Rob Ayling writes:
"Thom the World poet, is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearences with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)
ASSOCIATION IS NOT CAUSATION
Occupy Tent Cities do not necessarily solve homelessness
Obesity epidemics are not solely caused via sugar/salt/soda over consumption
Isolating salient factors does not activate effective remedies
Bad science begins with what is to be proven(ex post facto)
'Sin taxes" on sugar/sodas/cigarettes may not dampen demand
Prohibition (alcohol, cigarettes, drugs) may stimulate underground markets
Taxes are a very rough equalizer/and often penalize the poor.
Causation implies 100% links between consumption and obesity results
Multitudinous studies imply links but do not isolate causative solutions
Intuitive understandings of the links between smoking and cancer and mortality
are not enough to ban these consumer products totally
Medical marijuana eases pain for terminal patients(or those in extreme pain)
Legalization is a separate issue from health benefits
Banning is a separate issue from health detriments
Some tobacco users live long lives. Some alcoholics /addicts ditto.
Before banning anything or anyone,be aware of the differences
between rationality and rationalization/association and causation.
Religion fills up holes in data vacated via science.Morality ditto.
Neither are adequate social control mechanisms
(no matter what the Taliban or Catholic Church may say!)
Crusades, Jihads, fatwas, Papal Bulls, Witch Trials -
all await a hung jury of contemporary scientific studies.
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