How Stupid Are They?

[Roy]

Thanks to several of the more far-sighted among our founding fathers, we at least go rid of that arcane English monetary system, or do you want to go back to pounds, shilling, pence, et al., Mitch?

In colonial times, I think we mainly used the Spanish Dollar.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I don't think a liberal arts college and a liberal college are the same thing.

They are the same to many; all that some see is the word liberal and then everything goes pear shaped.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

I don't think a liberal arts college and a liberal college are the same thing.

They are the same to many; all that some see is the word liberal and then everything goes pear shaped.

I always took "liberal arts college" to indicate an education that included courses beyond what was available within the normal parameters of a student's "major." That is, courses in the arts, including fine arts, were offered to provide a student with learning that prepared the mind for a broader array of possibilities, once graduated.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I don't think a liberal arts college and a liberal college are the same thing.

They are the same to many; all that some see is the word liberal and then everything goes pear shaped.

I always took "liberal arts college" to indicate an education that included courses beyond what was available within the normal parameters of a student's "major." That is, courses in the arts, including fine arts, were offered to provide a student with learning that prepared the mind for a broader array of possibilities, once graduated.

I was required to take English, History, Psych, Sociology, Music, and a Religion course to get my 1st degree in Chemistry. Sociology was bizarre and Religion just required you to agree with the Professor to get a good grade. Some of these requirements have been dropped since then

It's gotten tarred with a different meaning that tends to disparage anything related to possession of independent thought and reasoning, and to keep people as ignorant as possible so that they remain controlled and be told what to think.

[HONDO74]

It's gotten tarred with a different meaning that tends to disparage anything related to possession of independent thought and reasoning, and to keep people as ignorant as possible so that they remain controlled and be told what to think.

That's the way it works at a liberal collage today. If you don't think like they do you will be shut down. It didn't use to be that way. People with different view points used to be able to debate the differences of opinions....

[Rufus T. Firefly]

It's gotten tarred with a different meaning that tends to disparage anything related to possession of independent thought and reasoning, and to keep people as ignorant as possible so that they remain controlled and be told what to think.

That's the way it works at a liberal collage today. If you don't think like they do you will be shut down. It didn't use to be that way. People with different view points used to be able to debate the differences of opinions....

Really? I was referring to those that apply the label of liberal college. So, are Harvard or Boston College liberal colleges and do graduates from there get that tag?

How many colleges and universities have you visited over the past decade or 2?

I have not found that to be even remotely true at any of the colleges and universities that I visit and lecture at, and I can assure you that I provide some opinions regarding funding and research that are not at all popular......but I also have and will continue to have a rather significant pulpit from which to pontificate. Life is good,

[HONDO74]

but I also have and will continue to have a rather significant pulpit from which to pontificate. Life is good,

Well I have to admit that you are doing an excellent job here on MTJ.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

but I also have and will continue to have a rather significant pulpit from which to pontificate. Life is good,

Well I have to admit that you are doing an excellent job here on MTJ.

I try hard to poke as many eyes as possible on all my travels. I find sometimes I can even pry a few open.

[rex desilets]

<snip>
I have not found that to be even remotely true at any of the colleges and universities that I visit and lecture at, and I can assure you that I provide some opinions regarding funding and research that are not at all popular......but I also have and will continue to have a rather significant pulpit from which to pontificate. Life is good,

Try saying something like "we need to divert funding from x-studies programs to enhance research." See how far that gets you when the SJW cabal gets wind of it

[Rufus T. Firefly]

<snip>
I have not found that to be even remotely true at any of the colleges and universities that I visit and lecture at, and I can assure you that I provide some opinions regarding funding and research that are not at all popular......but I also have and will continue to have a rather significant pulpit from which to pontificate. Life is good,

Try saying something like "we need to divert funding from x-studies programs to enhance research." See how far that gets you when the SJW cabal gets wind of it

Like diverting funds from the football program.....

In any case, not really relevant. Almost every college or university requires researchers to get their own funds independently of the institution - generally a requirement for promotion and tenure world-wide. A lot also have to get that grant money to pay part or all of their salary. And, there's damned little of that grant money since curing cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, heart disease, etc. are not very high priorities for Congress (except when one of them gets prostate cancer) or much of the rest of our nation's population.

[HONDO74]

And now we are going to declare an OPIATE epidemic in this country. How will this work. Throw a couple billion dollars at it and see what happens. Or just sue the pharmaceuticals like they did the tobacco companies for billions of dollars and spend it on everything else.

Rufus, this is in your ballpark. What do you see as a possible answer. I am just asking questions. No criticism from me.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

This is educational (the above conversation.) (Here's my dubious contribution...)

I just don't understand (sorta) how so many people - enough for an "epidemic, no less - could be shoving down opioids.

You see, after one of my surgeries, I had O.I.C. so bad I had to go to the ER to have evidence of several days of good meals blasted/pried/hosed/shot-gunned out of me, enough to necessitate my having to jet from one rolling porta-potty to another one, near-by (fortunately, by happenstance,) for the other 10 gallons of the explosion.

And there are people taking opioids deliberately ? For what? What pain is so bad they need to take a chance with O.I.C. ?

Opium is now on my list of "Can't Haves" when I go into hospital for yet another groping around inside of me, complete with installed lighting and furniture/equipment. ("You want to go in with that through where?!!!!!!!!")

[rogruth]

Three hydrocodone a day are prescribed for my arthritis pain. Some days I take one, most days two and rarely, twice a month or less, three.
It has been a cheap and easy way for me to be able to get around. What is wrong with that? Oh wait. I know. It's not me, it's all those misusing it.
I see my Doctor every month and have blood tests every month but the person misusing will make me die in much pain instead of a little or cost me a lot more dollars which will also affect my quality of life. Raising the price of a cheap drug that works will be next and an expensive drug will take the place
of hydrocodone.
Oh well. Some politicians will make their reputations with the fight against opiods and all will be right.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

And now we are going to declare an OPIATE epidemic in this country. How will this work. Throw a couple billion dollars at it and see what happens.

Throwing money at anything regarding drugs is a waste of time - war on drugs......

Or just sue the pharmaceuticals like they did the tobacco companies for billions of dollars and spend it on everything else.

Sue them on what basis? Tobacco was based on deliberate fraud of there being a health danger that those companies fought against revealing by tooth, claw, and herds of lawyers; licensed and approved drugs are fully tested so it's not like anyone is lacking in knowledge of their dangers and safety profiles. Thing is that these drugs are cheap and effective. That is a rarity right there.

Congress takes away the tools that the DEA wants to use against pharma -- who paid off Congress.....think that's been in the news lately just a bit.

Once again, Congress is more interested in taking care of Congress than their electorate....

And, it's not all from drug companies - fentanyl that's coming into the country from China and SA isn't coming from any legit pharma - fentanyl and others just are not all that hard to make either......

What do you see as a possible answer.

Trump might be able to issue an Executive Order banning contributions to Congress from Pharma for a few years and then give the DEA back its teeth.

Trump could get the Sec of HHS to get the FDA, etc. to seriously tighten up the numbers of prescriptions per unit time that can be issued and then seriously go after the one that exceed those number at either the pharmacy or doc office. Insurance companies will scream

But, really need better and safer pain meds to be developed -- create a real incentive to do that would help.

Probably everything above will get held up in the Courts forever......

[Mitch]

The drug companies are screamin' already. And you can bet your a$$ their lobbyists are wearin' out the carpet in the halls of Congress.