THE USE of advanced gene therapy is a dream for many but for some a potential nightmare. Further research will help.
The current news about a baby, KJ Muldoon who was cured of a dangerous genetic disease using a gene editing treatment, provides an inspirational example of what can be done. The smiling baby is a poster child for this technology.
Like most medical developments, there is so much that can be achieved but how much should be tried and how fast? If it goes wrong, it could make things much worse.
In reality we should trust our medical leaders and fight to preserve the advances. The consequences of poor leadership are becoming clear in America where Robert Kennedy Jr. is casting doubts on vaccinations, surely an act of stupidity, an almost criminal act.
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Free suckers
The phrase “There’s no such thing as a free lunch” popularized by economist Milton Friedman has been confirmed at a great cost by President Trump meme buyers.
The biggest Trump meme: coin “investors” joined him for an “exclusive” dinner, but why?
The word “investor” has rarely been so misused given how these are very wealthy individuals who have paid up to $US115 for a memecoin now selling at about $US22. They are people who are buying an expensive ticket to probably a nice dinner and a minutes word with the President on the assumption of a four-hour meal for 220 people.
One estimate was that $US148 million was spent to buy this access, which would have fed a million people for a week, at least. The word “corruption” features in many of today’s newspaper reports but everyone can make up their own mind about the matter.
There is rarely a more apt comment than the one associated with P. T. Barnum, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
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Watch carefully
President Trump’s false attack on South Africa seems to be based on a video of people calling for attacks on the farmers.
If a video is the basis for condemning a country what do the videos of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol building show?
Another poor treatment of a country’s leader.
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Misfortune for one leads to good fortune for many
We all wish President Biden the best in his journey with prostate cancer, especially those, like myself, who have also been on that journey.
One of the positives that come with his announcement is the attention that his fame will lead to others being tested and lives being saved.
Similar examples include Michael J. Fox with Parkinsons or Selma Blair with M.S. although both of these illnesses have visible symptoms most of the time.
There are so many diseases, many of them cancers, that are not apparent until too late and famous examples do encourage people to get checkups.
Know your family medical history and get any bump, lump or spot checked.
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From bad to worse?
Just when you think it couldn’t get worse,m Trump officials are deporting people who have migrated from Vietnam and Myanmar to South Sudan despite a court order that states it is unlawful. Although courts might not comment on the humanitarian aspects, it is certainly heartless and dangerous.
South Sudan has been a theater of war for a long time and still faces ethnic conflicts. The Myanmar migrants have fled from similar ethnic-based conflicts and sending them into more conflict seems quite cruel. Vietnam has also had a troubled past, even if it seems settled now.
The questions are simple; how can the administration keep ignoring the courts and how can they pile more pain onto people that have suffered enough?
It’s hard to know how they can answer these questions with honesty and integrity./PN
