The LIVESTRONG Army Wants You
This morning I received an email from Lance Armstrong about his recent LIVESTRONG Presidential Forum on Cancer and LIVESTRONGArmy.org.
We must ensure our next President is focused on the cancer issue. He or she must be committed to our health and well-being and have the political will to do something about it…
…It is time to turn the number one killer of Americans under 85 into the number one election issue.
The president is responsible for my health now? The number one election issue? Really? On the surface it sounds like a great cause to a lot of good intentioned people, but if I were in the race my response to Lance’s question — what would I do as president to fight cancer — would simply be, “Nothing.” America is never going to get off the road to Socialism until people start asking questions like, “Is fighting cancer within the scope of the government’s role?” Thoughts?
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/18/bush-cancer/
war is expensive.
The government can do all things for me… I’m thinking about asking them to cut my grass too.
Yes, government should promote progress in areas that benefit the whole – and both sides are adept at taking claim or blaming the other for curing and causing many ills.
@Rob: That’s a lot of money…increasing 1.2 billion since 2001!!!
@stelmo: Our grass is getting high…especially the back yard. Since we don’t have a homeowners’ association to come force me to mow our grass, it’ll take the government to get it done. However, we’re unincorporated out here and I doubt the county will do anything. What a shame that my tax money is being wasted on pork when it could go to something important like beautifying the suburban landscape and getting my neighbors off my back.
I’d like to narrow the definition down beyond “benefit the whole,” because of what’s been done with the interpretation of the General Welfare clause of the Constitution. When you say both sides, who do you mean? Dems vs. Reps? Politicians vs. Citizens?
People die from cancer every day because they do not get screened early enough or they lack insurance. Lance and the foundation seek to change that. Further, our govt has the $ and opportunity to research and find the cure. Obviously healthcare overall in this country needs to be overhauled. In the USA no one should die from disease that can be treated when caught in time and no one should be denied life because they cannot afford the treatment needed to fight the illness. Perhaps if you had a life threatening illness, you would not make such remarks against the effort.
Umm.. I don’t think anyone is remarking against the effort. You may need to re-read the post. The remarks were pointed at the government. IMO.
Scott,
Just realized you are blogging again. I’m glad to read it. Anyhoo, I’m tired of big government? Anyone else?
Obviously cancer is a huge concern and given enough time it would affect all of us (be it a relative, friend or ourselves), but from my limited understanding of science curing cancer is like curing the common cold, there is not one type of cancer, nor is their one “cold”.
Could more money be spent? Sure. Is it the #1 campaign issue? No. I’ve realized that pouring money into problems doesn’t solve them.. I just wish our elected officials would learn that some day. Unfortunately, that will never be the case.
/rant when did spending a lot of government, and increasing spending on everything become a “conservative” thing to do??
/endrant