Chris Hansen Comments on the 2011 State of the Union

Chris Hansen, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), comments on the President's 2011 State of the Union speech.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• cancer
• research
• policy
• president
• state
• union
• congress

[HealthConnections]

Why are you only focused on the part you can make money on... treating cancer. Why don't you spend resources educating people on how not to GET cancer. Why should we spend tax dollars and donation dollars to help Pharmaceutical companies do R&D in order to find some drug they can patent and sell back to us at some obscene profit?

If we spend our tax and donation money to help find a "cure" ... are we going to then get the drugs for a reasonable amount of money?

I think not.

[ACSCAN]

@HealthConnections ACS & ACS CAN devote significant time and resources addressing issues of cancer prevention, early detection and healthy living. Visit acscan.org or cancer.org for more info.

[ThePhillipOlsen]

Count on me, Chris.

Phil Olsen, Hawaii Prostate Cancer Coalition

Honolulu

[ACSCAN]

@ThePhillipOlsen We're counting on you and all of our allies, volunteers and members! Thanks!

[zimmyzimgir2]

"Why dont you take a seat right over there"

[TheNigerianScammer]

I'm chris hansen let's tell cancer to take a seat.

[darkchimeraa]

One word.. MARIJUANA

[ScullysBaby]

@ZiggeeStardust Latest news on Boehner/Cantor supported extra engine bill.... AP - Determined to reduce deficits, impatient House Republican freshmen made common cause with President Barack Obama on Wednesday, scoring their biggest victory to date in a vote to cancel $450 million for an alternative engine for the Pentagon's next-generation warplane.

So Obama seems to be finding the new Tea baggers helpful in defeating stupid Republican policies. Let's hope they keep it up.

[ScullysBaby]

@ZiggeeStardust So much for Boehner's concern over the deficit spending. Why has Boehner been pushing for the expensive extra engines? Because they are manufactured in a factory in his district in Ohio, as well as one in Cantor's district in Virginia.... another of the illustrious Republican "deficit hawks". Though I call them both HYPOCRITES. Fortunately reports are that some of the new teaparty Reps have given them both the finger and come out against those engines the army doesn't want.

[ScullysBaby]

@ZiggeeStardust But the negotiation for medicare costs has nothing to do with hammers or the shipping of washers to Texas... those are completely different issues and more than likely have something to do with a congressman getting earmarks for their district. Sort of like how Speaker Boehner has been pushing a bill to force the army to take an extra engine on one of their fighters, at a huge cost to taxpayers.... which the military leaders keep saying they don't want.

[ScullysBaby]

@ZiggeeStardust Yes... that is right. Those negotiating for the government programs such as Medicare/Medicaid are able to negotiate lower group or bulk rates/prices for pharmaceuticals, etc. which is how those costs are kept lower for the elderly and handicapped patients on those programs. That is not to say that there isn't some wasteful spending in those programs... no program is perfect. But my understanding is that has to do with fraudulent claims, not from outrageous costs.

[ScullysBaby]

@ZiggeeStardust Yes... that is right. Those negotiating for the government programs such as Medicare/Medicaid are able to negotiate lower group or bulk rates/prices for pharmacuticals, etc. which is how those costs are kept lower for the elderly and handicapped patients on those programs. That is not to say that there isn't some wasteful spending in those programs... no program is perfect. But my understanding is that has to do with fraudulent claims, not from outrageous costs.

[ZiggeeStardust]

@ScullysBaby - The government negotiates for lower prices?? You mean like the $750 hammers they buy and the $998,798 shipping they paid a vendor to ship two $0.19 washers to an army base in Texas? Please... give me a break.

[ScullysBaby]

@ZiggeeStardust You don't know what you are talking about. The government program of medicare negotiates for lower prices for it's patients... namely the elderly & disabled on it's program. Other than that, it has no other involvement in the health care industry. It's the insurance companies that keep raising their rates in order to make higher and higher profits for their shareholders, CEOs and other greedy people involved. Wendell Potter could tell you how the insurance system works.