Polio eradicated in India

[mac]

NW--one of those who frequently denies that government can do anything--says it is difficult to eradicate polio. Duh. mrgybe, who wants his politicians to stay bought, says India's government is inefficient.

Nobody, left or right, objects to measures to make government more efficient. But when asked how to improve government, the right just wants to slash regulations that protect health.

Clueless--but funny! Man up children of the world. Get your immune systems in order, because Tea baggers cut basic health research as well as taxes.

[nw30]

[mrgybe]

It is understandable that someone who has spent his entire life in Berkeley would know little of third world health initiatives. Perhaps a moment's education will help him. Most of the major initiatives.........malaria, TB, AIDS, water sanitation, polio etc....... are funded and run by NGOs, private foundations, corporations and charities. Many NGOs receive some funding from their own government (e.g. USAID), and consortia of first world governments also sometimes provide funding, but the rest is private money. The local governments provide a front for their work, but rely on these organizations for their expertise, staffing and money. High level guidance is sometimes provided by the WHO. Corrupt local governments find a myriad of ways to enrich themselves off these initiatives........the granting of work permits, the clearance of materials through customs, the steering of contracts to "friendly" local contractors and so on.........all provide opportunities for direct government "involvement". And senior government officials are always available to take the credit for the work of others.

So the combative question was posed.........did private enterprise eradicate polio? The answer is, to a large extent, yes...........same for AIDS, malaria and so on. And yes, the oil companies are among the largest supporters of these programs.

[mac]

Someone who feels free to make up the life details of those he disagrees with is obviously an expert in all things. He seems to have discovered that taking on tasks such as eradicating polio takes cooperation among different organizations. But without duress from government, and funding, polio would not have been eradicated in the United States--or in India. Not exactly the tale told by the far right.

[mrgybe]

At least we have moved away from this.

[mac]

I’m certainly not surprised by the screeching or accusations of mrgybe; the only surprise is the degree to which he will stretch the truth. I said that polio efforts require, and have, the support of governments—not that government has done it alone. The convenient fact that mrgybe ignores is that governments do much of their work through grants. But the Federal government, on policy and funding, has been a cornerstone of efforts to eliminate polio, both in this country and in others. Some facts that mrgybe does not seem to grasp can be found here: http://kff.org/global-health-policy/fact-sheet/the-u-s-government-and-global-polio-efforts/

I’ll clip in a key piece that makes my argument:

[techno900]

Mac says:

[nw30]

You noticed that too huh? LOL!!
The thread started out as a hit piece against those that don't like big government, but then it kinda slipped away.

[mac]

You say backpeddle, I say reading comprehension. Without the active support of the Indian government and US government funding it doesn't happen.

Perhaps you should pay more attention to how the government actually spends money--through the private sector and NGO's.

[mrgybe]

Another 15 minute web search expert.