When I hear that politicians want to cut funding for scientific medical research, in particular cancer research, I just want to weep with frustration. The war against cancer is a global war and for one country, be it the USA or the UK or any other country to cut this spending is little short of a dereliction of duty!
Of course the US Congress has a duty and responsibility first and foremost to the American taxpayer, BUT this does NOT negate their responsibility to the family of nations of which the US is an important part.
Of course the Congress and the Administration are facing a number of critical problems – but taking the easy option is rarely, if ever, the correct long-term solution.
Ask any American mother who balances the family’s household accounts and tell me which one will cut $2.90 and risk a potential SAVING of $268 or at least a goodly part thereof – no more newspapers, but that means no more ‘money off’ or ’2 for the price of 1′ coupons. I get by on a relatively small pension of £1000 a month … there’s NO WAY I would cut £2.90 and put £268 at risk, I may not be the world’s greatest financial genius, but my mother was much too wise to raise any idiots!!! Sounds simple, doesn’t it, and it really doesn’t matter if you are talking dollars/Pounds or billions of dollars/pounds, it’s the principle that matters, and the easy cut all too often turns out to be the most expensive!!!
It’s not JUST about the responsibility Congress has to the American people, it’s also about the responsibility Congress has to the rest of the world in this global battle!