Snort Notes – January 2010
ISRAELI RESEARCHERS DETERMINE THAT SMOKING MARIJUANA IS BENEFICIAL IN THE TREATMENT OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME
This news reminds me of something my father once said, “Everything has a purpose.” The medicinal benefits of marijuana have been widely touted for years, particularly for those suffering the ill effects of chemotherapy. I would never advocate smoking anything for any reason — which is something else I’ll blame on my dad’s cigarette smoking — but if there is truly a medical need to alleviate pain and suffering, then by all means: smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.
Now by pain and suffering, I’m not talking about the trauma of doing poorly on a pop history quiz in college. I realize that 1.3 billion (very crude estimate) college students since 1970 who have smoked marijuana can’t be wrong, but recreational use doesn’t count. Sorry, this trauma just can’t compare to those suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome resulting — usually — from acts of warfare.
RUSH LIMBAUGH SURVIVES A HEART ATTACK SCARE; EXTOLS THE VIRTUES OF THE AMERICAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Okay, here are a few words which I never thought I would ever write on this blog: I agree with Rush Limbaugh. Now before you ask me to turn in my liberal card, or nominate me for membership to the Senator Joseph Lieberman Fan Club, let me explain. As a heart surgery survivor, I can attest that the American health care system is indeed wonderful. I agree with him on this point, but with the caveat that I know where he will take his argument, and that is one journey from which I will gladly disembark. Limbaugh will undoubtedly use his experience to argue against the health care reform, which is now coming closer to reality in the US Congress.
Limbaugh was hospitalized with chest pains over the Christmas holidays. Medical tests proved that he did not suffer a heart attack. He issued a statement after the episode was over that American health care is the greatest in the world. Of course it is, Rush, because you and I have jobs which offer us medical insurance!
As for the millions of Americans who have jobs with no medical benefits, or their wages are so low that they can’t afford to buy health insurance on their own, or are unable to be employed due to lack of opportunity or illness or personal circumstances and therefore do not have access to health insurance...then for all these people I will venture to say that American health care truly sucks! It’s all a matter of perspective, Rush. This is one reason why I suggested that Congressional Republicans work at Wal-Mart for awhile, so that they could experience working with minimal or no benefits at all.
CONSERVATIVE CRITICS LAMBASTE PRESIDENT OBAMA’S MEASURED REACTION TO THE FOILED CHRISTMAS DAY SUICIDE BOMBER PLOT ON A FLIGHT FROM AMSTERDAM TO DETROIT
Here is an example of why the US Presidency is a thankless job. Obama could have declared war on Christmas (a nice gift for the military-industrial complex) on Yemen where the bomber originated his flight, rounded up all the extremists in this country into a concentration camp (like we did to Japanese-Americans in World War II) and suspended the civil rights of everyone else. Would that have made his critics — columnist Charles Krauthammer in particular — happy? Probably not.
Sorry, Charlie, but you may have heard that there’s a new sheriff in town. He hasn’t adopted the old “bring it on” attitude of Black Bart Bush. Obama is trying to reestablish America as a beacon of tolerance to the rest of the world, and especially to the Muslim world. Marching into Iraq with delusional fantasies of hearing rose petals crunching under the feet of American soldiers was not a show of tolerance.
It seems to me that the President wants to restore faith in America and head off any movement which will turn law-abiding people into extremists bent on destroying America. I realize that you will see this as a naïve position, and perhaps it’s not as satisfying as seeing John Wayne mow down America’s enemies with automatic machine gun fire.
I’ll admit Obama’s approach may take longer — perhaps generations — to achieve. On the other hand, it’s so crazy it just might work. So, Krauthammer, just suck it up and bend over for your cavity search the next time you fly.
(Thank you for reading. Remember to extinguish all joints when the flight attendant instructs you to do so.)
This news reminds me of something my father once said, “Everything has a purpose.” The medicinal benefits of marijuana have been widely touted for years, particularly for those suffering the ill effects of chemotherapy. I would never advocate smoking anything for any reason — which is something else I’ll blame on my dad’s cigarette smoking — but if there is truly a medical need to alleviate pain and suffering, then by all means: smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.
Now by pain and suffering, I’m not talking about the trauma of doing poorly on a pop history quiz in college. I realize that 1.3 billion (very crude estimate) college students since 1970 who have smoked marijuana can’t be wrong, but recreational use doesn’t count. Sorry, this trauma just can’t compare to those suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome resulting — usually — from acts of warfare.
RUSH LIMBAUGH SURVIVES A HEART ATTACK SCARE; EXTOLS THE VIRTUES OF THE AMERICAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Okay, here are a few words which I never thought I would ever write on this blog: I agree with Rush Limbaugh. Now before you ask me to turn in my liberal card, or nominate me for membership to the Senator Joseph Lieberman Fan Club, let me explain. As a heart surgery survivor, I can attest that the American health care system is indeed wonderful. I agree with him on this point, but with the caveat that I know where he will take his argument, and that is one journey from which I will gladly disembark. Limbaugh will undoubtedly use his experience to argue against the health care reform, which is now coming closer to reality in the US Congress.
Limbaugh was hospitalized with chest pains over the Christmas holidays. Medical tests proved that he did not suffer a heart attack. He issued a statement after the episode was over that American health care is the greatest in the world. Of course it is, Rush, because you and I have jobs which offer us medical insurance!
As for the millions of Americans who have jobs with no medical benefits, or their wages are so low that they can’t afford to buy health insurance on their own, or are unable to be employed due to lack of opportunity or illness or personal circumstances and therefore do not have access to health insurance...then for all these people I will venture to say that American health care truly sucks! It’s all a matter of perspective, Rush. This is one reason why I suggested that Congressional Republicans work at Wal-Mart for awhile, so that they could experience working with minimal or no benefits at all.
CONSERVATIVE CRITICS LAMBASTE PRESIDENT OBAMA’S MEASURED REACTION TO THE FOILED CHRISTMAS DAY SUICIDE BOMBER PLOT ON A FLIGHT FROM AMSTERDAM TO DETROIT
Here is an example of why the US Presidency is a thankless job. Obama could have declared war on Christmas (a nice gift for the military-industrial complex) on Yemen where the bomber originated his flight, rounded up all the extremists in this country into a concentration camp (like we did to Japanese-Americans in World War II) and suspended the civil rights of everyone else. Would that have made his critics — columnist Charles Krauthammer in particular — happy? Probably not.
Sorry, Charlie, but you may have heard that there’s a new sheriff in town. He hasn’t adopted the old “bring it on” attitude of Black Bart Bush. Obama is trying to reestablish America as a beacon of tolerance to the rest of the world, and especially to the Muslim world. Marching into Iraq with delusional fantasies of hearing rose petals crunching under the feet of American soldiers was not a show of tolerance.
It seems to me that the President wants to restore faith in America and head off any movement which will turn law-abiding people into extremists bent on destroying America. I realize that you will see this as a naïve position, and perhaps it’s not as satisfying as seeing John Wayne mow down America’s enemies with automatic machine gun fire.
I’ll admit Obama’s approach may take longer — perhaps generations — to achieve. On the other hand, it’s so crazy it just might work. So, Krauthammer, just suck it up and bend over for your cavity search the next time you fly.
(Thank you for reading. Remember to extinguish all joints when the flight attendant instructs you to do so.)
posted by todd gunther | 6:42 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home