I’m still waiting… (**see update**)

**UPDATE**

Mr. Armstrong’s blog has allowed my comment to be posted.. This is good news! Thank you to the editor out there, this portends a degree of equity in ideas and engenders my respect for your blog… You may not agree with my position, but at least you’re willing to post a somewhat contrary viewpoint.

Original post:
Let me be clear about two things: I have a healthy amount of respect for fellow athletes the caliber of Lance Armstrong (or anyone else who pursues fitness as a virtue), and as one whose childhood was seriously affected by cancer I know first-hand what it means to find a cure for this diabolically evil disease. Frankly, I was wearing a yellow wrist band long before Lance Armstrong started his two-wheeled crusades. I fully appreciate and share Mr. Armstong’s objective, however the means he is now employing are, in my view, solidly into the realm of noble ends being justified by immoral means. To be honest with Mr. Armstrong, he does not personally run his blog site and in particular was not the author of the article to which I commented, however it is his blog and he needs to think about some of what is being written on his behalf. It may, in fact, turn out that he fully supports the author in question, so be it.

Personally, I value liberty and freedom, and the core vision for and of this country as envisioned by our Founding Fathers, FAR MORE than a cure for any disease – cancer included. It would be far worse, in my view, to live in a country or world where the premise of individual freedom and liberty has been utterly lost, just so I could commune with my own family member whose life cancer took away – merely doubling the count of self-sacrificial animals supporting the state.

It is the rationale used, the justifications tossed out, for public funding or government interventions because of the perceived need that must be challenged constantly. In-your-face issues such as the continuous bailing-out of AIG by throwing 10′s of billions of pounds of life preservers to a worthless company that has a trillion pound anchor chained on its legs. Or, as is the case with Armstrong’s blog, shamelessly cheering on the inclusion in an economic stimulus bill funding for finding a cure for x, y, z… or c.

The justifcations for both are based on someone’s need, somewhere. Such rationale is what is killing this country, destroying the economic fiber all across the world. As I mentioned in my yet to be moderated comment (now roughly 24 hours old), “there has to be a better way.” There is, and Mr. Armstrong may indeed mature to the point where he will figure that out. Until then, he and his blog staff clearly have some serious soul searching that should be done and, frankly, need to snap out of this shameless financial incest.

Below is what I posted out at Lance Armstrong’s blog yesterday.. The blog tells me that my post is “In Moderation.” I suspect David Lofye (LAF Staff) will not post my comment, heaven forbid anyone would question anything written on the Armstrong Blog…

Your comment is awaiting moderation.

March 1, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Flash says:
In the brief span of about 20 lines of text you have outlined roughly 120 billion dollars in new spending, and applauded a back door tax on business that will likely expand, reducing their ability to put people back to work.

COBRA was never intended to be anything but a termporary bridge but my fear is that temporary fixes will become permanent solutions…

Where is the money coming from, and isn’t Mr. Obama simply advocating for more of that which got us into this fiscal mess in the first place, times 100?

These are all nice causes, and I appreciate your dedication to finding a cure for cancer and working to raise awareness. But please understand that it is your kids wealth that is being confiscated before they even create it that will be used to pay for your dream.

If you’re comfortable with that reality, then so be it.

There has to be a better way, and that should be part of your awareness campaign rather than blindly cheering the taxation of the next generation.

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