RSS

Mon, Feb 4th 2008, 19:52

Donald Stadler, Self-employed, Diamond Contributor (1052)

PEPFAR? Ah, yes - the "War against Condoms", as it was labled in the early days of the Bush administration.

It's a successful program which shows the Bush administration in a positive light. A program which Clinton never concieved of and which Europe continues to view with jaundiced eyes.

Bush is incapable of doing anything good or competent - so by ALL means bin the program! Even though it has saved millions of lives and may have prevented 5 million new HIV infections to date. Good people everywhere know that Bush cannot be allowed to have a positive legacy of any kind!

Thu, Feb 7th 2008, 17:26

Samantha Ferrell, KOK e.V. , Silver Contributor (49)

Although I completely agree that PEPFAR is a sucessful program and has saved many lives, that does not make it immune to criticism. Especially when, no matter how much good it has done, it could so easily be improved upon if conservative ideology weren't getting in the way of public health. Not only is the requirement of one-third of prevention funds going to abstinence-until-marriage programs largely ineffective, prioritizing faith-based organizations that don't condone some of the best preventative measures (such as condoms) can only hinder the overall goal of preventing the spread of HIV.

Further, Bush's call to double funding to $30 billion over the next 5 years is misleading because Congress is already funding at that level. Therefore, rather than increasing funding, Bush is merely proposing to flat fund it for 5 years. With the reauthorization of the bill up for discussion today, I can only hope that the abstinence only requirement is removed, improving upon an already sucessful program and taking political and ideological motivations out of what is supposed to be a "work of mercy." Perhaps then PEPFAR will receive more of the praise that it deserves.

Thu, Feb 7th 2008, 18:07

Donald Stadler, Self-employed, Diamond Contributor (1052)

So why not source funding from organisations and/or countries which don't have those political imitations, Ms. Ferrell? Like any EU country, for example? I can't imagine that Germany would use 'faith-based organisations', can you? I think the religious bring something to the table here - for one thing I doubt PEPFAR would ever have gotten off the ground at all without them, if I read the history of how it get started correctly.

Congress is funding PEPFAR at $30 billion? Good for them. Who made the request, though? Could it be - Satan?!!!! Er, I mean Bush that is! Not that it particularly matters I suppose, as long as it gets done.