Posted by Tina
President Obama decided Christmas should come early for the medical research field; he announced the $5 billion dollar give away this morning stating that thousands of jobs will be created and “lives will be saved”. It’s a nice thought and perhaps well intended…but is it smart? He also said that the private sector can’t manage to make that kind of investment into medical research. Is that true?
At a time when the national debt is growing and Congress is determined to grow the size of government, at a time when car dealerships and manufacturing business are closing, at a time when small business is suffering or closing and when people have lost and continue to lose their jobs, homes and businesses we need to KNOW our tax money is being spent for the general welfare of the nation. Let’s look at how NOT smart this so-called investment is:
1. The private sector would have plenty of money for medical research if government wasn’t creating tax policy that robs the private sector of its investment cash. Private funds are preferable because they don’t require that low income tax payers and future generations carry the burden and addition to the national debt. Private investment places the burden of cost for research on people (and business) that can afford to take a risk.
2. Research money does not always lead to a successful product. In that senses research is a bit like gambling; now and then you win big but chances are you will come up with empty pockets. Should everyone be forced to take that risk? Should future generations be asked to take that gamble, in some cases even before they are born?
3. Our country is in crisis and it is JOBS that is at the forefront of that crisis. People can’t eat and pay their bills if they can’t work. Jobs come when policies invigorate established business and new business. The “crisis” does not require a takeover and stifling policy of the medical/insurance industries.
4. Our country needs all kinds of jobs not jobs in only a few targeted sectors. We’ve seen this progressive Democrat government spend money for ACORN, temporary jobs for police officers and teachers, bailouts for car companies and unions…and “saving” BIG Banks. We have seen ZERO investment or legislation that promotes the general welfare through support of the overall private sector.
5. The investment to the NIH (National Institutes of Health) is redundant and unnecessary. This government funded institute already receives government funding.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. It consists of 27 separate institutes and centers which includes the Office of the Director. In July of 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Dr. Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., to be the Director of the NIH. On August 7th 2009, the US Senate confirmed Dr. Collins by unanimous vote. ** As of 2003, the NIH was responsible for 28%–about $28 billion–of the total biomedical research funding spent annually in the U.S., with most of the rest coming from industry. ** The goal of NIH research is to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability, from the rarest genetic disorder to the common cold. The NIH mission is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone.
The Presidents gift to the NIH is not smart or helpful to our immediate needs. The Presidents claim that the private sector cannot fund this research is a sham since it is his policies and vision of BIG government that make it difficult for private funding. He prefers to put the burden on the little people that can’t afford the investment and are having trouble just putting food on the table. It’s a disgrace.