Richardson on cancer

Jennie denver,CO — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:12:34 GMT

Oops... that didn't sound arrogant!

Richardson on cancer

Missy, Cedar Falls, IA — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:28:35 GMT

I was at the Forum today. Both Richardson and Kucinich fell flat when they emphasized the "good lifestyle choices" and "nutrition" angles. The arena was filled with people who have been effected by cancer. The implication that the way to address cancer is to focus on eating right and "good lifestyle choices" is insulting to many, including me whose son had cancer as a child. Please tell me, what lifestyle choices did he make to cause his cancer? Or the friend whose baby was diagnosed recently?

Richardson on cancer

Carrie, Eastern Iowa — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:46:10 GMT

Does everything need a czar? They didn't fare too well in Russia...maybe we ought to rethink that..

Richardson on cancer

Dale, Denver — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 22:31:00 GMT

I've seen a lot of politicians pander over a lot of things, but reading about Richardson pandering over cancer is just . . . creepy. A cancer czar? A smoking ban? A war on cancer? I'm not saying that cancer isn't a big deal (it clearly is), but the President of the United States has bigger things to focus on that what I eat or smoke.

Richardson on cancer

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:13:25 GMT

Ugh, I'm with you, Carrie. I guess we need a lot of "czars" to manage all these rhetorically ridiculous "wars."

Richardson on cancer

Molly, Iowa City — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 01:03:41 GMT

In was also at the forum, and Richardson's comment regarding his good life style choices was met with groans behind me. It reminded the women behind me of his homosexuality is a choice. The young college student next to me commented on his weight, which belies the claim. As far as the war Czar, in fairness to Richardson Lance Armstrong suggested on Meet the Press that the country have one. With respect to the "war on Cancer" that was first "waged" by Nixon in the early 70's.

Kucinich was actually a huge hit. Not that he won any supporters, because no one except Dennis thinks he has a chance, but he was funny, and he did add some things that no one else has brought to the table. i.e. genetically engineered food, which was approved by the FDA without any testing. His vegan comment had people laughing, but as much at him as with him. And at least you have to hand it to him for not pandering. How many politicians would come into one of the largest (if not the largest) pork producing states in the country (and pretty high beef producing state) and suggest a vegan life style. Also, he didn't say that if you eat healthy you won't get cancer, but that there are many components to fighting cancer, and prevention by exercise, healthy diet, etc is one thing that people can do, and that the government can't do it for them.

Richardson on cancer

M. Armstrong (no relation) Fowlerville, Michigan — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 01:31:41 GMT

These idiot politicians should be talking about how they would get Congress to fund stem cell research for all diseases!

Richardson on cancer

H P Boston — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:28:28 GMT

It is time we had WAR on the WAR to blame every sick person for being sick.
The marketing by the insurance companies is way over the line. There is a constant barrage that everyone is sick because they do not eat right, do not sleep right, smoke, do not exercise, do not stand right, do not sit right, play dangerous sports, exercise to much, drink to much, do not drink enough, and breath bad AIR!
Then the drug companies go at it that every pill they advertise and sell must be taken for all the sickness you caused yourself!
I for one am SICK of it, and do not believe half of it.
Every where you go in this country we are bombarded with ads to eat, to drink, to smoke, to fly , to ride, to enjoy, enjoy, enjoy and go shopping!
TO consume and take a pill for all your ills!

Richardson on cancer

Utahreb, Veyo, UT — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:38:47 GMT

Yes, I know that smoking is not a good habit - however, I have smoked a pack a day for 53 years and have never had any signs of cancer. Blood pressure 135/80 - 70 years old - split and haul wood for heat in the winter - take care of foster animals (dogs, cats, horses, llamas, pot bellied pigs, etc.) at my foster care facility - garden - 2 acres of land to tend. Lucky? Yes. I can think of many things that are worse than smoking, though, so I will continue my "bad" habit.

Richardson on cancer

Mark Ward, Wilmington NC — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:49:19 GMT

Who needs czars? Just bring back Stalin!

Richardson on cancer

Paul Milller, Woodbridge, VA — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:51:44 GMT

Lol, HP, that one had some humor. I do think its important to remember that we're all biological critters, and those of us lucky enough not to get hit by a bus (or suffer some other life ending trauma) are going to get sick of something at some point.

I don't mean to be morbid, but none of us are lasting forever, at least not in a this-world sense of it.

Nor do I mean to imply we shouldn't try to cure sick people and figure out better ways of doing that. I'm sure at least a few here on this blog are here because of advances made over the years. Who knows what childhood diseases may have gotten any of us, if not for vaccinations, etc.

But while such medical advances are a good thing, I think its also important to keep some perspective. The government isn't failing because our life expectancy isn't 200. Its failing in a lot of other ways, but not that.

I've read somewhere that our life expectancy has actually dropped some. I don't blame the government for this, either. A lot of it is lifestyle choices, and being true to the libertarian streak I have, its our right to eat crappy food and thus reduce our probability of seeing our 90th birthday.

Gotta go now. Meeting someone for lunch at a Mexican restaurant. Mmmm, now there's some good eatin' but probably not the healthiest.

Richardson on cancer

Okla Reynolds, Elk City, OK — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 19:17:18 GMT

All of you that have responded who do not accept that life style choices have a significant bearing on our health, including the occurance of cancers are very uninformed. To the gentleman from Utah that is bragging about his tobacco use-one out of three die from it. Your lucky. Go on-support big tobacco. It's your choice. Just please keep it away from my children.