Which conspiracy theories do you believe?

[DLgal]

So did anyone ever figure out what our countries were doing bombing the crap out of Afghanistan and Iraq? I know military soldiers that were there that still have no clue.

It was a war to try and establish government control over contested areas. A tribal war, if you will. Most Americans have no idea that this is the essence of the conflict in that entire region.

We bombed the crap out of Iraq to destroy the "WMD's" and get Sadaam out of power and then we spent years and years rebuilding what we ruined and trying to help the new Iraqi government take hold and establish itself against the rebels. Now, ISIS has moved in and erased a lot of what we had accomplished. Essentially, we ruined that country and should have left it alone.

Afghanistan's issue was Al Qaeda and the beginnings of what would become ISIS, effectively trying to assert itself and begin controlling different areas of the country, which we worked very hard to prevent. However, these types of tribal conflicts cannot easily be solved with bombs and force. These are "hearts and minds" campaigns that, when they fail, end up being costly wastes of time and lives.

 

[gemini2727]

Yep, it's as if these people think somehow people working for "big pharma" are immune from cancer.....So everybody in on the conspiracy has never been touched by cancer or willing to "spill the beans" for the benefit of curing themselves or someone close to them?

Exactly this! All of the people involved agree to keep the secret, even though most everyone is affected by cancer and disease. Yeah, let them die, we'll make some money...SMH

 

[CarolAnn856]

I agree with you 100%. I was in the business for years with poor scientists fighting the good fight. Hospitals included in the greed. Johns Hopkins on down. There is no money in a cure.

I also think the Pink Ribbon campaign is the biggest scam ever. Playing on the heartstrings of cancer victims and their families everywhere.

And, the disgrace continues. My family and friends working at Johns Hopkins would be outraged over your callous comments.

 

[bcla]

Although they eventually realized Bin Laden was never in Afghanistan. And yet, troops remain there. Actually much controversy.

Where'd you hear that Bin Laden was never in Afghanistan? He was definitely in Afghanistan, although he was on the run and eventually hid out in Pakistan.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/11/world/osama-bin-laden-hideout-photos/

 

[Maistre Gracey]

If only we could harness the stupidity...

MG

 

[mom2rtk]

Eye opening thread.

 

[Missy1961]

Eye opening thread.

I'm with you. It's making me sad how many people believe that other people can be this horrible.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm with you. It's making me sad how many people believe that other people can be this horrible.

Absolutely remarkable.

 

[dizluvah]

I can't resist adding one more. There is no gold at Fort Knox

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

And, the disgrace continues. My family and friends working at Johns Hopkins would be outraged over your callous comments.

Really? Are you sure? We might have the same friends working there. They agree with me wholeheartedly. I'm referring to drug companies and hospital boards.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

No Jimmy Hoffa theories?

 

[Hikergirl]

Really? Are you sure? We might have the same friends working there. They agree with me wholeheartedly. I'm referring to drug companies and hospital boards.

So you think they curb research so that a cure for every disease is never found?
I know someone who worked in biomedical research, and they would disagree wholeheartedly with that.

 

[DopeyDame]

I believe pharmaceutical companies try to stop finding cures for diseases so they can profit by keeping people sick and dependent on prescription drus for years and years...

I just don't understand this logic. There would be TONS of money in a cure.
(See, for example, the money made from vaccines)
Not to mention the pure evil that you must think exists in the hearts of scientists and medical practitioners.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

So you think they curb research so that a cure for every disease is never found?
I know someone who worked in biomedical research, and they would disagree wholeheartedly with that.

I know and have worked with literally 100's of biomedical researchers in hospitals and universities. Awesome and highly intelligent people who's hands are tied when it comes to what eventually gets patented.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

I just don't understand this logic. There would be TONS of money in a cure.
(See, for example, the money made from vaccines)
Not to mention the pure evil that you must think exists in the hearts of scientists and medical practitioners.

The scientists and doctors are not the problem.

 

[DopeyDame]

The scientists and doctors are not the problem.

So walk me through this.

Dr Smith spends years at a hospital or research lab, his life's work, using lots of resources from the hospital or lab. He finally discovers a cure for the flu (again, which he's been researching using the lab's facilities and money, and with their knowledge). He finally hits a breakthrough and finds the cure for the flu. He says "eurika, I've got it!" Evil Mr Jones up in the administrators office says "sorry Dr Smith, we sell too much nyquil here, so we're not going to tell anyone about your cure and we've not going to let you patent it." (Never mind that lots of people would, in fact, pay big money for a cure to the flu)
And then.... what?
Dr Smith doesn't tell anyone else? He just says "oh, OK. Sure, that makes sense." Then he goes back to the lab and... what? Plays around on disboards and facebook all day? It strains credulity.

Now... if what you're really suggesting is that research priorities are often dictated by the potential applications... well yeah, that's certainly true and not a secret or a conspiracy. It's also why federal funding of pure science is so critical, because private companies aren't going to fund research that doesn't have at least some prospect of making money. But that's VERY different than suggesting that people are actively trying to prevent a cure for some nefarious profit motive. (Again, which isn't even clear. There's tons of money to made via a cure)

You're being really shady and making some pretty sweeping and horrific claims. It would help us if you could get a lot more specific about exactly what you envision is happening.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

So walk me through this.

Dr Smith spends years at a hospital or research lab, his life's work, using lots of resources from the hospital or lab. He finally discovers a cure for the flu (again, which he's been researching using the lab's facilities and money, and with their knowledge). He finally hits a breakthrough and finds the cure for the flu. He says "eurika, I've got it!" Evil Mr Jones up in the administrators office says "sorry Dr Smith, we sell too much nyquil here, so we're not going to tell anyone about your cure and we've not going to let you patent it." (Never mind that lots of people would, in fact, pay big money for a cure to the flu)
And then.... what?
Dr Smith doesn't tell anyone else? He just says "oh, OK. Sure, that makes sense." Then he goes back to the lab and... what? Plays around on disboards and facebook all day? It strains credulity.

Now... if what you're really suggesting is that research priorities are often dictated by the potential applications... well yeah, that's certainly true and not a secret or a conspiracy. It's also why federal funding of pure science is so critical, because private companies aren't going to fund research that doesn't have at least some prospect of making money. But that's VERY different than suggesting that people are actively trying to prevent a cure for some nefarious profit motive. (Again, which isn't even clear. There's tons of money to made via a cure)

You're being really shady and making some pretty sweeping and horrific claims. It would help us if you could get a lot more specific about exactly what you envision is happening.

It's too complicated to explain to you but a researcher employed by a hospital cannot patent his work. The employer "owns" the research via the researchers sell the rights to their inventions by a legal assignment for $1.00. It's not about preventing cures, more about making money. Researchers at most big hospitals are researching drugs not cures.

LOL Thanks for calling me shady.

 

[Hikergirl]

I know and have worked with literally 100's of biomedical researchers in hospitals and universities. Awesome and highly intelligent people who's hands are tied when it comes to what eventually gets patented.

Are you a researcher, or a patent attorney?

 

[SirDuff]

It's too complicated to explain to you but a researcher employed by a hospital cannot patent his work. The employer "owns" the research via the researchers sell the rights to their inventions by a legal assignment for $1.00. It's not about preventing cures, more about making money. Researchers at most big hospitals are researching drugs not cures.

LOL Thanks for calling me shady.

Thanks for calling us stupid

For the record - I spent years working in genomics and genetic epidemiology. Explaining intellectual copyrights and patent laws (at the basic level) shouldn't be that hard for you if it is something that you do.

 

[Hikergirl]

It's too complicated to explain to you but a researcher employed by a hospital cannot patent his work. The employer "owns" the research via the researchers sell the rights to their inventions by a legal assignment for $1.00. It's not about preventing cures, more about making money. Researchers at most big hospitals are researching drugs not cures.

LOL Thanks for calling me shady.

You know that is true for every field where a researcher is employed by a company.