Beetlenut,

Please, please take this post as I intend it--to bring up a different view of this thread, and what should be included at DB in general. I fully understand that DB is a board mainly devoted to discussing issues of pain and finding relief. That is the main reason I come here. I keep returning to the board because there are other issues discussed as well, one of them being the "politics" of pain. I am very much interested in learning more about what laws effect our plight, what is being reported in the media, and what "major voices" are saying about CP and the outlets we use to alleviate our pain. Rush Limbaugh was not only very vocal about this issue in the past, but, as we all know, he experienced his own devastating problem. I see no reason why a thread like this one is inappropriate. The board includes sections on Laws and News and Media for a reason. Limbaugh has become a central figure in the arena of pain and pain medication and its inherent problems. He embodies the debate, in fact.

If you are offended by the discussion, why do you read it? Why do you feel that we shouldn't be allowed to discuss/debate this man's words and his situation? The "politics" of pain is very important indeed, and I feel it deserves a place here. The back and forth between liberals and conservatives is part of the discussion. It is interesting, to me at least, to understand how each group views the situation. It helps me to figure out how I can help.

Redhill is as entitled to voice his opinion as any of us. I found his post informative and I was sympathetic to much of it. If you don't like what's on CBS, then switch to NBC. If I don't like what one member says about NWW, or about Oprah Winfrey, or about double dipping, or about their personal life (of which there is MUCH discussion), I move on. No harm, no foul.

I say those of us who care to discuss politics should be free to, particularly as it relates to how politics and famous figures, whether they be politicians or not, affect our situation. I think it's very informative to hear a pov from someone who is from a different country, and how they view the way American politics inform the policy on pain.

Limbaugh proudly extols his political leanings--no one is "outing" him here. And I agree with Limper on at least one thing--he is listened to by tens of millions of people. This thread has a place here, in my humble opinion.