Since the bulk of the cuts would be salaries for the people implementing these programs, what is the plan to address the resulting unemployment, the loss of tax revenues for those left unemployed and cover the unemployment payments to those whose jobs will be cut by the budget reductions? (And we'll forget, for the moment, the impact of the loss of those federal salary dollars on the small businesses around the country where the now unemployed workers once spent their money.)
The primary flaw in GOP plans to cut spending, both at the federal level and at the state level (as far as I have seen) is that they are all shortsighted, and imagine that the problem can be addressed by cutting spending. The fact of the matter is, however, that cutting spending only serves to exacerbate the problem, for the most part. Cutting government spending leads directly to increased unemployment, because government spending is jobs. Not only that, they are some of the best jobs left, since our industrial base has permanently outsourced most of the country's best paying manufacturing jobs.
If Republicans were really serious about addressing the problem, they would own up to the fact that tax rates are unrealistically low, that past tax cuts did not create jobs, that government spending is one of the surest ways to increase employment, and that paying higher taxes to live in a healthier, more prosperous country is actually a good thing. The reality is, the countries with the lowest tax rates are places most of us would not care to live. That is not a coincidence, it is true by design.
Republican Study Group Issues Proposed Budget Cuts
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Retracted autism study an 'elaborate fraud,' British journal finds - CNN.com
The Wakefield study, first published in Lancet in 1998, has been widely criticized, soundly debunked and impossible to replicate. The article released today by BMJ officially moves the study from the realm of shoddy research and rash conclusions into the province of intentional fraud.
The motive? Money. Lots of money. First of all, there was the upfront payment of over a half million US dollars from a group of lawyers who hoped to profit from suing vaccine manufacturers, a fact that was conveniently concealed for over five years. Add to that the money he stood to make from his medical "tests" that would form the basis of the law suits and his percentage of the proceeds from litigation, and you have a more than plausible motive for the crime.
Retracted autism study an 'elaborate fraud,' British journal finds - CNN.com
The motive? Money. Lots of money. First of all, there was the upfront payment of over a half million US dollars from a group of lawyers who hoped to profit from suing vaccine manufacturers, a fact that was conveniently concealed for over five years. Add to that the money he stood to make from his medical "tests" that would form the basis of the law suits and his percentage of the proceeds from litigation, and you have a more than plausible motive for the crime.
Retracted autism study an 'elaborate fraud,' British journal finds - CNN.com
Friday, December 31, 2010
Georgia Bill Would Force State Taxpayers To Pay Only In Gold Or Silver
The bright side of this idiocy is the bill was filed in Georgia, not South Carolina... Of course, our state legislature loves to imitate stupid, so I expect a similar bill will be filed here soon.
ThinkProgress » Georgia Bill Would Force State Taxpayers To Pay Only In Gold Or Silver
ThinkProgress » Georgia Bill Would Force State Taxpayers To Pay Only In Gold Or Silver
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
In retrospect...
I have concluded what was for me, a unique experience. I participated in a clinical trial testing the efficacy of pagoclone for the treatment of persistent developmental stuttering in adults. My participation in the study came about largely by chance. Several years ago, I believe it was the fall of 2005, I had learned that a study was being conducted, and I even went so far as to speak to a representative about participating in the study. I decided not to participate at that time, largely because the closest trial site was in Atlanta, a five hour drive away.
I had forgotten about my previous contact when I was contacted about participating a later phase of the study. The earlier phase had suggested promising results, and the next phase was being opened to a larger sample to test the earlier results. I initially agreed to participate in the study in Atlanta, despite the distance. I went so far as to drive to Atlanta for a pre-study screening (to determine that I met the criteria for the study). Two days after the screening in Atlanta, I was contacted by a research firm in Raleigh about participating in the same study there. Since Raleigh was only two and a half hours away, I dis-enrolled in the Atlanta study and enrolled in the Raleigh study.
The initial 32-week phase was conducted as a double-blind placebo controlled study. Participants were divided into three groups. One group would receive .30mg twice a day, another would get .60mg twice a day, and one group would get a placebo. In addition, half of the first and second groups would get a placebo for 12 of the 32 weeks, while half of the placebo group would get .075mg twice a day. Neither the participants nor the investigators were aware of which group individuals belonged to. The efficacy was measured by videoing participants reading from a prepared script and talking to an investigator during office visits. The videos were scored to determine changes in the fluency level of participants. The second phase of the study was a 48-week open label trial.
Although I was never informed, and I have no reason to believe the investigator with whom I worked was ever aware, I judged by the results during the study that during the initial phase of the study that I was definitely getting at least a modest dosage of the drug. I saw a steady and noticeable improvement in my fluency over the first eight weeks of the initial phase and maintained that fluency level until after the second study visit, during the last 12 weeks of the initial phase, my fluency level decreased to baseline. The initial improvement did not result in a complete cessation of stuttering, but reduced the stuttering by more than 90% based on my estimates.
During the second phase of the study, I was receiving .60mg twice a day and the results were consistent with what I had seen in the first part of the initial phase. I was disappointed to learn the study was being suspended and the drug withdrawn at the end of the second phase. I was initially told I would continue to receive the drug until it was released on the market or drug was withdrawn. The results I experienced, while not "a cure," were the closest I have ever been to fluent in my 55 years. That I will miss. A lot.
Among the things I gained from the study was an understanding of the degree of anxiety present in my normal functioning level. Pagoclone was initially developed as an anxiolytic agent, and it was during the anti-anxiety clinical trials that its effect on stuttering was first noted. I suppose I have always known that I was a very anxious person, but since that condition was normal for me, I had no real concept of what it was to be relaxed. I knew my stuttering was worse when I was more anxious, but I stutter when I am "calm," so there was no reason for me to note a "cause and effect" relationship.
I was informed the drug was being withdrawn on my next to last study visit. I started doing some research, but nothing suggested an alternative anxiolytic that may affect stuttering. Prior to the study, I had taken several different herbs on a regular basis. I took St. John's Wort, which I had found to be effective in lifting the mild depression that had been my regular companion. I had used several other herbs, all of which I suspended for the study, but had found nothing which had produced the benefits from the study. One thing I uncovered during my independent research was something noting the classification of Valerian as a anxiolytic. I had used Valerian as an occasional sleep aid and still had some on hand. I decided to try substituting a twice daily dose of Valerian for the pagoclone at the conclusion of the study.
The study has been over for five weeks now, and I have been taking two Valerian capsules twice a day for that time (as I sleep aid, I was taking three capsules thirty minutes prior to bedtime). I can report that so far my fluency is better than it was before the study, but I have not had a real test to be able to measure how nearly the Valerian results approximate the results of the pagoclone. I have ordered another herb that I plan to add to my regimen, as I have some reason to suspect it may improve the Valerian results. I'll report more on my pagoclone replacement experiment after I have the opportunity to gather some more data.
I had forgotten about my previous contact when I was contacted about participating a later phase of the study. The earlier phase had suggested promising results, and the next phase was being opened to a larger sample to test the earlier results. I initially agreed to participate in the study in Atlanta, despite the distance. I went so far as to drive to Atlanta for a pre-study screening (to determine that I met the criteria for the study). Two days after the screening in Atlanta, I was contacted by a research firm in Raleigh about participating in the same study there. Since Raleigh was only two and a half hours away, I dis-enrolled in the Atlanta study and enrolled in the Raleigh study.
The initial 32-week phase was conducted as a double-blind placebo controlled study. Participants were divided into three groups. One group would receive .30mg twice a day, another would get .60mg twice a day, and one group would get a placebo. In addition, half of the first and second groups would get a placebo for 12 of the 32 weeks, while half of the placebo group would get .075mg twice a day. Neither the participants nor the investigators were aware of which group individuals belonged to. The efficacy was measured by videoing participants reading from a prepared script and talking to an investigator during office visits. The videos were scored to determine changes in the fluency level of participants. The second phase of the study was a 48-week open label trial.
Although I was never informed, and I have no reason to believe the investigator with whom I worked was ever aware, I judged by the results during the study that during the initial phase of the study that I was definitely getting at least a modest dosage of the drug. I saw a steady and noticeable improvement in my fluency over the first eight weeks of the initial phase and maintained that fluency level until after the second study visit, during the last 12 weeks of the initial phase, my fluency level decreased to baseline. The initial improvement did not result in a complete cessation of stuttering, but reduced the stuttering by more than 90% based on my estimates.
During the second phase of the study, I was receiving .60mg twice a day and the results were consistent with what I had seen in the first part of the initial phase. I was disappointed to learn the study was being suspended and the drug withdrawn at the end of the second phase. I was initially told I would continue to receive the drug until it was released on the market or drug was withdrawn. The results I experienced, while not "a cure," were the closest I have ever been to fluent in my 55 years. That I will miss. A lot.
Among the things I gained from the study was an understanding of the degree of anxiety present in my normal functioning level. Pagoclone was initially developed as an anxiolytic agent, and it was during the anti-anxiety clinical trials that its effect on stuttering was first noted. I suppose I have always known that I was a very anxious person, but since that condition was normal for me, I had no real concept of what it was to be relaxed. I knew my stuttering was worse when I was more anxious, but I stutter when I am "calm," so there was no reason for me to note a "cause and effect" relationship.
I was informed the drug was being withdrawn on my next to last study visit. I started doing some research, but nothing suggested an alternative anxiolytic that may affect stuttering. Prior to the study, I had taken several different herbs on a regular basis. I took St. John's Wort, which I had found to be effective in lifting the mild depression that had been my regular companion. I had used several other herbs, all of which I suspended for the study, but had found nothing which had produced the benefits from the study. One thing I uncovered during my independent research was something noting the classification of Valerian as a anxiolytic. I had used Valerian as an occasional sleep aid and still had some on hand. I decided to try substituting a twice daily dose of Valerian for the pagoclone at the conclusion of the study.
The study has been over for five weeks now, and I have been taking two Valerian capsules twice a day for that time (as I sleep aid, I was taking three capsules thirty minutes prior to bedtime). I can report that so far my fluency is better than it was before the study, but I have not had a real test to be able to measure how nearly the Valerian results approximate the results of the pagoclone. I have ordered another herb that I plan to add to my regimen, as I have some reason to suspect it may improve the Valerian results. I'll report more on my pagoclone replacement experiment after I have the opportunity to gather some more data.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Most Protestant pastors think Bush, Palin are Christians but not Obama | The Christian Century
Most Protestant pastors think Bush, Palin are Christians but not Obama | The Christian Century
Found this article today on the Christian Century purely by chance. Although I once subscribed to the Christian Century, I haven't been a reader or subscriber for many years. One of my Facebook friends had posted a link to a Christian Century article about a Lifeway (Southern Baptist) online survey indicating that a majority of respondents put family at the heart of their Christmas celebration, not the religious observance. This article was linked on the side of the page under "Related Articles."
A couple of paragraphs from the article stood out:
"Three-quarters of Protestant pastors surveyed called Bush a Christian, followed by 66 percent who included former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in the Christian fold. Just 41 percent said they believe Obama is a Christian."
"Stetzer said the responses may indicate that Protestant pastors are more particular than other people when considering who is and is not a Christian. For some pastors, being "Christian" is synonymous with being "born again" or "evangelical," he said."
WHAT?? Excuse me? "Protestant pastors are more particular than other people when considering who is and is not a Christian," and three quarters of them consider George W. Bush Christian? Is this the same man who, as Governor, set a record for the most executions, refusing clemency even when evidence suggested the probability of wrongful conviction? And isn't this the same man who, as President, "bore false witness" to get us into not one, but two ill-advised wars? Is this the same man who approved torture for detainees?
If anyone wonders why I have become disgusted with the state of the church today, consider this "Exhibit A."
Found this article today on the Christian Century purely by chance. Although I once subscribed to the Christian Century, I haven't been a reader or subscriber for many years. One of my Facebook friends had posted a link to a Christian Century article about a Lifeway (Southern Baptist) online survey indicating that a majority of respondents put family at the heart of their Christmas celebration, not the religious observance. This article was linked on the side of the page under "Related Articles."
A couple of paragraphs from the article stood out:
"Three-quarters of Protestant pastors surveyed called Bush a Christian, followed by 66 percent who included former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in the Christian fold. Just 41 percent said they believe Obama is a Christian."
"Stetzer said the responses may indicate that Protestant pastors are more particular than other people when considering who is and is not a Christian. For some pastors, being "Christian" is synonymous with being "born again" or "evangelical," he said."
WHAT?? Excuse me? "Protestant pastors are more particular than other people when considering who is and is not a Christian," and three quarters of them consider George W. Bush Christian? Is this the same man who, as Governor, set a record for the most executions, refusing clemency even when evidence suggested the probability of wrongful conviction? And isn't this the same man who, as President, "bore false witness" to get us into not one, but two ill-advised wars? Is this the same man who approved torture for detainees?
If anyone wonders why I have become disgusted with the state of the church today, consider this "Exhibit A."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)