guys? Then why do big corporations contribute to them equally? Why does neither side support any kind of real campaign finance reform? Why do both sides fight so hard to maintain the status quo? Answer: because the status quo is their club.
Stem cells are people.
Corporations are people.
Therefore, by transitivity, stem cells are corporations.
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Mussolini
According to TFA, the surgery was a complete success and is doing what it was supposed to do.
TFA did not say Rick Perry went to a quack. TFA said that there is a fear that people will think stem cells are magic cures and will seek out quacks who claim to heal them, all because they "heard Rick Perry did it."
Fifth post, Dr. B? Used to be that you were reliably #1. Looks like you're slowing down, perhaps you need to take a break from posting online to sort out your sublaxations to get back to your peak.
Is 1563649 a prime number?
I had no idea that stem cell treatments are false claims in the medical field.
I know there ARE those who claim false things about them, but wasn't "stem cell research" a huge issue in the last few years ... with most people, especially the medical field, fighting for more? especially embryonic?
Here's the actual procedure:
The Republican contender, who has access to the best medicine, chose to get stem cells removed from his fat from his back and then reinserted in attempts to fix a bad back.
And the criticism:
"As a highly influential person of power, Perry's actions have the unfortunate potential to push desperate patients into the clinics of quacks" who are selling unproven treatments "for everything from Alzheimer's to autism," Dr. George Q. Daley, of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute told the Associated Press.
There's no statement that it's a quack. It has not been "thoroughly vetted by researchers or approved by the FDA." ("thoroughly" seems like a key word there).
So, according to Daley, I guess presidential candidates can never try an experimental treatment? Progress: only allow the lesser people (peasants) to have somewhat experimental/unproven medical procedures done; the upper class should wait.
If it was someone else (no, I'm not referring to any other political figure), I wonder if we would herald him as being brave enough to further science by allowing his problem be tested on for a cure.
Context matters a lot. Is the experimental treatment part of the process to get the treatment FDA approved? Or is it a couple of guys a strip mall with a syringe and a centrifuge?
I guarantee you it's a lot more like the latter than the former. The FDA would like to shut these guys down, but your own cells aren't legally considered a drug. The FDA is going to court to try to change that.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
Thus conservatives does not want an embryo destroyed which is just a few cells.
But with cloning a booger with a few living cell in it can be potential to make a new
individual...thus shall we not destroy any booger or piece of skin ?
I think conservatives have to decide, why an embryo should not be destroyed or when/which few cells == "potential of living babies"
or life.
The pot just called the kettle black!
I RTFA, the average Tea Party Mind will hear "Stem Cells", and make a life decision there; regardless of fact. If Parry should debate the President, Obama's accusation of Parry not spending funds set aside to help the poor just so Parry could bank roll personal projects in a failing Texas sized state economy will be stinging. Like wise, people want to go to work, and will vote for the candidate that get them work.
I am reminded of an old joke, "Most Tea Party Types will not change their mind on Thursday given new information discovered on Wednesday for a personal judgement made on Tuesday."
I have no idea exactly how it was "experimental." It wasn't done by a random dude in a mall:
Perry underwent a spinal fusion procedure from Stanley C. Jones, MD, a Houston orthopaedic surgeon. But it wasn’t as routine as it sounds. During the operation, Jones gave Perry an infusion of adult stem cells in an effort to speed recovery.
(source).
Exactly how sanctioned that is I suppose is debatable... companies in other countries Japan, China, South Korea) are mentioned.
Bob, you're slipping you're usually the first post in a medical related topic.
He is some random dude. Just because he has an MD doesn't make him a researcher. MDs "prescribe" treatments like homeopathy all the time. Not effective, not FDA approved, but the government can't do anything about it. That's exactly what's happening here.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
Rick Perry considered a bad role model for poor people.
make imaginary.friends COUNT=100 VISIBLE=false
What's next? "Candidate's love of tuna + mac-n-cheese is extreme and wildly outside the mainstream..."
I seem to recall Bush the first getting in trouble for saying he didn't like broccoli. So... no, not next, that already happened over a decade ago.
No, TFA is talking exactly about this procedure, which is expensive and incredibly dangerous. It's a procedure with no evidence of any benefit and many documented dangers, but banning is being fought in court because "it's just cells from the patients own body, you cannot ban a man from having his own cells in his own body!" He's recovering from the surgery, but it's far too early to tell whether or not his body is going to be riddled with tumorous growths, which happens with this sort of quackery. Hence, in TFA, actual researchers saying they'd never allow anybody they know to do it. In a way this is far worse than the chiropractors who "cure" HIV and cancer (because all disease is caused by pinched nerves, you know), because at least chiropractors (almost) never kill patients.
ASCII stupid question, get a stupid ANSI
When a public figure is caught doing something he was telling other people not to do?
why? because 'i don't want anyone else but me and my buddies getting it instead of you.' or 'all other (insert group like gays or lesbians here) are evil except for me so that's why'. Neither gets people to follow you nor votes.
Likewise, trusting someone who claims that injecting stem cells into you can help anything in any way is quite dangerous. At the current time, we know very little about how the damn things actually work. Thanks, largely, to people like Rick Perry. But what did those guys expect, that science would magically continue to progress after all the roadblocks they put in its path? So here we are, with a technique that, had we started studying it 15 years ago when we first started talking about it, may have extended the lives of old people (like many members of Congress,) but Congress shut all that down. And now they're turning to us* with their hands outstretched, expecting salvation. Sorry guys, science doesn't work that way. Even if you put your faith in it.
Of course, from what *I* understand about stem cells, injecting yourself with them all willy-nilly is as likely to lead to cancer as it is to a positive outcome. Or possibly growing an eyeball in the affected area. I bet Rick Perry will come to the taxpayer for some of that awesome government health care that the rest of us can't have, if he's suddenly afflicted with a case of back-eyeballs.
* Well, biologists. I went into computer science so I wouldn't have to deal with squishy biological things.
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
Seriously - when did we get to a point where there is only one right way to think, talk, and act?
When Roger Ailes teamed up with Rupert Murdoch in 1996.
[End Of Line]
Can the base that cares about this sort of thing (pro-life, anti-science Christians) could make the distinction?
It's a real golden opportunity. An honest to God politician to make a mess of Perry's campaign. One of his Republican challengers might do it even if the Dems are wishy-washy to do it.
Then again, here we have someone who's dedicated to seeing the poor don't have access to healthcare utilizing the best we've got to offer.
Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
Those treatments would probably use somatic cell nuclear transfer of modified material. IE they'd take the genetic information out of your cell, fix whatever was wrong with it and create a new embryo out of that. So you can sit back and enjoy the show as righties flip out because it involves cloning and creation of embryos for destruction while lefties will flip out over that it uses genetic engineering and genetically modified organisms.(Because if there's any form of science liberals hate it's genetic engineering. Oh well, -1 for being a troll, right?)
Did you know 80 to 90% of the moderators on slashdot wouldn't recognize a troll even if one dragged them under a bridge.
If Parry should debate the President, Obama's accusation of Parry not spending funds set aside to help the poor just so Parry could bank roll personal projects in a failing Texas sized state economy will be stinging.
What's stinging about the use of the funds? Balancing Texas's budget is important while sending kickbacks to the poor for electricity is not. You have to prioritize.
And it's worth noting that Texas is not a "failing Texas sized state economy," but is doing well relatively with significant economic growth compared to other large states.
As an aside, I note the Rolling Stone piece is just another story claiming all sorts of moral faults with the Tea Party. Here, the author decries the alleged hypocrisy of people who advocate benefit cuts for others than themselves. But guess what I don't see? I don't see someone with the guts to call the Tea Party on its supposed bluff.
Maybe those tea partiers will fold the moment they realize that their own government largess has to be cut in order for a spending cut to occur. My bet is that you'll find that most tea partiers are willing to sacrifice for the general good. I know I am.
Hrm - he doesn't seem too much like "some random dude" - or any more random than other specialists in their field and who run a hospital backed research treatment center.
This is political bullshit of the highest order - and full of hypocrisy. This has *nothing* to do with factual relevance - and has *everything* to do with trying to manufacture something about a politician because you don't him. This is birther insanity in reverse.
Seems kinda lame and weak that there was an instant down-shift to ad hominem to attack the doctor as a quack because they don't like Rick Perry's political positions.
Basically - this argument is "some scientists criticize a politician because he went to another scientist for an experimental treatment using adult stem cells to help alleviate back pain; so because we don't like him, we want to use this criticism as a justification to question his decision making ability."
I think there are a lot of people who've benefited from adult stem cell research that would disagree that this is quackery.
Because someone who wants to be "The Decider" is open to medical research and treatments, even for himself, this is a bad thing? Because you don't agree with his decision to try and alleviate his back pain? *THIS* is a politically justifiable position? I strongly disagree and find it very narrow minded.
I don't care either way about this and don't understand why others do - I know people with chronic pain will try just about anything to help alleviate it. Frankly, I sort of find it a plus in someone wanting to be "The Decider" has hit the limits of modern medical practice and has had to try procedures "outside the system". They would likely be more apt to consider the patient's needs when it comes to making decisions about such matters better than someone who's never experienced such a scenario.
It sucks when a doctor says there's nothing we can do for your pain.
Having lost a family member to cancer, I can tell you with absolute certainty that criticizing someone for seeking pain relief by any means necessary is ignorant, short-sighted, and selfish. I don't care how many letters there are behind someone's name; they do not know everything and cannot say with *any* certainty how someone body will react. I've seen it first hand so if you think I'm wrong you can suck it. My sister battled intestinal cancer and they couldn't manage her pain for shit with normal treatments.
You wanna criticize for this - nice ... why not just tell people in constant pain "fuck you, you're a dumb ass because some scientists don't agree".
When my sister was dying, we hit the end of the "approved treatments". From acupuncture to drugs - we tried anything and everything to alleviate the pain from her intestinal cancer. The solution was experimental and caused blisters in her mouth - but it was fucking worth it.
Politicizing medicine is a *really*, *really* bad idea and borders on unconscionably fascist thinking. It ignores the plight of many, be them janitors or governors, who can't find a treatment that works and whose only hope of relief is an experimental treatment.
If I were in his position, I would weigh the benefits and the risks and make the right decision for me. For people in this thread, or in the press, or scientists who have *NO* direct knowledge of the circumstances or of his medical condition to act like they have the moral authority to judge is just silly, hateful rhetoric founded not in sound decision but instead in partisan attacks.
Hell, I don't even like Perry that much. I live in Texas and even I, not _even_ the smartest guy in the room, know that this is a f*cking joke of an issue and only makes the people jumping on it look unreasonably partisan.
/me sips his coffee and ponders a new sig...
He may or may not have been duped. He definitely agreed to undergo a medical procedure regarded as risky by respected practitioners, but that's not the same thing. Furthermore, if making a personal decision that most people wouldn't agree with disqualifies one from political office, clearly no one would be truly qualified. Instead, there seems to be a more basic rule at play: if we are sympathetic towards the politician, the mistake is unrelated; if we are not, it's not.
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Focusing concern on possible copycats instead of Perry himself is just a way to avoid accusations of taking sides politically. As a voter representing only myself, I don't have that concern. Perry's "treatment" is little different than Nancy Reagan's practice of astrology.
I agree, it begins by one person standing up and saying, "No More, I draw the line here." I now call the Tea Party followers, "a group of selfish, self serving, hypocrites, proudly ignorant; Cowards, All." As evidence of my acid belch, I give Dick Parry himself. Where did this government worker of over 12 years get the funds to use for a therapy involving stem cells? From a government subsidized medical plan? And which Medical Plan is it? I find myself more than willing to cite case on this issue. Lets begin with the heat murdered lower income citizens of Texas, all because Parry's political business model needs money so it can fail more.
But the Tea Party is a false beard. The Tea Party are the minions of a group of American Business owners that have traded their citizenship for 13 pieces of silver. These are the true Plague of Locus that are ravaging our noble country. These "money first, then country" ego-villains are far more sinister than the leaders of failed Fascist states. When these cancerous leeches have sucked Ireland dry, they will move on; and from the news reports, they have already begun.
Proud Republican since 1971. And Damn the Tea Party.
Stand tall Non Texas Tea Party believer. Don't accept any money from the U.S. government. Renounce your SSI, Medicaid, Medical benefits, and Tax Exemptions. And when you need help, ignore your community, because? Because you made a "Bad Decision."
Your own words betray your lack of clarity. You think its OK to let those who need life giving help during Texas's current heat wave, to not receive help at all? Rolling Stone Magazine an authority? For a group of writers, they sure nailed the Tea Party Demographics. And lets just take a look at Dick Parry's political business model. If it was so great, then why does he steal money's from the poor to maintain it? The Tea Party, and Mrs. Governor Dick Parry are not your friend; these people are like Alligators. They'll will eat anything you give them, then they'll eat you. Their community is only made of one person, themselves.
If his company's website is to be believed (http://www.spinecareusa.com/dr-stanley-jones.php), he isn't some random dude but somebody with a decent record.
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You say "Dick Parry" instead of "Rick Perry". Surely your arguments must be correct.
Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
Stand tall Non Texas Tea Party believer. Don't accept any money from the U.S. government. Renounce your SSI, Medicaid, Medical benefits, and Tax Exemptions. And when you need help, ignore your community, because? Because you made a "Bad Decision."
That's a deal as long as the US stops taking the money out of my check. Call my bluff. As to my community, it's not Uncle Sam so I'm not going to do that.
Your own words betray your lack of clarity. You think its OK to let those who need life giving help during Texas's current heat wave, to not receive help at all?
Nope, that's not the issue. It's money in a fund not Texans in yet another heat wave. There's this amazing naivety that assumes that when some politician spends money that the money goes to the stated purpose. Well, here's a story that proves that just isn't so.
There's also a group of people that seem to take the crap Ayn Rand wrote and use it as an instruction manual. There's always going to be Texans in heat waves. And the more money there is to fund their lifestyle, the more of them there'll be and the hotter the heat wave they'll be in. Pay people to be in need and you create a long term problem.
For a group of writers, they sure nailed the Tea Party Demographics.
And so what? Do I have to be white and elderly (as described in the article) to make the right choice for the future of the US? Is that really the only ethnic group that cares?
I doubt it. Most other ethnic groups have the problem that Republicans and maybe the Tea Party don't represent them so well. But they got to be worrying about what's going to happen to themselves and their children too. I figure they won't vote Republican, but nor will they vote for Obama. They'll just not vote at all.
The Tea Party, and Mrs. Governor Dick Parry are not your friend; these people are like Alligators.
That's ok with me. I got a little gator in me too. Needless to say, I'm not looking for a friend for president either. I'm looking for an adult to clean up after this latest batch of kids.
They'll will eat anything you give them, then they'll eat you. Their community is only made of one person, themselves.
Thanks for the kindergarden level fable. You have a point? As I see it, all politicians are dangerous. But I'd rather have gators in office than the current load of tapeworms. Tapeworms eat what you just ate, consuming you from the inside; skimming a little off the top of everything you make; making your life a little harder and you a little thinner.
At least a gator will eat the easy food first, like political merchants (or seisho as the Japanese would call it). I'm looking for a little blood in the water as all the business- and labor-side parasites get chewed for their cooperation with the current administration. I'm not looking for major retribution, just political tit for tat commensurate to the level of graft they picked up. As long as they receive enough punishment so that it gets factored into the next feeding frenzy at the public trough even with short horizon thinkers in charge.
And if the gater gets a bit too hungry? There's 2014 and 2016 to keep the gators in line. That's the hope and change I believe in.
he's gullible by default as demonstrated by his religious stance.
"The hands that help are better far than lips that pray." - Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899)
I read bullshit like what you've just wrote and I have to ask, do you really not have a clue what's going on? The US spends way more than it takes in for years and it spends most of that money on garbage. This is all public record.
But you're in Animal Farm territory wondering what went wrong while your porcine masters keep blaming the humans (here, rich people in Ireland). Maybe you're somewhat improved, realizing that you've been exploited all along, and have advanced to a state of helpless, hysterical cynicism. Or maybe you have growths in your brain where common sense would be in a normal human.
All I know is that you don't grasp the US's fiscal situation. The US spends a lot more than it takes. And more than half of what it takes is in no sense an investment, a payment made with the expectation of a greater return. That just by itself is a giant, glaring sign that there's too much spending. Sure, raise taxes a little or make them fairer, if that floats your boat. Just don't forget that the fundamental problem is that we're spending too much and on the wrong things.
Or maybe you think someone, someone other than yourself, that is, should be paying for this swag. The rich already have that solved. They moved their money to Ireland.
I'm tired of the Orwellian nonsense. Keep blaming the rich rather than fixing the problems and the US will keep circling the drain. We're chasing off the people who make jobs, build things, and do stuff. We're spending vast sums of money on pointless stuff. And your response is impotent ranting about betrayal. All I can say in response is that you aren't worth 13 pieces of silver to betray.
Well, this is not so strange. He's a fundamentalist Christian. He believes in Creationism. He is a Global Warming denier. Opposes taxes, Social Security and public education, supports anti-sodomy laws (yeah, that's right, he supports laws ruling what people do in the privacy of their beds), etc.
I mean, this guy believes in retarded fairy tales and is a major douchebag. What's so surprising about him believing stem cell quackery?
Elect this guy and he'll turn the USA into a Third World country. But hey, it's your choice.
And being a strong believer in Intelligent Design does?
It's a procedure with no evidence of any benefit and many documented dangers, but banning is being fought in court because "it's just cells from the patients own body, you cannot ban a man from having his own cells in his own body!" He's recovering from the surgery, but it's far too early to tell whether or not his body is going to be riddled with tumorous growths, which happens with this sort of quackery. Hence, in TFA, actual researchers saying they'd never allow anybody they know to do it.
Are you sure this isn't a natural selection system to keep stupid people out of our gene pool?
chiropractors who "cure" HIV and cancer (because all disease is caused by pinched nerves, you know), because at least chiropractors (almost) never kill patients.
They kill them by turning them away from appropriate treatments.
Subby, your headline doesn't parse in English. What language was that supposed to be? Question headlines suck as a rule, but this... wow, this is just terrible. Try forming a complete thought next time. Maybe start with basic grammar like: subject, verb, object. What are the teaching in schools these days?
On a site that is supposedly for nerds/geeks who are supposedly people of above average intelligence, i expect the writing to be at least up to the fifth grade level.
Utilizing the synergization of benchmark e-solutions to pre-workaround action items!
I don't even care about Perry. There are plenty of other reasons not to vote for him and this one won't change anyones mind. I'm honestly more appalled that anyone could think that this quackery is medicine than that Perry would make a good president. In fact, the chances that Rick Perry will be the best president this country ever had dwarf the chances that this is effective medical treatment.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
I like your point that a president having gone through such a problem would "likely be more apt to consider the patient's needs". Alas, experience shows that what significant politicians experience when it comes to medical freedom seldom reaches the public. After his failed campaign, someone in Goldwater's family wanted an abortion, and Goldwater supported that decision, and thenceforth abortion generally. That had no effect on other politicians, particularly conservatives. Clinton, Bush Jr, and Obama all admitted to mind-altering drug use, and all explicitly rejected loosening laws.
The FDA and DEA are more powerful than, and almost as abusive as, the mafia. They aren't going to submit to any reduction in their power.
Contribute to civilization: ari.aynrand.org/donate
That's a deal as long as the US stops taking the money out of my check. Call my bluff. As to my community, it's not Uncle Sam so I'm not going to do that.
I hope you don't expect any roads to be fixed, any borders to be enforced, any gas to be subsidized or any laws to be upheld. I hope you don't want a firetruck to come when your house is on fire. I hope you don't mind of every little bit of forest being clearcut. The government is there for a reason. Fool.
But I'd rather have gators in office than the current load of tapeworms. Tapeworms eat what you just ate, consuming you from the inside; skimming a little off the top of everything you make; making your life a little harder and you a little thinner.
This sounds like a quote from Team America. But to continue the metaphor, I'd rather have a tapeworm problem than an alligator problem, thank you very much.
And if the gater gets a bit too hungry? There's 2014 and 2016 to keep the gators in line. That's the hope and change I believe in.
Do you really think you could hold out the US military if it descended into a Nazi-Germany style government? Alligators kill you. Your argument is invalid.
Help I am stuck in a signature factory!
While I don't like Governor Perry either he isn't the only one telling people what they can and can't do. Both parties do it, it is just with different issues, why should government decide that my kid can't have a stupid happy meal the one or two times a month when neither my wife or I have the energy or time to cook a proper dinner and just want some cheap quick food. As far as turning our country into a third world nation both parties have been doing that for a while with the various trade agreements, rampant spending, playing world police, and general nutjobbery. These have been done by both parties with the exception of spending during the Clintion era.
Time to offend someone
I find it hard to believe your government won't let you give fast food to your kids once a month. I live in Europe and I could raise my kids on fast food only, if I wanted to. So, what's your point?
About playing world police, I'm totally on your side. Please find more people like you and squeeze your politicians' nuts to end the stupidity. The rest of the world will be very thankful. Unfortunately, American corporations and their pet corrupt politicians around the globe don't feel the same.
And it's worth noting that Texas is not a "failing Texas sized state economy," but is doing well relatively with significant economic growth compared to other large states.
Oh, really?
So now a person's personal heath care decisions are game for criticism and would count against them for political consideration?
You bet they do, *when* : Perry preaches that all America's political and personal problems will be solved thru prayer. The fact that he went for scientific treatment shows his hypocrisy. Same as when some old fart joins the TeaBagger movement despite collecting medicare benefits.
https://app.box.com/WitthoftResume Code: https://github.com/cellocgw
I hope you don't expect any roads to be fixed, any borders to be enforced, any gas to be subsidized or any laws to be upheld. I hope you don't want a firetruck to come when your house is on fire. I hope you don't mind of every little bit of forest being clearcut. The government is there for a reason. Fool.
And I hope sometime you learn to read the past of the thread. Here's your original question:
Stand tall Non Texas Tea Party believer. Don't accept any money from the U.S. government. Renounce your SSI, Medicaid, Medical benefits, and Tax Exemptions. And when you need help, ignore your community, because? Because you made a "Bad Decision."
Note I rejected only the first group (SSI, Medicaid, Medical benefits, etc). This is reasonable because these don't have net societal benefit. They aren't an investment, but rather money that society is paying for stuff I can and should pay for.
Social Security has nothing to do with the roads, crime, etc. Nor do any of the other things on that list with the list of services you put down above. And I reasonably request that I not pay for taxes on services I do not consume. The obvious fair converse is that I do pay for services that I do consume. So yes, I will willingly pay for roads, police protection, etc. I'll just chalk this up to thrill of the kill excitement and maybe sloppy wording on my part.
My point here is that not everything the government does is of equal importance. I don't consider the entitlements such as Social Security, Medicaid, etc to be as important as police protection or (to a lesser degree) road maintenance. I'd rather not fund entitlements at all even though that might result in considerable hardship for me or people I care about.
Do you really think you could hold out the US military if it descended into a Nazi-Germany style government? Alligators kill you. Your argument is invalid.
Ah, we're playing yet another round of "Who's wearing the jackboots!" You might find it interesting to note that I have read on the internet people who speculated like that for every president since Clinton that the president would close down democracy. "Slick Willy" (the less than affectionate name for Bill Clinton) was going to dodge his crimes. Bushilter was going to exercise his natural fundamentalist tendencies, unless he nuked us first. Obamaniac treats the Constitution like toilet paper and now we're looking to have gator problems in the DC sewers. It's a never ending stream of baseless worry.
I imagine someone was worried that Bush elder was going to use his CIA connections to take over or Reagan was just going to get propped up in the corner so some puppetmaster took over.
I'm not going to vote for Obama because some poster on Slashdot has bad vibes about Perry. While I can still be fooled, I do have instincts about the integrity and reliability of a candidate. For example, Obama started tripping that instinct when he causally reversed his stance on FISA, a national security bill. At that point, I knew he'd say whatever it'd take to get elected. My vote for McCain has been vindicated, year after year.
At some point, you have to realize that dictatorship is not the only threat. In history, several democracies have grown so incompetent or criminal that their overthrow was inevitable. No, I don't want dictatorship. Nor do I want a democracy that is so loathsome, the people embrace dictatorship.
And that brings us to the tapeworm, Obama. A shallow, feckless guy with creepy fascist-style slogans and deceptive propaganda. He turns also to be vastly incompetent and surrounded by people with similar issues. Oh well. But someone is going to have to clean up his mess. And that looks to be a gator. Do you see cause (Obama) and effect (gator)? I do. Obama is probably going to end up as the butt of jokes ("the best Republican candidate in the election").
I'll remember Obama as a president who intentionally or not brought us one step closer to tyranny.
Since I figure people will just find yet another reason to get P.O.'ed about it. (But I'm pretty jaded and cynical)
Did you know 80 to 90% of the moderators on slashdot wouldn't recognize a troll even if one dragged them under a bridge.