By J. Thomas Shaw

Despite spending more than any other nation in the world on health care, only 15 percent of Americans believe we've got the world's best, according to a recent Pew Research Center and Gallup Poll.

The CIA's "World Factbook" says the United States is ranked No. 50 for average life expectancy and the average age at death is 78.49 years - more than 11 years behind No. 1 ranked Monaco.

This is the price of a make-money-at-any-cost health-care system.

I have a three-step plan that will transform medical research and the health-care system, taking us from No. 50 to No. 1 for life expectancy by 2030 - if we act now. At the same time, it will cut our health-care spending in half and drive down insurance premiums, making coverage affordable for the vast majority of people.

Half of the country is demanding that the government stay out of health care while the other half is supporting a quasi-socialized health care system. With such vehemently opposing views, there is no chance for a consensus. Therefore, nothing will ever get done that moves us in the right direction. And this is exactly what Big Pharma wants.

Therefore, the first step is to change the debate. From Hillarycare through Obamacare, we have been debating health-care costs and health-insurance coverage. Cost and coverage are not the problems; they are symptoms of the real problems which are unidentified root causes for disease and a lack of cures.

The next step is to stop donating money to the mega health charities that take in tens of millions of dollars annually by offering hope to find a cure. They continually come up empty as a result of Big Pharma's influence over medical research. Instead, not-for-profit universities conducting medical research need to sever their ties to Big Pharma and seek funding from private citizens.

The majority of medical researchers want to be involved in discovering the causes and cures for human ailments, but they also have to live and they know who butters their bread. If private individuals fund this research, then our nation's medical researchers no longer need to be beholden to Big Pharma.

The third step is to fight fire with fire. Like any other publicly traded company, Big Pharma has a fiduciary responsibility to increase shareholder value by enacting business plans that will increase revenues and profits year over year. In the current environment, the best way to accomplish that is to get more people reliant on (addicted to) the drugs they produce.

Big Pharma's mission is not necessarily to get every single American popping their daily maintenance drugs, rather it is to make as much money as possible and selling addictive maintenance drugs is the best way to accomplish that as things stand now.

We need to change the tax code and enact legislation to make their pursuit of profits align with the greater good of the health our citizens.

This can be accomplished with a carrot and a stick. First we need to show Big Pharma the stick:

1. Institute a windfall profits tax on profits derived on any new products that are considered maintenance drugs.

2. Eliminate deductions for research and development expenses associated with maintenance drugs.

Next is the carrot:

1. Eliminate income tax paid on the profits generated by any product that cures a human ailment -- for eternity.

2. Offer permanent patent protection on any new product that offers a real cure. Expand patent protection to natural cures documented in human trials.

3. Fix pricing on drugs that cure human disease to make it as profitable to cure as it is now to maintain.

This is all about money. If we have the courage to make those changes to the tax code and enact this type of meaningful health care reform, in 15 to 20 years, we will have a cure for nearly every human disease known to man. In addition, the cost of health insurance will be affordable for almost everyone and the vast majority of us will end up living much longer and more productive and healthier lives.

About J. Thomas Shaw

J. Thomas Shaw is the author of "The RX Factor," a fact-based thriller that pits one man against Big Pharma and the FDA. Fact-based fiction has the power to bring people from all walks of life together and focus on a single issue. Check it out at www.therxfactor.com.

WASHINGTON - Senators Chuck Grassley and Chris Coons today won unanimous support from the Judiciary Committee for their legislation to clarify when a federal law enforcement agent is acting under the color of his office.

The Officer Safety Act, S.2276, would allow a federal law enforcement agent who stops a violent crime while off-duty and is indicted in a state court for those actions to petition for the state criminal prosecution against him to be removed to federal court.

The senators said the bill is narrowly drawn in order to benefit only those officers who have acted appropriately.

"The existing federal removal statute was created so that the agents would not fear prosecutions for performing their jobs, and their duties include assisting victims even when are technically off duty," Grassley said.  "As it stands, however, when the officer, say on a weekend, steps in to protect a victim from a crime of violence that is occurring in his presence, he risks state prosecution and damage to his career.  That might lead him to hesitate.  This is contrary to good public policy."

"Police officers look out for our communities and our families every day, risking their own safety to do so," Coons said. " When I was a county executive, I worked closely with our local law enforcement professionals and witnessed firsthand how our brave officers are trained to detect and prevent dangerous situations, whether they are on-the-clock or not. The Officer Safety Act of 2012 will ensure that 'off duty' federal officers who intercede to protect the lives of others will be held to the same standards as when they are performing their official duties. I applaud my colleagues' work today and for coming together during National Police Week to support our nation's first responders. I hope the bill will be considered by the full Senate soon."

Grassley serves as ranking member and Coons is a member of the Judiciary Committee.  The proposal adopted during the committee meeting this morning was co-sponsored by Senators Tom Coburn, Jeff Sessions, Dianne Feinstein, Amy Klobuchar, Chuck Schumer, Richard Blumenthal, and Richard Durbin.

It is supported by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents Association, and the National Border Patrol Council.

 

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Davenport, Iowa - May 17, 2012 - Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20, the Davenport Flotilla of
the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary will be offering free vessel safety checks from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. at the Marquette St. boat ramp in Davenport, IA.

A vessel safety check is a safety inspection provided by a trained member of the United States Coast
Guard Auxiliary. These inspections cover everything a recreational boater needs to be in compliance
with federal and state boating laws. Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel examiners are not law enforcement
and there are no consequences for failing a vessel safety check. All vessel safety checks performed
by the Coast Guard Auxiliary are voluntary. The purpose for these inspections is to help the boating
public learn what they need in order to be safe on the water this summer. Those who pass will
receive the red vessel safety check decal to place on their boat indicating that they have been
inspected, and were at the time carrying all applicable safety equipment required by law.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Davenport Department of Parks and Recreation are teaming up
for this event on the first two days of National Safe Boating Week. The goal is to help keep the
community informed and safe this boating season. The emphasis of both the Coast Guard Auxiliary
and the Department of Parks and Recreation is on prevention. "If we can stop a boating accident
before it happens then we have done our job" says Joseph Cordogan, a Flotilla Staff Officer from the
Davenport Flotilla of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. "Too often we hear about boating accidents that were
preventable through proper safety education."

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is an organization of volunteers dedicated to supporting the
United States Coast Guard and its missions. Auxiliary members are a uniformed civilian part of the
Coast Guard Forces. They teach safe boating classes, perform vessel safety checks, conduct on the
water safety patrols, act as an outlet for safe boating information, and much more. For more
information on this weekend's vessel safety check days, contact the Davenport Flotilla of the United
States Coast Guard Auxiliary at (563) 265-6866.

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For 31 years, Waverly resident held during Iran Hostage Crisis has been blocked from seeking damages from Iranian government

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) and Republican Rep. Ilena Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18) today launched a bipartisan legislative effort aimed at winning justice for 66 Americans held hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran, Iran, 31 years ago.  One of the hostages, Kathryn L. Koob, is a resident of Waverly, Iowa.

Since their release, the Americans have been barred by the US government from bringing suit against Iran and seeking justice for atrocities committed against them while in captivity for more than a year.

The "Justice for the American Diplomats Held Hostage in Tehran Act" would double fines and penalties levied against US companies that do business with Iran and redirect half of the amount to a newly established trust for the American hostages, the estates of deceased hostages, and their families.  Braley took up the cause after meeting several times with Koob.

"For more than three decades, justice has been denied to this group of American heroes," Braley said.  "It's time for the United States to stand behind the men and women who put their lives on the line for us, enduring torture and unimaginable terror during their long ordeal.  Our bill would finally bring compassion and closure to the hostages and their families, and close a dark chapter in our nation's history."

On November 4th, 1979, Iranian students stormed the US Embassy in Tehran and took a group of 66 American diplomats hostage.  52 Americans ended up being held captive for a total of 444 days.  The Algiers Accords, signed on January 19th, 1981, resolved the hostage crisis, but stipulated that the hostages could not bring claims against Iran for their captivity.

In April, the New York Times profiled the hostages and their ongoing effort to win damages from Iran.

The text of the "Justice for the American Diplomats Held Hostage in Tehran Act" can be downloaded at the following link:  http://go.usa.gov/p23

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