reply to post by DINSTAAR
If I may draw a loose analogy between the body and our social system...
We have a social cancer, and it has been growing unchecked for quite a long time. If we do not address a cure, re-structuring, or better band-aid for
it we will have social systemic failure, which some argue has already begun. While 'big pharma' (one of many organs of our social body) may not be
infested it does have cancerous cells that are destroying the whole. We need to treat those 'cells' with a social brand of chemo/radiation therapy
in order for it to heal and begin working properly. Detect, purge, protect, and heal. This goes for the other 'organs' of the social body, not
just medicine.
DETECTION:
The good news is that this social form of cancer is very easy to detect. Anywhere there is a conflict of interest in play, on the books, or being
promoted, be assured there is a 'social cancer cell' very close by. Follow the money trail (blood supply) and that will lead you closer to the main
cancerous formation.
PURGE:
There are different therapies that will promote the purging of those socially cancerous cells from the healthy ones, some of which is already
happening (FBI investigating biotech research group, the Taylor-Bean-Whitaker case, etc). My favorite is when all the surrounding healthy cells band
together, put pressure on the cancerous cell(s), dividing them and letting them turn on themselves. They are not immune to a divide and conquer
strategy. They self destruct and often rat each other out in the process. A fair trial should follow. Get rid of 'white-collar' prisons and put
those convicted in genpop. Put the fear of god, (or Bubba) into them. Let them be an example for any who would commit 'non-violent' crimes against
humanity.
PROTECT:
Once all, or the majority of, socially cancerous cells are removed from the organ it is necessary to protect and stabalize it. Give it the support it
needs, within reason of course. But the holes must be plugged. A doctor doesn't order a blood transfusion for a patient with a major laceration
UNTIL the laceration is sown shut. You would be pouring blood through a sieve. (This is what happened with our 'economic stim package'.) There
must be transparent overwatch from any and all healthy cells (us) to make sure the site stays clean so it can heal properly.
HEAL:
It may be hard to see any short term improvements/healing in a specific damaged/infected organ. But if this process is used for other social organs I
do believe we will start to see quantifiable improvements over time. And that brings hope, incentive, and vigor to the whole of healthy cells. The
quality of our lives improve tremendously.
We're already doing much of this, but it does seem like it's not being used broadly and consistently. This needs to be done for our prognosis to
improve. Medicine is just one of many metasticised organs of the whole.
Edit to add: In no way do I mean for this post to trivialize cancer, nor any other disease!
[edit on 22-9-2009 by Flux8]