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Last edited Tue Jul 12, 2016, 08:40 PM - Edit history (1)
Russia cut funding for HIV treatment due to its well known budget problems. Yes, that sucks and they should have set different priorities, like cutting military spending more.
But guess which country has done something very very similar? Yeah, that's right, us.
"
Washington D.C.) AIDS activists expressed bitter disappointment over President Obama’s proposal to cut $200 million from the global AIDS budget for FY 2016. The President’s budget fails to restore cuts made since 2011 in PEPFAR, and reduces by nearly $250 million the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This reduction to global AIDS programs from FY15 (enacted) amplifies years of underfinancing, leaving PEPFAR short of funds needed to carry out its mission. In 2014, PEPFAR saw steep declines in new enrollments on life-saving treatment.[1]
“The President talks about removing budget caps and overturning sequestration, but then proposes more cuts to this successful, popular program that is saving millions of lives,” said Health GAP’s Paul Davis. “President Obama apparently lacks the conviction to keep his 2013 commitment for an ‘AIDS-free generation’ made in the State of the Union Address[2]. Less funding means fewer people get treatment, more people get infected, and the epidemic grows instead of shrinking. AIDS funding cuts means more people die. We need the many supporters of global health from both parties in Congress to step up again and fill this leadership gap, like appropriators did last year by restoring half the cuts made to PEPFAR by the President,” Davis continued."
http://www.healthgap.org/obama_s_budget_betrays_president_s_commitments_on_global_aids
Honestly, the never ending Russia bashing on issues where we have done similar things, like cutting funding to hiv treatment, is becoming a joke here on DU.
The replies to the OP were probably made in total ignorance of the fact that we too have cut funding for hiv treatment, those posters just saw another opportunity to slam Russia. Will they hurl the same vitriol at the US now? No, of course they won't.
This sentence of yours is a classic:
any such thing. That would take an overview of decades and all the places in the US. If you did that unintentionally, then you need to take some critical thinking courses, and if intentional, then congratulations on your use of this typical liar's tactic.
The subject is national funding for HIV/AIDS, which has increased every year under Obama. That's a fact, it's what I said, and it's what you tried to say was false.
Your first quote, which is supposed to be about funding cuts, says "federal funding of HIV programs historically grows" (it points out that it doesn't grow enough.) So to try to prove funding cuts, you cite an article that says funding is increasing. Good job!
Now you find some things about fluctuations in state budgets for years past, and act as if that's the subject.
What's funny is that the OP didn't necessarily say anything bad about Russia except that it's having financial problems. It would have been better for you to have given it a pass, but the word "Russia" seems to automatically provoky your hissy fits of pointless diversion, unnecessary complaint and whataboutism, an essentially juvenile arguing style which is getting old.
So, your rebuttal to four posts showing that funding for HIV/AIS treatment/prevention had indeed been cut is to blather on about google? LOL
We see that your rebuttal to the fact that HIV/AIDS funding had been cut here boils down to this one quote of yours :
"Of course I never said (never mind "keep insisting" any such thing. "
Again, what a laughable evasion, its another of the laughable evasions you have posted in reply to the articles presented to you.
Let's quote some of them, ok?
"Your source take pains to twist the truth."
"it then clarifies that the budget "fails to restore cuts" in a single program in an international program. Not exactly a cut."
-- THIS one sounds like the things right wing Republicans say, "not EXACTLY a cut" indeed.
"The subject is national funding for HIV/AIDS, which has increased every year under Obama. That's a fact, it's what I said, and it's what you tried to say was false. "
-- No the subject was Russia cutting AIDS/HIV funding. I pointed out we had similarly cut funding too. And, of course you can't quote me saying your straw man argument.
But THIS quote takes the cake:
"Now you find some things about fluctuations in state budgets for years past, and act as if that's the subject. "
-- Yes, it IS the subject, the subject is cuts to HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention. AND those FLUCTUATIONS IN STATE BUDGETS were REAL cuts that hurt REAL people. Good lord, FLUCTUATIONS IN STATE BUDGETS is such a weaslely and evasive way to try to play down those REAL CUTS to HIV/AIDS.
In fact, one such FLUCTUATION in STATE BUDGETS was described in an article I posted for you, there in Texas nut bag right wing politicians cut AIDS/HIV funding not because of budgetary constraints but to further their own right wing nut bag agenda. Here, lets quote that article:
"As one of Central Texas’ oldest and largest AIDS Service Organizations, we at AIDS Services of Austin are troubled by the recent legislative decision to cut funding to HIV programs in favor of higher spending on abstinence-only programs. "
FLUCTUATIONS IN STATE BUDGETS, indeed. Again, what an evasive euphemism for real budget cuts. Here in the US, both the federal government and the state governments have responsibility to protect the public health. You should know that.
Your absurd dismissal of state budget cuts to HIV/AIDS as FLUCTUATIONS IN STATE BUDGETS is the most ludicrous comment I think I have read here by someone claiming to be a Democrat.
But lets move on to your last great evasion, this humdinger:
"What's funny is that the OP didn't necessarily say anything bad about Russia except that it's having financial problems. It would have been better for you to have given it a pass, but the word "Russia" seems to automatically provoky your hissy fits of pointless diversion, unnecessary complaint "
Unnecessary complaint? I am complaining about the uninformed and Russophobic responses that your OP engendered. Shall we review some?
"Putin to his citizens suffering from HIV: "Die, already."
"Putin is an old KGB thug in a new suit..."
"...and a rampant homophobe, sexist and misogynist that sees himself as the 21st century Tsar."
"How Republican of him..."
"If their intention is to get rid of HIV by letting those with it die off, they are idiots"
"Yes, exactly! Don't expect common sense from Vladdie and Co., they believe that"
WOW. These are EXACTLY the incorrect, over the top, Russophobic, damn near racist responses that you seem to wish to elicit.
Why do I feel this way? Because you DID NOT CORRECT ANY of these misstatements and russophobic responses.
The ONLY poster you chose to "correct", was, of course, ME for pointing out all the mindless Russophobia your OP engendered. lol
In summary, I feel it is important that SOMEONE respond to the type of comments generated in your thread to lessen the demonization and war mongering that seems to be all the all the rage in the media, and sadly, sometimes here on DU too.
