Global Health Draft In 2006 Rejected for Not Being Political

[cynatnite]

A surgeon general's report in 2006 that called on Americans to help tackle global health problems has been kept from the public by a Bush political appointee without any background or expertise in medicine or public health, chiefly because the report did not promote the administration's policy accomplishments, according to current and former public health officials.

The report described the link between poverty and poor health, urged the U.S. government to help combat widespread diseases as a key aim of its foreign policy, and called on corporations to help improve health conditions in the countries where they operate. A copy of the report was obtained by The Washington Post.

snip:

Carmona told lawmakers that, as he fought to release the document, he was "called in and again admonished . . . via a senior official who said, 'You don't get it.' " He said a senior official told him that "this will be a political document, or it will not be released."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/28/AR2007072801420.html?hpid=topnews

[MRM]

1. Riddle me this

If it's not the job of the U.S. to be the worlds policeman, then why is it the job of the U.S. to be the worlds doctor? This isn't a political issue. It's simply made to seem like one as an excuse to appropriate more taxpayer money. The revolution that led to this countries founding was driven by excess taxation FAR lower than what we have today. Our politicians would do well to recall that.