roundtable: Re: I actually agree with Gin...

roundtable: Re: I actually agree with Gin...

Re: I actually agree with Gin...

RznDemoPM@aol.com
Fri, 10 Feb 1995 10:05:07 -0500 

Date: Fri, 10 Feb 1995 10:05:07 -0500
From: RznDemoPM@aol.com
Message-Id: <950210100500_17971582@aol.com>
To: roundtable@cni.org
Subject: Re: I actually agree with Gin...


On Sat, 4 Feb 1995, Mike W. Perry wrote:
> 
> >GINGRICH ON INTERNET AND HEALTH
> >U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich says:  "There's no reason, in the age
> >of the Internet, that if you have a disease you can't access the
> >information personally, you can't learn about it personally -- I'm
> >going to tell you, I've had several friends die of pancreatic and liver
> >cancer. And several friends whose children were born with very unusual
> >problems. The sophisticated ones ... learn an immense amount on their
> >own... That will cause a revolution and will lower the cost of health
> >care." (New York Times 1/31/95 A8)  EDUPAGE 1/31/95


No reason, except, of course, the cost of internet access, i.e. the 
political economy of the real world.  If we redirected the military 
budget to building public infrasturcture for the 21st Century, then 
Newt's suggestion makes perfect sense.  This means GIVING people 
computers with modems, not tax credits.  GIVING them basic level 
non-commercial accounts.  And for those without a home (and therefore 
without an outlet & phone line to plug into) it means GIVING them a 
home.  All this would cost much less than our current military budget & 
would do much more to promote national security.  

Otherwise, Newt's suggestion is just another example of construing 
"average Americans" in terms of the interests, life experience and 
opportunities of the privileged.  Remember, this is the guy who referred 
to himself as "poor" a couple of weeks ago--surely the first "poor" man 
to be Speaker of the House.

Paul Rosenberg
Committee to Save Public Media
Reason & Democracy
<rzndemopm@aol.com>

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