Semmelweis Redux

Dr. Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis is a hero who saved the lives of countless mothers. He was an Austrian pediatrician practicing in Vienna around 1850. He discovered that simply by having physicians wash their hands they could stop the spread of infections that produced fatal fevers (childbed fever). For his insight, he was ridiculed and hounded from the medical community and died in oblivion.

Infection remains an enormous problem in healthcare, accounting for an “estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths each year” in America alone. To reduce catheter-related infections, doctors from Johns Hopkins tested a simple procedure that included having clinicians wash their hands. There was a “dramatic decrease in catheter-related infections”, all the way to zero! Despite the obvious improvement, the inaptly-named Office of Human Research Protection (OHRP), a proud part of the US guberment's Department of Health and Human Services, decided that the procedure had not been properly reviewed and stopped the test.

Ah, the wonders of modern medicine, layering bureaucratic blundering atop simple age-old stupidity! With the attention of the New England Journal of Medicine making things uncomfortable, administrators at OHRP will learn anew the benefit of washing their hands of this mess.

McCan't

Let's see, McCain:

• is a Senator with no executive experience;
• defends the morally dubious, disastrously mismanaged, monstrously expensive, and unpopular war in Iraq;
• supports the escalation (permanent surge) in Iraq;
• believes adamantly our troops should remain in Iraq 100 years;
• jokes giddily about 'bomb-bomb-bomb'-ing Iran;
• is eager to practically give a 3rd term to George W. Bush, who has earned his record low popularity and is considered a failure even by conservatives;
• has no experience, knowledge, or even interest in economics, beyond his unethical and probably illegal involvement in the Savings and Loan scandal;
• is anathema to half his party's base for having sponsored bipartisan legislation with arch-Liberals Feingold and Kennedy;
• does not motivate evangelicals, another key part of his party's base;
• has problems controlling his anger, according to many.

If Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee,

• expect a record low election turn out.

If Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee,

• tall, elegant, young man vs. short, sloppy, old guy;
• optimism (yes, we can) vs. pessimism (fugetaboudit);
• enthusiastic, united party vs. disillusioned, fractured party;
• rhetorical superstar vs. competent, but uninspiring and easily tired, speaker;
• right from the start on the war vs. wrong, wrong, wrong.

But we can't count these chickens since it will be up to the dubious “wisdom of the crowds”, AKA the American electorate.

'Good', the enemy of 'Great'

Supporters of Hillary Clinton are reading the writing on the wall and crying “foul”. They claim that Obama supporters attack Hillary unfairly and constitute a “cult of personality”. She is certainly a victim – but of fate alone. Unquestionably, she is better able to lead our nation than John McCain, who is apparently eager to continue Bush's disastrous policies. In an average election, she would have our votes. And voter turn-out would set record lows. But this is not an average election.

Senator Clinton's frustration is understandable. She is (relatively) charismatic, she can light up a (good size) room. But we're all adults here and we know that life ain't fair. Genius is a gift: all your hard work can only help you fulfill their potential. We all wish we could think like Einstein, act like Burton, speak like...Obama. The emergence of Barack Obama has made this a once-in-a-generation election.

General Motors & Divorce

In a move to cut the fat and improve productivity, GM is offering many of its workers $140,000 to sever all ties.

My wife wanted to sever all ties but she demanded a lot more. Maybe the GM workers should hire her lawyer.

Me? Next time, I'm outsourcing. Strictly mistresses. Sure the up-front costs are higher, but the close-out costs are low. And think of the value!

Yes, We Can

We usually rely on artists to inspire hope and lately, we could count on politicians to inspire fear. This election, Barack Obama has reminded us of how we recognize true leaders and why we willingly follow them. By engaging our need for spiritual excellence, good ideas that would be impossible to implement if only self-interest were engaged, become feasible and attractive.

Artists, inspired by him, remixed his "yes, we can" speech with music and video. It has already been viewed nearly 4 million times. Make it one more, if you haven't seen it or if you want to lift your spirit again. Obama is like the first hints of spring after a long, cold winter. Yes, we can elect him President. Indeed, we must.

The Republican 'Party' is Over

Republicans controlled the White House, both houses of Congress, and the Supreme Court for 6 years. Instead of using this time in absolute control of Washington DC to implement the party's agenda, they have only proven the maxim 'power corrupts'. The party of small government instead presided over a record-setting growth in government. The party that urged isolation instead led America on the largest nation building efforts since the Marshall Plan. The party that warned against the growing national debt and preached the blessings of a balanced budget instead drove the budget from surplus to $500 billion annual shortfall and doubled the cumulative national debt. The party that claimed competence instead proved itself a miserable failure at management; the catatonic response to Katrina is a national disgrace, they institutionalized vote peddling to lobbyists , and their craven bumbling on the economy threatens the commonweal for generations to come. While their candidates debate how much fealty to pledge this failed administration to win the primaries, they fear the consequences in the general election. Even the most dedicated Republicans must wonder how their dreams have turned to dust.