Pop science, feel-goodisms and “studies” designed to advance a political agenda do not advance our understanding of nature one inch. How about some scientific reality that isn’t politically opportunistic: While unicellular organisms do reproduce initially by way of fission, in order to survive for the long run, non-identical pairs or separate populations “fuse,” which is “sex” in its most basic form. Why? Because like in-breeding in humans, eventually a lack of diversity causes abnormalities and a lack of vitality that causes even unicellular life to fail to regenerate over time. Heterosexual sex between two organisms from seperate gene pools allows for the creation of an organism that can adapt to different environmental circumstances, without which survival is unlikely. So-called “self-fertilization” that some political activists with no scientific knowledge like to point to in lower forms of life does not provide the needed variability (within the confines of the separate species) that cross-fertilization provides for higher life forms. Without variability, adaptation and evolution is impossible.

Oil industry lobbying steps on the gas

Efforts to ward off new taxes, woo Democrats pick up speed as companies boost spending.

http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/other/2009/06...

Quark -

I thought the answer was 43!!??

:D

A modest proposal 2009: If single payer health care is off the table and we also can't get a public option how about a lottery system for health care. Those without health care can spin the wheel at the hospital or doctor's office to see if they'll be one of the lucky ones to get care that day.

I can't believe just how disillusioned I am with the Democratic party. Totally owned and controlled just like like the Republicans. I've been a Democrat all my life and now I just don't care any more. http://democratichealthcareturncoats.webs.com/

An public education/health care analogy:

Public education is schooling offered to all children by the government and paid for by taxes. Americans invest in public education systems because a democratic society is stronger if people are capable of reading, writing, and doing basic mathematics.

Radical right-wingers argue that teaching these skills is best left to the private sector. However, a system in which people with more money have greater means to education and training is counter intuitive. People with more money will have a distinct advantage thus undermining real competition. So as a compromise, we use (what used to be a progressive) tax that allows everyone the right to at least some decided minimum level of education, while maintaining the right for wealthy people to purchase any additional education they please. Public education encourages growth and is always an investment in the long run.

Like education, public health plays an important role in a democratic society’s strength, well-being, wealth, and happiness. But again, the radical right makes similar arguments toward public health care that they make about public education. Leave it to the private sector, not even a public heath care coverage option should be permitted. Recent history proved this private system only a disaster.
The contrary is true, however, in many other countries that do offer a public option. All of these nations (without exception) spend less then the U.S.’s all private system, and the vast majority of these nations report better health and mortality statistics. The opposition harp on claims of long lines and rationed care, but these minority sentiments are really people defending a more progressive system (not banning public health altogether). Similar to the common U.S. sentiments about public schools using old books and having over-sized classrooms. We do not wish to eliminate public education, rather to fix it. The more we see the parallels between these two debates, the easier it is to see that health is a right not a privilege, and that health care is an investment not an expense.

No, Steve Forbes, Jack Welch created poverty (in this country.)

Daschel, you wimp! Wait until the 27th of June Daschel-[the President's National Day of Service for Health Care Reform. See http://www.barackobama.com/

So- we intervene when we transfer them from a democracy to a dictatorship, but not when changing from a dictatorship to a democracy hmmmm..........

beast250,

'Just wondering --- with over 6 billion people in the world, wouldn't there be a supply glut?

Maybe we need to imagine the world of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek. Money and wars are a thing of the past in the "Federation."

'Just wanted to share a "guilty pleasure" for the weekend. (You don't need to join or log in to view.)

The Fifth Element

http://www.crackle.com/c/The_Fifth_Element/The_Fifth_Element_feat_Bruce_...