Supporting education makes fantastic sense but aren't we just feeding the bubble by injecting even more cash? The cost of universities in the US has become crazy, unlike any other Western/rich country. No matter how you spin it, it's impossible to say that the easy money credit hasn't fed the high cost of universities. Take a look at the endowment funds that the top schools have and ask how tuition could be so out of control when these schools are sitting on so much money. A few schools are now changing their tuition plans for normal families but that's only because of pressure (or threats of action) by Congress.
Graduating from college with over $120,000 of debt not to mention credit card debt that students all have these days is a bad way to enter the working world. Sure, we can and we should help but this system needs a drastic overhaul and one that does not center around the credit industry cashing in.
Who needs science when you can have a political hack instead? Everything about this administration is politics over competence time after time which is probably why Bush has such a low approval rating.
The head of the EPA's pesticide and toxic chemical office was to testify Tuesday before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, along with an official of the Government Accounting Office that has just concluded an investigation of the EPA's chemical risk assessment program.
The GAO report, obtained by The Associated Press, said the EPA's ability to conduct timely, science-based risks assessments was being undermined by allowing greater involvement in the process by nonscientists, often in secret.
The administration's decision to give the Defense Department and other agencies an early role in the process adds to years of delay in acting on harmful chemicals and jeopardizes the program's credibility, the GAO concluded.
For people who say they love life so much they sure have a funny way of showing it. Why is the GOP always fighting against science and propping up business over people?
Experimental blood substitutes raised the risk of heart attack and death, yet U.S. regulators allowed human testing to continue despite warning signs, says a scathing new report.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration fell short, the report contends, even as red flags popped up during studies by five biotech companies. Rules barred the agency from releasing company trade secrets, and that kept some information hidden and may have led to unnecessary heart attacks and deaths, wrote the authors, who are government scientists and consumer advocates.
"There shouldn't be secret science," said the lead author of the report, Dr. Charles Natanson, of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. Safety data need "to be made public expeditiously so science can build on the mistakes" of previous research, he said.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other dignitaries quickly scrambled toward safety when the sound of gunfire and explosions in the distance interrupted a military ceremony they were attending in Kabul Sunday morning.
The Taliban immediately claimed responsibility for the attack which happened at a Mujahideen Day ceremony, honoring those who fought against the Soviet Union after it invaded Afghanistan in 1979.
So are their limits to how many times someone can be prosecuted? You might recall this dangerous bunch was rounded up during the infamous terror-scare that coincidentally occurred during the Bush 2004 re-election campaign. The 'Liberty 6' all were equipped with sporty terrorist uniforms, like any good terrorist so we can spot 'em on the street, and then talked about going after the Sears Tower, though it was never entirely clear if they even knew where it was located or how to go about such an attack. For that matter, it was never really clear if this was their intention or if they were just looking for new uniforms.
Never mind the details, the Bush folks had their terrorists in the run up to November 2004, facts be damned. The more terrified the public became, the better the odds of winning the election. Throw in a bit of gay bashing to take it over the top and victory! Ain't democracy great? Hooray for freedom and democracy! U-S-A Number 1! We're the best! We're the best! You know the world all wishes they were this free. You know it.
How many times do we need to read it and how many times are we going to continue funding these ridiculous programs. If Christian conservatives want to experiment with their own kids, go for it and live with the consequences but no need to subject everyone else to this rubbish. What makes it worse is that the US is exporting these half-baked ideas across Africa and the rest of the world.
"Vast sums of federal monies continue to be directed toward these programs. And, in fact, there is evidence to suggest that some of these programs are even harmful and have negative consequences by not providing adequate information for those teens who do become sexually active," Dr. Margaret Blythe of the American Academy of Pediatrics told the committee.
These programs, backed by many social conservatives who oppose the teaching of contraception methods to teenagers in schools, have received about $1.3 billion in federal funds since the late 1990s. Currently, 17 of the 50 U.S. states refuse to accept federal funds for such programs.
Another new low for the oil industry and as we have come to expect, the Bush administration. Let the damned oil companies pay the compensation to the victims families if they want the business so badly but it is sickening to watch the oil industry dictate our foreign policy. So tell me who loves America and who hates America?
One by one, top executives of American oil companies met privately over the last year with Libya’s leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, often in his signature Bedouin tent, as they lined up contracts allowing them to tap into the country’s oil reserves.
But now, the new allies are working Capitol Hill, trying to weaken a law that threatens those deals. The Libyan government, once a pariah, and the American oil industry have hired high-profile lobbyists, buttonholed lawmakers and enlisted help from the Bush administration, all in an effort to win an exemption from a law that Congress passed in January that is intended to ensure that victims of terrorist attacks are compensated.
Imagine that. This is yet another example of how the Bush/GOP-FDA has sided with business over consumers. They don't care if humans suffer the consequences as long as business gets what it wants. Having an effective FDA working for everyone costs money but there are just too many ongoing problems for consumers as a result of GOP hacking. Isn't it time we start considering individuals instead of just business?
A chemical in some plastic food and drink packaging including baby bottles may be tied to early puberty and prostate and breast cancer, the U.S. government said on Tuesday.
Based on draft findings by the National Toxicology Program, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, senior congressional Democrats asked the Food and Drug Administration to reconsider its view that the chemical bisphenol A is safe in products for use by infants and children.
It's hard not to pass on at least some of the blame to the Bush administration and GOP who have systematically cut funding and resources to the bone. In addition, they've also made it a point to let industry "self regulate" instead of providing the oversight that Americans want and need. People expect business to get away with whatever they can and yes, they do exactly that. Even if information was passed to the FDA it's hard to see them even giving a damn because that might slow business. Merck is in a world of trouble but the Bush-FDA is certainly not looking very competent either. For all of the talk about how precious human life is by the GOP they sure don't treat it that way in the Bush-FDA.
If only China was a small country that had oil, then Bush would be at the front of the line to pick a fight. What a complete fraud. Bush and the GOP are always up for big talk, telling people about freedom and democracy, but as soon as they face someone other than a 98 pound weakling they go running for the hills. Bush brings a whole new meaning to "shock and awe."
Because you can never have enough scandal or corruption in this administration. Everything is a personal slush fund in the GOP whether it's Iraq or doling out federal contracts.
Jackson has faced calls for his resignation after lawmakers have said he behaved improperly in awarding federal contracts.
The Federal Housing Administration, overseen by HUD, runs the largest government program to aid home buyers and is seen by many lawmakers as the key to a federal effort to stem foreclosures.
The hot new story is that Bush is "privately" telling Hu Jintao that he is not happy. Uh huh, right. I think we know how well all of those "private" meetings have gone in the past. Does Bush still think it's 2002 when he can say anything and people will believe him? If China can't handle public criticism - as they so often deliver themselves to the US and others - then perhaps they are not quite the world power they want to believe they are.
Maybe they're just a regional power who isn't ready or able to play on the world scene. Being a regional player is fine but let's not get carried away and suggest more importance than that. If Beijing wants to be taken seriously, it's time to put the old communist doctrine behind and let Tibet be Tibet and not be so sensitive to criticism. The world *is* watching, so deal with it.
If the Federal Communications Commission were a cop on the beat, congressional watchdogs contend, it would have a lousy conviction record. They find that most of the government agency's investigations fail to result in any enforcement.
According to a report released on Thursday by the General Accountability Office, only about 9% of the completed investigations resulted in enforcement action, while 83% resulted in no enforcement.
Yes, the same Bush who never hesitates to blast lawsuits as the real cause of high health insure. No, surely increasing health care costs have nothing to do whatsoever with the polluted environment. Nope, no studies have ever drawn the link between polluted air and...oh, there has been. Never mind. And here I thought he cared about every human life, but that's not really the case now, is it? Polluters obviously count for more.
EPA officials initially tried to set a lower seasonal limit on ozone to protect wildlife, parks and farmland, as required under the law. While their proposal was less restrictive than what the EPA's scientific advisers had proposed, Bush overruled EPA officials and on Tuesday ordered the agency to increase the limit, according to the documents.
"It is unprecedented and an unlawful act of political interference for the president personally to override a decision that the Clean Air Act leaves exclusively to EPA's expert scientific judgment," said John Walke, clean-air director for the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Industry is of course whining about the costs involved if they are forced to clean up the air. Don't these people breath? Don't they pay for health care? Surely the EPA and White House are not blind to the health care costs involved with polluted air. It's hard to imagine such a small slice of society holding so much power over others but for the Republicans, they consistently only care about what industry wants without consideration for everyone else. The ruling is expected on Thursday so we will find out soon enough.
They are so serious, they're discarding paper files with all of your details into dumpsters. And the FTC, what are they doing about protecting Americans since there are laws against this? Well, they have been busy with one slap-on-the-wrist case. For the rest, tough luck for you. Go find a public dumpster and hope you get lucky.
Just like the FAA. Just like the FDA. Just like the USDA. Just like the EPA. Just like wildlife preservation. Just like the, fill in the next blank. The Republicans have consistently strangled budgets for any and all regulation and then placed their hacks in a position to cozy up to industry. The next step is of course to then scream "see, the government is a failure at everything so let's shut them group down and let business self regulate." Good business, when you can get it.
Did they think the Hamburglar was there or something? Why is George Bush trying to divert America's attention from his scandalous failures at home? Isn't that how their tired old story went during the Clinton years? Either way, the hyped attack was yet another flop.
The attack was the fourth known strike by the US inside Somalia since it backed Ethiopia's invasion of the country in December 2006. All have been aimed at men Washington believes to be responsible for terrorist attacks in East Africa. None has been successful.
The sooner, the better. The same needs to be done elsewhere because in one department after another, there's much too much concern for what industry wants without any consideration for consumers. Pick any industry and it's always the same. The Republicans have been more than content to have this system in place but thankfully Democrats are finally standing up and taking action. Well done by Congressman James Oberstar who is chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Oberstar also said he believes similar violations may have occurred involving other airlines, but that those who have such evidence are afraid to come forward.
"Complacency has likely set in to the highest levels of FAA management," the Minnesota Democrat said in a Capitol Hill news conference. "I think we have seen the pendulum swing away from vigorous enforcement of compliance toward a carrier-favorable, cozy relationship with the airlines."
Considering how industry-friendly the Bush EPA has been, giving in to industry demands will come as no surprise. The only real surprise is that we allow industry to sicken and kill so many Americans, just so they can make a buck. And for those who become sick, what about those costs? Don't they count? The EPA has already shown a willingness to ignore Supreme Court directives and yet they still don't care.
On the other side are experts who conclude that tens of millions of people, particularly the elderly and small children, are being harmed by poor air quality.
EPA said last summer that the current health standard - no more than 80 parts of ozone for every billion parts of air - does not provide needed protection against asthma, heart attacks and respiratory problems.
EPA has estimated a reduction to 70 parts per billion could result annually in 2,300 fewer nonfatal heart attacks; 48,000 fewer respiratory problems, acute bronchitis and asthma attacks; 7,600 fewer respiratory related hospital visits, and 890,000 fewer days when people miss work or school.
They are not even trying to make up excuses, which makes this even more amazing. They just shrug their shoulders and mumble "I dunno" and go about their business. Has there ever been such contempt for the rule of law?
