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The Attention Economy and Fake Mainstream News

by Dr. Rick Kirschner on June 27, 2017


John Oliver’s pHARMa-propaganda-and-lies tirade about vaccines and those who dare question them motivated me to share what follows (and to tune out one more loudmouth from my TV viewing.)

Too often I have the thought that it’s no longer the age of information, it’s the age of narrative in service to the ‘Attention Economy.’ Facts are increasingly irrelevant when placed next to rumors and anonymous sources saying scandalous things. . Investigation into claims made by advertisers (this includes political parties now) is irrelevant when you can have scary talking points from advertisers with agendas pushing their products and plans through anger and fear. What matters most is getting and holding attention. Clearly, pitting people against each other through false narratives is more effective when journalism fails.
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Stand Up for Your Privacy While There Is Still Time

by Dr. Rick Kirschner on February 26, 2016

Apple holds the lineIs it time yet to take responsibility for our ‘right to privacy’ in America?   Y’know, while we still have time?

Electronic tracking systems are now available to federal and state government, employers, political operatives, and, well, pretty much anyone willing to pay for your info.

Why should you care?  Because they may one day be used to identify ‘non-compliers’ with mandated edicts, at which point, control of our lives will be lost along with what’s left of the brilliant gift give to the world that is our Declaration and Constitution.

Disreputable and devious politicians are abusing our words right now, as their hunger for power gives them license to say what they want with no consequence.  But that’s no reason for us not to value our rights and responsibilities ourselves and own them, hold these people to account with them, instead of allowing them to run roughshod over all of it as their whim and leisure.

Here’s the gist:

The United States Constitution does not contain any explicit right to privacy although founders sought to protect certain aspects of privacy in the Bill of Rights as follows.

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On Vaccines, Injuries and the Ethics of Mandates

by Dr. Rick Kirschner on January 5, 2016

StethoscopeI was recently asked to succinctly express my opposition to mandating vaccination.  Here you go:

Vaccines may appear to be generally safe (for the vast majority of vaccinated, there is no immediate harm) and effective (if you use correlation as causation, the proximity of vaccines to decreases in infectious diseases in very compelling. Problem is, correlation isn’t causation, and also appearing in close proximity to such decreases is better sanitation and indoor plumbing, which are recognized as primary factors in the reduction of infectious diseases.)

But do you have to be a scientist to make sense of conflicting info on vaccines?  Not really.

It does not take much curiosity to find that a subset of children are most certainly harmed by vaccines, and that families are more often than not on the hook for a lifetime of medical care when that harm takes place to their children. Nor does it take much attention to notice the revolving door between vaccine regulators and the drug industry, or to notice that they are free of liability when vaccine products cause harm to our children.

And if a person is only willing to to do a minimal investigation, it is readily apparent that pHARMa pretty much owns state and federal politicians through their donations, (pHARMa is the top lobbying industry in Congress) and owns our press establishment through their advertising largesse (pHARMa is the top advertiser.) The pHARMa industry, acting to benefit their own bottom line,  has actively and purposefully corrupted medical research, too.  This explains the paucity of solid research on vaccines to justify their exaggerated claims of safety and effectiveness, and the eagerness of this predatory industry to claim to know what they do not know.

And surely someone with only a modest amount of intelligence,if he or she but looks, will readily discern that the drug industry is not humanitarian in its intent.  This is a for profit industry with a fat bottom line driving an agenda that serves its own interests.  And no, pHARMa interests are not equivalent to the national interest.

And here’s where it gets nasty.  Because vaccine mandates, like the one now mandated in California in SB 277 (introduced to the corrupt California assembly by failed pediatrician but successful PHARMATRICIAN Richard Pan, who was the top dollar recipient of drug industry largesse in that particular election cycle), put an ineffectual government and greedy politicians in the position of choosing which kids have to take a risk in order to supposedly protect someone else’s kids.

I have no problem with people choosing to vaccinate their kids. I have a big problem with government pushing industry agendas and coercing families to accept risky procedures in the phony name of ‘the greater good.’  The drug industry hasn’t earned and does not deserve the trust they demand from us. We need leaders to stand up for our freedom to choose medical procedures, and that includes injections. Mandating vaccines is unethical if there is any risk involved, and there is risk. Stop this madness.  If you are pro vaccination, make your case with persuasion.  Show fearful parents the actual science rather than claiming that it exists.  Demand that the drug industry and government regulators respond to parental concerns with quality data, instead of bullying them, dismissing them, or holding them up to ridicule.  Our nation can’t last much longer if these corporate controllers are allowed to dictate our state and national agendas.   Just say no to the Drug Industry!   Refuse to be pHARMed any more!  Their biggest fear is an informed electorate.

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Our gift to you, free for the next two days!

by Dr. Rick Kirschner on December 22, 2015

Kindle version of Dealing with Relatives Dealing With Relatives

OUR HOLIDAY GIFT TO YOU, FREE for the NEXT TWO DAYS!  (This offer ends on December 23rd, 2015)

My coauthored book, ‘DEALING WITH RELATIVES’ for Kindle is available for the next 3 days FREE at this link!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B019L7FGEW

Can you help us spread the word?
1. Go “buy” the free version and leave a review. This is important! Reviews are HUGE to promote books!!! See below for instructions on what makes a good review below.

2. Send the link to your relatives, to help them deal better with each other, and maybe even you!

3. Please share this post with your social network!

***Here is what makes a good review
Include the “why”: The best reviews include not only whether you liked or disliked a product or service, but also why. Feel free to make comparisons with other books you’ve read
Be specific: Your review should be relevant to the product you’re reviewing and focus on specific features or your experience.
Not too short, not too long: Written reviews should be at least 20 words and are limited to 5,000 words. The ideal length is 75 to 500 words.
Be sincere: We welcome your honest opinion.
All my best wishes to you and yours this holiday season! I hope I’m helping you to bring out the best in people and in yourself!

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Yes, Yes AND, Yes again! What does “Yes, AND…” accomplish?

February 17, 2015

In a brainstorming session it doesn’t always serve to “yes, and” the first idea suggested as we would in an improv show. We want to build on an idea that will satisfy the need we’re targeting, and this seems to require discriminatory thinking, which seems to be opposite of ‘yes, and.’ How do you reconcile/incorporate this into the improv toolbox we are offering?

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When Training Is Fun, Is It More Valuable?

January 28, 2015

Fun builds relationships. We know how to tear relationships apart: criticism, disinterest, constant disagreement, and entitled superiority. For some bringing their relationships closer together can be mystifying. It shouldn’t be! When we have positive shared experiences with people, we feel closer to them which makes it easier to traverse the topsy-turvy twists that inevitably befall us at one time or another. Because we’ve enjoyed laughter and maybe even just a little inkling of love (or at the very least likability) we are quicker to forgive each other when the going gets hard. Why should building relationships be limited to leisure? You probably interact with your co-workers, direct reports and clients for a much more significant portion of your day to day. Having a positive, healthy relationship with those folks can only build your success, so I say embrace it!

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Conventional Medicine is NOT Science-based. Natural Medicine is NOT Pseudo-Science. Don’t Feed Trolls.

January 19, 2015

This idea that conventional medicine is science based, and naturopathic medicine is pseudo science, is an unsubstantiated conceit and nothing more. And the idea that a dependable scientific purity is somehow driving our for-profit conventional system and the drug companies it serves is both laughable and sad all at once. It could be fun to post all the links to demonstrate the conceit, if it weren’t for all the damage done by the conventional system, the costs incurred, the worthless treatments bought and paid for, the patients harmed. Oh, and let’s not forget that the AMA gave America it’s tobacco and soft drink addictions by placing their seal of approval on tobacco and soft drinks in JAMA all those years ago.

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Putting Sick Care Propaganda Into Perspective

January 16, 2015

My desired outcome in healthcare is to see a truly integrated system that focuses on best practices and what actually works, and gives people access to all their choices and options instead of only the profitable ones or the ones driven by marketing and hype. I don’t much care what that system is called, but I do know that the paradigm shift has to be away from illness as the centerpiece (sick care) and towards health as the center piece of a smart healthcare system.

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