What does one say to counter this jaw-dropping vileness?

[sinkingfeeling]

I have to type this in since this 'newspaper' requires one to buy a subscription to their online version. From today's Northwest Arkansas Times 'Public Viewpoint':

Thanks to cheap drugs, the world AIDS epidemic is winding down - not! Dropping the cost of expensive drugs to a 30 cents a day in the 'developing world' is making the problem worse, not better. Here's how.

The drugs allow millions of patients to maintain a normal lifestyle. Instead of dying in agony, they happily go about their lives. For many, this means engaging in the same practices that led to their infection in the first place. Thus they continue to violate the ABCs of safe sex: "Abstain, Be faithful, use Condoms," as promoted broadly.

It's easy to see how this produces a double whammy. First, fear of death from AIDS is suppressed, which encourages risky behavior. Second, the number of people spreading the disease expands exponentially because they don't die off, while they continue to reproduce.

But the medical system's ability to meet the growing demand for cheap drugs is not infinite. It's already facing big supply gaps. And this adds enormous stress on the care system. Just look at some of the pathetic news photos circulating recently.

Is the AIDS epidemic beyond redemption?

Bill Millager
Rogers, Arkansas

[MineralMan]

1. Yuck. A thinly-disguised anti-gay screed.

[Chulanowa]

5. Racist, as well

With the assumption that Africans are idiots who do nothing but screw

[leftofcool]

2. This is such pure bullshit!

People with AIDS do not continue to have unsafe sex nor do they reproduce. If they are taking medicine then then AIDS is already so far gone that they know full well they have it and prone to being extremely careful so as to not infect anyone else. I know this for a fact as my brother passed away with AIDS. He did not engage in risky behavior the last 8 years of his life. You should call the OP out on this one.

[TheMadMonk]

7. Sorry to rain on your parade, but a sample of one does not a trend define.

The article is unfortunately correct in that far, far to many people with active HIV infections do not (and in fact WILL NOT) modify their behaviour after learning they have the disease.

Where the article lies by ommission, is by failing to say that those who's disease IS being held in check by drugs ARE considerably less infectious than someone who is untreated.

[dionysus]

3. stupid is strong in that guy, huh.

[Ozymanithrax]

4. I would say this, "Just between you and me, Bill"

"If Jesus walked the streets today,
Would he cure the sick,
Or let them suffer and die in pain,
since he knows they will sin again."

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Good answer! Thanks.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

8. Wait A Minute.............Gay Men Can Reproduce???

I mean, I knew right-wingers didn't believe in science, but this one's just going WAY too far.

[rrneck]

9. "It's already facing big supply gaps. "

I think I'll take a spin through the gap in his reasoning.