Gene Frenkle

Not really...sacred cows...

Well you're right, but it appears to me that most people believe it's healthier.

Ok, here's a really good glance at the issue. Notice that there is also mp3 audio if you'd prefer to listen to the action podcast. Skeptoid is great, has relatively short episodes with a long list of topics to read about/listen to. article: http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4166 podcast: http://skeptoid.com/audio/skeptoid-4166.mp3

No matter how intelligent or knowledgeable, everyone has their sacred cows...which is why clear-cut facts always win out with me. I generally agree with a lot of what you say, but the science is clear on this issue and you're unfortunately wrong in this case. No big deal.

Small farms leave a much larger carbon footprint and are a much less efficient use of the land that they take up. Like so many things, it's counter-intuitive but worth doing the research on the actual numbers.

The only real real reasons why a rational person might buy organic food on a regular basis is the taste, shopping experience, etc... If you're banking on the nutritional difference or overall health of organic vs. non-organic, you're only fooling yourself and paying for a misinformed lifestyle. As was pointed out, like many "processed" foods, corn syrup is not necessarily the evil substance that it is made out to be. The one that I really have to laugh at is "GM" foods. Every food we eat today has been genetically modified over many many years by way of artificial human selection. Even the "organic" foods. You probably wouldn't recognize half of the fruits and vegetables at Whole Foods if you saw them in their natural state, say 200 or 300 years ago.

Didn't see that, but I doubt it's his primary daily source... Perceptions grow over time.

And people would pay through the nose for your organic box of rocks. I swear, the more I learn about how these "all natural" and "organic" and "herbal" foods/remedies are almost completely unregulated, misrepresented, ineffective and overpriced, the more I'm tempted to start producing Homeopathic cures for all that ails. People are generally retarded when it comes to woo woo. It's too bad my Agnostic conscience and morals get in the way. Faith Healers and the like don't seem to share my dilemma.

"CNSNews.com The Right News. Right Now." And nice phallic picture of Barney Frank! :P

True, but it still leaves us with the huge problem of millions of people uninsured.

He has good ideas, but it's not like he's offering an all-encompassing solution. Where will these extra charity dollars come from? Dollars that would have otherwise gone to other charities?

The organic food industry is an unsustainable, high-carbon-footprint leaving load of crap.

I'm not saying it's not a good idea, but like you I think he's grossly overestimating the generosity of his fellow Americans. Ironically, it comes across as a bit elitist, but when you root for the laundry, you'll agree with anything that supports your side.

Because you can't tell the difference in most "red" states?

He has some good ideas there that should probably be enacted, but it's not enough.  Finally, revise tax forms to make it easier for individuals to make a voluntary, tax-deductible donation to help the millions of people who have no insurance and aren't covered by Medicare, Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program. So we're still going to have millions of people uninsured, but tax breaks will ensure that the more well-off among us will pick up the slack through charity? That doesn't seem like a realistic solution.

Mmmmmmm...hot sauce.

Does the source make the numbers wrong? Look it up on the CDC's site if you want to refute the facts. It's easy to say that everything with 'Wiki' on the page is wrong even though that's far from the truth. FYI, since academia has seemingly finally become relavent in your life, it's spelled with an 'a'. The point is that the mortality rate of those infected with Swine Flu is well under 1%. The apocalypse will have to wait for a more evolved flu.

How long until we hear about the Swine Flu Death Panels that will be setup to decide which H1N1 infectees get treatment and which will be slated to die? It's all in Obama's health care reform bill you know. Single-Payer/Public-Plan Swine Flu Death Panels! Socialism!

World Wide Mortality Rate of Novel H1N1 (as of 6 July 2009) = 0.45% Up since previously calculated World Mortality rate (as of July 3) of 0.42% US mortality rate of Novel H1N1 (as of 10 July 2009) = 0.57% Up since previously calculated US Mortality rate (as of 2 July 2009) of 0.5% The above mortality rates are based on the number of cases reported and or hospitalized, and the number of deaths reported to be related to the pandemic, it is believed by CDC that the number of actual cases in the US is higher (maybe over one million already) which would reduce the mortality rate significantly (unless more deaths should be considered in the equation), but it would still be higher than the death rates of the seasonal flu. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percentage_..._2009_swine_flu

Medicare is different because there's not a black president trying to push it though.

It's almost Time to Choose Sides...

Fair enough, I guess I didn't fully understand the meaning of the term. It's certainly an entitlement for those who aren't able to pay, but are instead free riders on the public plan. Is it an entitlement for those who pay for a private or the public plan? It seems more of a requirement for the majority of people, but maybe that's the same thing. I should know better than to show any weakness or lack of knowledge in front of the pack.

How is the proposed plan an entitlement?