Divinest Sense

In response to the threat of an avian influenza outbreak or other pandemic, the Senate has stepped up to the plate and come up with a bold solution: a new agency, run by a committee of 10 political appointees, 4 pharmaceutical industry folks, 4 academics, and 5 others to be named later. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency (BARDA) will be exempt from FACA and FOIA, and will expedite the foisting of new drugs on the public. The Biodefense Act will eliminate liability for any injuries that may result from these new medications. What a relief! I was worried about the fate of those poor beleaguered pharmaceutical companies.

The act is sneaking its way onto the senate floor tomorrow. Call your senators.

An excellent piece on atheism, found in Medley’s furlings. Why do I always feel defensive about my completely rational, and as Sam Harris argues, *morally necessary* non-belief in God? Well, obviously I haven’t got it all figured out, since the very idea of having it all figured out is completely ridiculous. But then, so is salvation and eternal life through ritual cannibalism. (Look it up!)
Can’t wait to see the trolls I net on this one.

Today the House Republicans held up a vote and refused to close it for 40 more minutes after all the votes were in - so that they could strong-arm two of their congress members to change their votes. They refused to acknowledge any of the democratic members’ objections and calls to close the vote. This very important piece of legislation, which ALL democrats voted against, calls for more oil refineries to be built, including on federal lands, and loosens key environmental protections. The repubs’ thuggery was met with frustrated cries of “shame! shame! shame!” from the Democrats.