Polio almost gone, but AIDS still here
Apr. 8th, 2004 10:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
javasaurusWTOPnews.com posted an article on the eradication of polio with this morning's news. Very good news. But the article also warns [U.S. health secretary, Tommy Thompson] said 8,500 people die daily from HIV/AIDS, adding, "That's the same as 40 jumbo airliners crashing every day, and 14,000 more are coming down with AIDS every day."
Where is the war on AIDS? Where is the 87 billion dollar allocation for AIDS research? Yes, there is a chunk of change poured into AIDS research every year, and progress is being made steadily, if slowly. The truth is probably that more money wouldn't necessarily help, especially if qualified scientists are what we need, not money. But more money applied to education would mean we'd have more qualified scientists. More money for education about the facts vs. myths of AIDS (especially safe sex) would reduce the spread of the disease. More money for healthcare so people with AIDS can afford the medications that already exist would reduce the death/illness toll which costs the nation time and money, and hurts not only the victims but also their loved ones.
Instead of working against a clear threat to the world, we are instead locked into an expensive, no-end-in-sight war based on no clear threat which has made us the scorn of the world, when we could be its worthy leader.
Where is the war on AIDS? Where is the 87 billion dollar allocation for AIDS research? Yes, there is a chunk of change poured into AIDS research every year, and progress is being made steadily, if slowly. The truth is probably that more money wouldn't necessarily help, especially if qualified scientists are what we need, not money. But more money applied to education would mean we'd have more qualified scientists. More money for education about the facts vs. myths of AIDS (especially safe sex) would reduce the spread of the disease. More money for healthcare so people with AIDS can afford the medications that already exist would reduce the death/illness toll which costs the nation time and money, and hurts not only the victims but also their loved ones.
Instead of working against a clear threat to the world, we are instead locked into an expensive, no-end-in-sight war based on no clear threat which has made us the scorn of the world, when we could be its worthy leader.
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no subject
Date: 2004-04-08 07:50 am (UTC)Keep in mind who's in charge here
Date: 2004-04-08 08:07 am (UTC)They're not in any hurry because as Paragons some seem to think AIDS will weed out the problems of society and eventually the pure will survive. This seems especially true now that blood-screening is preventing AIDS spread in hospitals (unlike the 80s). The "system" they've created will protect them and those like them, and let the rest die. It doesn't affect THEM anymore, so they quite honestly don't care.
yeah, real christian-like, isn't it?
you'll note my lack of capitals in christian; I only use caps when I mean the real thing, not these jackasses.
Re: Keep in mind who's in charge here
Date: 2004-04-08 08:13 am (UTC)Many in the christian right are simply incapable of seeing that conflict of interests, just as they can't see how their actions directly parallel those of the pharasees that Christ spent all of his week in Jerusalem condemning. (to oddly bring it to the topic of this week in the church calendar)
A related WTOPnews article on funding
Date: 2004-04-08 08:28 am (UTC)Presidential AIDS relief funding