Dream a Dream

Evidently, television coverage of the "Tea Party" on tax day was pre-empted by another story. Since I've given up using the television for acquiring my news in any form other than presented on Comedy Central or in live broadcasts (debates, live speeches, CSPAN and the lot), I didn't catch this other story until it was echoed in the morning newspapers. Yesterday, a 47-year-old Scot performed a rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables" on the UK's equivalent of American Idol and brought down the house. Much rubbish was made of her frumpy appearance, older age and romantic status in advance of (and after) the performance. Which reminds me that our current day conception of talent is inectricably linked to looks and social status. I'm glad that the show (titled "Britain's got Talent") actually brought out the talent it advertises. Especially if it drowned out some of the shouting about the illogical Tea Party. I actually enjoyed sending in my check this year. But then again I like the idea of the government funding science, cleaning the air, caring for the poor sick and lame, building roads and even defending freedom. I think the rich conservative broadcasters who orchestrated this Tea Party are celebrating a la David Horsey...

I've not embedded the clip because YouTube has restricted it and because if you are visiting my front page, you still get to hear the "Imperial March" in the background. Wondering why? Read this. Then watch Susan Boyle live a dream.

January 20, 2009

Thank you David Horsey.

Obama

Good for health care

Good for peace
Good for science & innovation
Good for education
Good for the environment
Good for a better society

I guess those are the main things I care about when I go to the polls. My remaining hope is for:
An Obamaslide

Make your own logo at Logobama.

And no matter your political preference, make sure you vote today.

2008 FOSEP Enegy Forum

In 2004, Seattle's Forum on Science Ethics and Policy (FOSEP) hosted an informational event about stem cells that attracted more than 700 people to the University of Washington Campus. This election year, a new group of graduate students has put together what promises to be even more timely. If you are in or near Seattle on Thursday, October 16, this event will be worth your time. Check out more at FOSEP's web site, or click on this poster for more information.

Blame it on Congress

Before we all scream about how congress didn't pass a bill to give $7x10^11 to a bunch of fat cat bankers...

...don't forget about:

The bankers who lied to themselves.
And the loan applicants who lied to the lenders.
Oh! and the lenders who didn't care they were being lied to.

Boy, am I glad to be liquid!

Palin, The Alaskan

My favorite local editorial cartoonist points out that just because you're from Alaska, doesn't mean you have the interests of wilderness in mind. And by one perspective, it's likely that your idea of custodianship is more akin to pillaging. We Washingtonians have an interesting relationship with Alaska politics: we're big trading partners, AK is a frequent vacation destination, most of the fishing fleet docks in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood, we share a medical school - okay that last one's not SO big a deal... This is the third or fourth consecutive shot at Go. Palin that Horsey has taken this week. I guess it's one way we look out for or meddle in the business of our neighbor to the north.

And The Sky Went Wild

The Wild Sky Wilderness is a reality!

Just northeast of Seattle is an area of amazing beauty and spectacular scenery that until today was just a patch of government land. Today, after many years of politcal wrangling, it has been Federally designated as wilderness, thereby protecting it for generations to come. This wouldn't be possible if Richard Pombo (R-Ca) had not been defeated in 2006 and if George W. Bush wasn't trying to salvage his 2000 campaign promises of expanding national parks and preservation areas.

The photo above shows an area just up the ridge from the Skykomish River, nearly at the point where I wrapped my canoe around a boulder two summers ago. I'd like to blame the scenery on my faulty steering, but really, I just read the river wrong... What's nice is that the 'Sky' river is just on the border of this soon-to-be pristene area. It will now be difficult to develop the river, thereby preserving the land, the sport and the fishery in that basin.

Put the Wild Sky Wilderness on your list of must-hike outdoors destinations. But not too many of you...

Photo credit to Joshua Trujillo and the Seattle P-I.

What's The Deal?

Someone recently said some Americans were "bitter" over the economy and chose to "cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them" as a result.

Could someone please help me understand what's wrong with this assessment?

Thanks in advance.

Heston's Fingers

I think that we can finally pry that gun from his cold, dead fingers.

Unfortunately, gun control is not so much of an issue in the current political environment. I'll still have to learn how to treat gunshot wounds...

Autistic Politics

Autism is a real disease. Its prevalence in the United States and other Western nations is increasing. It causes suffering for many parents and children each year. I do not intend in this post to downgrade the significance of autism in society today. I wish to use autism as an example of the wrong way health policy is made in our country.

In reviewing the candidates' health care plans, I noticed that two of them make specific prominent mention of one disease: Autism. McCain says on his website,

As President, John McCain will work to advance federal research into autism, promote early screening, and identify better treatment options, while providing support for children with autism so that they may reach their full potential.

He also has an entire policy platform built on autism which you can read here. I noticed that autism is the only disease he specifically mentions in his health platform. Basically he argues that federal money needs to be spent on learning about and combating autism. Pretty harmless, right? I'll get back to McCain in a minute. Obama has also pledged support of autism research. He says he will:

Support Americans with Autism. More than one million Americans have autism, a complex neurobiological condition that has a range of impacts on thinking, feeling, language, and the ability to relate to others. As diagnostic criteria broaden and awareness increases, more cases of autism have been recognized across the country. Barack Obama believes that we can do more to help autistic Americans and their families understand and live with autism. He has been a strong supporter of more than $1 billion in federal funding for autism research on the root causes and treatments, and he believes that we should increase funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to truly ensure that no child is left behind.

More than anything, autism remains a profound mystery with a broad spectrum of effects on autistic individuals, their families, loved ones, the community, and education and health care systems. Obama believes that the government and our communities should work together to provide a helping hand to autistic individuals and their families.

I like this statement better. Instead of just spending money on research, he recognizes that the autism epidemic can be attributed to "broadened diagnostic criteria." Rather than to promise cures and treatments, he suggests "we can do more to help autistic Americans and their families understand and live with autism." Oh yeah, he also supports spending a billion dollars on autism research.

I couldn't find Clinton's position in her health policy material, but I bet she supports autism research...

Why is this physician scientist concerned about political leaders' pledges to fund research for a specific disease like autism? The physician in me sees hundreds of other disease that aren't adequately studies that cause pain and suffering to millions of people. The scientist in me imagines thousands of questions about the natural world (answers to which invariably contribute to tomorrow's medicines) that remain unanswered. There is only a limited pool of cash that researchers draw from every year. Why does autism get such a big chunk???

The answer is (drum roll pleas...) patient advocacy groups. Using the most sophisticated research tools available to me (Dr. Google), I found the Autism Society of America, Autism Speaks, Unlocking Autism, the National Autism Association, and many more. Almost all of these sites pledge to support research, make a difference in Washington and provide information about vaccines. And this is where McCain comes back into the picture. At the end of February, McCain's response to a question from a mother of a boy with autism was,

"It’s indisputable that (autism) is on the rise amongst children, the question is what’s causing it. And we go back and forth and there’s strong evidence that indicates that it’s got to do with a preservative in vaccines." He added that there’s "divided scientific opinion" on the matter, with "many on the other side that are credible scientists that are saying that’s not the cause of it."

What's wrong with this? Plenty of other people will tell you what's wrong with this. The upshot is that he is using language of the controversy to lend scientific credibility to an idea that is not scientific. It is therefore ironic that McCain wants to

dedicate federal research on the basis of sound science resulting in greater focus on care and cure of chronic disease.

Sound science. That's a good name for a nerd rock band.

So why is the autism lobby bad for health care policy in America? The first reason is that it puts contingencies on basic science funding. The second is that American health policy is so inept at keeping Americans healthy that we cannot even treat diseases we know how to cure. Your best chance at staying healthy is to be rich. While autism is a disease that affects many social and economic classes, its the rich parents that are driving the emphasis on a national autism program. I believe that disease advocacy groups should focus their resources on identifying worthwhile recipients for research funding. The Feds have much bigger fish to fry if the United States is to develop a health care system that affords access to all Americans.

In the end, autism is an important disease that should have access to national resources. But what I hear is "Vaccines cause autism" (which is not a scientific claim) and "We need more money for scientific research on autism." Autism advocates can't have it both ways.

Do you want to vote for health in 2008? Read my other posts about presidential health policy.

A Democratic Jesus

It's been a while since I've posted anything in overt reference to religion on this page. A piece in the Washington Post today got me fired up, though. I'd encourage all the liberals (religious, skeptic and/or atheist) out there to read this nice article by Amy Sullivan.

She uses some great examples of people from different backgrounds and intentworking together toward a common goal and wraps up with the following account:

Walking through Dulles Airport not long after losing the 2004 election, John Kerry was stopped by a supporter. The man shook Kerry's hand and told the senator that he was an evangelical. "I voted for you," he said, "and so did a lot of evangelicals. But you could have gotten more of us if you'd tried." Kerry was floored. Evangelical Democrats?

No wonder Kerry fared worse among evangelicals than any other Democratic nominee in modern history, losing the votes of nearly four out of five. To engage a constituency, a campaign needs to at least know it exists.

Even so, the Democratic nominee this fall will have advantages Kerry never did. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is a lifelong Methodist with years of experience teaching Sunday school in Arkansas who's married to the party's most prominent evangelical Democrat. Obama, a committed Christian, is more thoughtful and relaxed talking about religion than any other Democratic politician. Most important, they'll have the support of a party that is slowly starting to see that there are many faces of the faithful.

There is a reason to make friends on the other side of the aisle. We may not all agree on everything, but a lot of us agree that something needs to change. Let's find that small voice of hope and use it to tie us together in common cause.

Voting in Washington State

Washington voters: You're up!

My last post about how to vote in Washington State was convoluted and heavy on personal commentary. Here is a simple explanation, with appropriate links.

Are you a Republican? If so, half of the delegates will be determined by a primary election, and half will be decided in the caucus this Saturday. Go to the state party webpage. That site will connect you with each county's party, but you will need to figure out your precinct in advance. If you are in King County, use this tool.

Are you a Democrat? All of the elected delegates are decided this Saturday at the caucus. You might as well tear up your absentee ballot. Democrats in Washington have never used a primary to decide a presidential candidate; hey probably never will. To find your caucus location, go to the state party caucus finder. You only need a name and a zip code, and that server will tell you where to go for the caucus and will remind you of your precinct number.

What's my precinct number? Good question. If you know your precinct number when you get to the caucus, it will save you from waiting in a long line. Most counties have web lookup tools like this one for Martin Luther King County.

Haven't registered to vote? It's too late for you to vote in the primary/caucus, but it's never to early to register for the vote that counts the most. In the state of Washington, you can register online.

Want to know your voting history and information about where to vote? Go to the Washington Voter's Vault. There you can be reminded of which elections you have participated in back to 2004. Which is pretty cool.

Want to Reed more about the primary and caucus system in Washington state? Check out this useful FAQ sheet prepared by the Secretary of State.

Were you thinking of trying to spoil the other party's election by crossing over between the caucus and the primary? Think again! From the FAQ sheet:

Voters can participate in both the party caucuses and the Presidential Primary as long as they participate on behalf of the same party.

Both major parties plan to hold their caucuses on Saturday, February 9, 2008, ten days before the primary. The parties will invite voters to participate in the caucuses and will require participants to sign an oath declaring their party affiliation.

Voters participating in the Presidential Primary will be asked to sign an oath submitted by the political parties indicating that the voter has not participated in the other party’s caucus process. Each party will receive a list of voters who chose to affiliate with that party in the primary.

Is there anything else you need to know? Well, you should probably have a good idea of who to vote for pretty soon. If you haven't made up your mind, Clinton (Pier 30 warehouse Thursday), Obama (Key Arena Friday) and McCain (Before the 2/19 primary) will all be visiting the state in the coming days. Michelle Obama will visit Spokane and Janet Huckabee will be in the state for two nights. Ron Paul may also be making another stop. (He's been in WA quite a bit already.) Look for them! This Seattle P-I article has the most current details so far.

This post may not have been any shorter than my last one. Hopefully it is more informative.

24 States Later

Five hours after I decided to live blog Super Tuesday, I am much more comfortable in my decision to support Barack Obama this Saturday at Washington State's caucus. As I alluded to earlier, I could have gotten behind any of the three leading candidates on the blue side. While I was waiting for returns to come back, I considered in detail some differences between the Obama and Clinton health care plans, and I side with the senator from Illinois. Clinton is better prepared to keep the US on the scientific cutting edge. I bet in the end, the two will end up with really similar policy...

It is strange for me, but a lot of my decision here originates in my gut. I like Obama's approach better. I'd rather have a chat with him than Hillary (though both are in my current top ten!)

Am I glad I did this live blogging thing? Yes. I prefer knowing that I spent 5 hours watching politics than a football game. I did miss out on some quality time for studying topics like HIV disease, and I could have been touching up some comments for reviewers on that paper. But I made this choice. And I don't regret it. It will, however be a while before I live blog. And next time, perhaps I'll just re-edit the same post so that I don't back up my (5) loyal readers' site feeders!

And if for some reason, you missed it live and want to experience my unique perspectives on each state as various major media outlets called them, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to read my reviews as the polls closed.

A New Convergence?

Is there room at the center to talk about religion and politics? Jim Wallace of the Sojourners thinks so. He's got a new book describing our country as the post-religious right America. I haven't read it, but Seattle PI's Joel Connelly got me interested enough to put it on my Amazon wish list. I think I'd even subscribe to Sojourners Magazine. If only I had more time to read. I've kinda got a backlog. And there's something else I have to do...

What was it?

Shoot, I'm getting forgetful in my old age.

So Blue

(or why I'm a Democrat)

The world is globalizing, nuclear weapons are proliferating, the Middle East is seething, but Republicans are still arguing the Scopes trial.

-Maureen Dowd

Socialized Mormons

So, Mitt Romney's a Mormon... This we knew. And he “will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A president must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States.” Okay... That's inclusive (patronizing?) enough for me. And he does "not insist on a single strain of religion—rather, he welcomes our nation’s symphony of faith." Wait a minute... does this assume that all have faith? What about my atheist friends and colleagues? Will they have chairs in Mitt Romney's orchestra?

In the end, I think it is really too bad that Romney is not interested in being a spokesman for his faith. After all, the current President of the Mormon Church, Gordon B. Hinckley "hates war with all its mocking panoply... War is Earth’s greatest cause of human misery. It is the destroyer of life, the promoter of hate, the waster of treasure. It is man’s costliest folly, his most tragic misadventure.” The candidate willing to say this whose name is not Ron Paul, will get my vote. Even if he's from Ohio.

A look at Mitt Romney’s vision for America’s foreign policy reveals little, however, that resembles any of these most basic and central Mormon values. In contrast to Gordon Hinckley’s hatred of war, Romney’s central foreign policy concern, in fact, is a deepening of American militarism and war making. Specifically, Romney advocates drastically increasing American military expenditures, escalating the Iraq war, continuing operations against transnational Islamic militant groups, and preparing for a military assault on Iran.

That's the analysis offered by a little publication a friend recently alerted me of called The Mormon Worker. This was penned a few months ago; perhaps Romney will soon change his mind about Iran.

The Mormon Worker is a strange collection of ideas conflating anarchism, Mormonism, and socialism that highlights some central disparities between the teachings of Mormonism and the way most Mormons vote. Many of the arguments are the same made by Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker movement. See also the Christians who in the voting booth or policy forum seem to always forget the teachings from the Sermon on the Mount.

Due to the agreements forged by church fathers and the state in the wake of the controversies surrounding polygamy,

Mormons find themselves supporting capitalism and government, and therefore exploitation, imperialism, jingoism, and militarism, considering these things inherent to their religion, despite the many resources within Mormon scripture advocating the contrary. One significant reason Mormons should seek to abolish government and capitalism is the fact that States continually wage war in foreign lands for the sake of economic gain.

To William Van Wagenen (the man behind the Worker) and the other Mormon workers (I wonder if all Mormon workers are stock brokers like Van Wagenan...) out there, I tip my hat. I challenge you to vote your conscience in 2008, even if there's no chance of Utah being a blue state.

I Hate Washington Racists

The title above is a bad reference to the 1980 classic movie: The Blues Brothers. In one scene, Jake and Elwood (by that point, well entrenched in their "mission from God") encounter a traffic jam caused by a parade of Illinois Nazis. They ask an officer what is going on; he says the Illinois Nazis got a permit for a parade. Elwood scoffs, "Illinois Nazis!" to which Jake replies, "I hate Illinois Nazis." They promptly accelerate through the parade causing the uniformed Nazis to jump from a bridge into a small river. (Was the bridge in Peoria?) For a refresher, see:



I cite this example of intolerance because of something more relevant to 2007: Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week. This was a nationwide series of events sponsored by David Horowitz from the Los Angeles-based Freedom Center, a conservative think tank. I was annoyed about this issue last week when I read that the event was occurring on the University of Washington campus, but Robert Jamieson really got me (and at least one other person) riled up in a recent well-thought column in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Chances are good there were events in your city.

Such ignorance as this makes me want to find a 70's vintage police cruiser and drive it through my school's quad (also called Red Square) during one of the events. It's a good thing 1) the 'awareness' week is over, 2) I don't know where to find old police cruisers, and 3) due to medical school, I don't have time for such tomfoolery.

Sinking SCHIP

You should know by now that the president has vetoed the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides low cost health coverage to poor families and children. He says it's because the program is akin to socialism. Or did he invite the kids to eat cake? I haven't had time to read the specifics.

One thing that I am happy about is that one of our chief residents at Children's Hospital in Seattle wrote a letter for us medical students and interns to sign and send to the one Washington State congressman who voted 'no' for SCHIP. Ironically, his name is 'Doc' Hastings. (He's not really a doctor.) Anyway, consider looking up who in your delegation voted 'no' and calling their staffs or emailing them to ask them to change their votes. The house is about 50 votes short of an override, as I understand it. The house is holding off until Oct 18 or so to build grassroots support for the override. You're the roots! Yes, You!

Karl Rove Resigns!

Read the exclusive article and editorial in the Wall Street Journal.
Maybe tonight, I'll get a good night's sleep.

non se·qui·tur (nŏn sěk'wĭ-tər, -tŏŏr') n.
1. An inference or conclusion that does not follow from the premises or evidence.

Dems' Energy Plans

A Daily Kos blogger has posted a nice comparison of the energy policy proposals from the four Democratic front-runners for the presidential nomination. Each improves on the present policy, but I can't help but notice how the candidates with the best name recognition are the most anemic on details...