The NY Times has a super interesting piece today about what the cuts to bio-medical research are going to do to Americans. (gift link.) It’s stunning. They interview a number of researchers who are all simply appalled at what is happening:
Dr. Kamila Naxerova is trying to understand how cancer spreads in the body. Dr. Rachael Sirianni is trying to find new ways to deliver drugs for childhood brain cancer. Dr. David Ho is trying to make breakthroughs in H.I.V. research.
These researchers and so many others worked to ensure that Americans had access to the best medical treatments available and that they had first access to those treatments. That is, they worked until Trump administration gutted funding to the National Institutes of Health and froze grants to universities across the country. You can put a dollar amount on how much has been saved, but the cost of what has been lost is incalculable.
“It’s people who will get cancer in 10, 20 or 30 years who will really pay the price for these cuts,” Dr. Naxerova said.
I have always thought that right wingers really don’t seem to love their children very much. Climate change denial is the greatest example up until now. This is even worse only because while climate may seem abstract, this is something everyone understands.
Use that gift link to watch the video of these scientists explaining just how destructive these policies really are. I can hardly believe this is happening. It’s not about me — it’s about the kids and grandkids who will be denied the life-saving care they would have had. Why are Americans allowing this to happen?