The world took notice on Aug. 4, 2020 when a large amount of ammonium nitrate at a port in Beirut, Lebanon exploded, killing at least 220, injuring 6000 more and leaving over 300,000 people homeless (1). As of Oct. 19, 2020, investigators suspect that a fire preceding the blast was responsible for the destruction. While…
More than half of all Americans take some form of a prescription drug, not to mention various over the counter drugs, vitamins, and other supplements [2]. In fact, the United States is one of the most heavily medicated countries in the world, but also pays far more to stock its medicine cabinet than most other…
An effective democracy calls for the active participation of its citizens through voting. Regardless of socioeconomic class, gender, race, or religion, every citizen of the United States, above the age of eighteen, has the right to vote. Nevertheless, only about fifty to sixty percent of eligible voters turn up at the polls in presidential elections,…
On March 23, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act, also known as ACA or colloquially as Obamacare, was signed into law by President Obama. It passed with heavy Democratic support and no Republican support in the U.S. Congress, and for the past seven years, Republicans have aimed to repeal and replace the bill…
Drug discovery and production is a business; its purpose is profit. However, the goods produced through this business carry much more value than the price assigned to them. They save human lives. Examining the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that access to medicine is a right afforded to all human beings, not a luxury reserved…
On August 5, 2014 Missouri voters headed to the ballot boxes for mid-term elections. Among several issues, one that stood out to many was a legislatively referred amendment known as the “Right to Farm” Act. The language on the ballot read, “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to ensure that the right of Missouri citizens…