WhoisJohnGalt said:
2) Since I know a few of you on here are liberals, don't buy into the crap the republicans feed you about AMSA. Read up on it yourself. I'm not going to combat his propaganda with my propaganda, so I'll just say this: Don't pay attention to what I say or what he says, look it up yourself. This website lists AMSA's stance on a variety of issues:
http://www.amsa.org/about/priorities.cfm . I don't think you'll find anything in there about third trimester abortions, eating live kittens/babies/puppies, or assassinating Bush.
Ah... the "valid point, ridiculous point, more ridiculous point" tactic.
Actually, I wasn't exaggerating in the least. And, I'm not sure why you're calling my statement propaganda
😕
AMSA is so far left on every policy position they hold, even the AMA won't associate with them.
My statement about third-trimester abortions was accurate. AMSA opposes any ban on late-term abortion including partial delivery and termination.
Here's a link to their policy view on reproductive issues.
http://www.amsa.org/about/ppp/repro.cfm
A few points to support my statement from that link.
OPPOSES any new legislation or interpretation of existing laws which would criminalize any otherwise legal actions by pregnant women, whether or not such actions are deemed to be medically injurious to a fetus.
OPPOSES the prohibition of intact dilation and extraction abortion.
BELIEVES that voluntary, induced abortion by sound medical and surgical procedure should be legal and that abortion should be a matter to be decided between patient and physician, without the interference of any third party
BELIEVES that the question of when a conceptus acquires personhood is a complex, religious, moral and personal question that cannot be answered by medical science, and OPPOSES all legislation attempting to define personhood of a conceptus
BELIEVES that voluntary induced abortions should be available from all public hospitals on the same basis as any other medical or surgical procedure.
BELIEVES that all women, REGARDLESS OF AGE , social status, or marital status should be able to obtain a voluntary abortion. Federal, state and local funds should be provided to women unable to afford an abortion, as it is provided for other medical services to indigent people.
OPPOSES the use of explicit visual and/or verbal representation of the products of abortion that tend to produce emotional trauma rather than provide useful information to a woman considering an abortion.
So basically unfettered abortion on demand, without restriction, for any age, any gestation.
Propaganda? It's their words, not mine.
If you do a simple search on any "hot button" issue on their website, you'll find similar "official" policy statements, none without the glaring political slant, unfortunately.
In addition, eVery foreign and domestic policy of the Bush administration in combatting the war on terror, they oppose. Sounds eerily like the ACLU to me.
And even if you don't care about any of that, as future physicians, you should be concerned about their #1 policy which is shown on the link you posted. Universal Health Care. That's socialized medicine, folks. No propaganda here. Just be aware that the #1 medical student organization in the country is lobbying for changes that nearly all phyisicians oppose. Good luck payinig those 200k in student loans when you're making a flat 100k a year.
Back in 2004, I posted a link from AMSA that showed their "official" positions on many policies (many of which were quite a stretch for a medical student organization to even have an "offical" view on).
I can't find the link as it was in the 2009 Oklahoma forum page.
Anyway, here's a summary. They advocate for socialized medicine, strict gun control to include a complete civilian firearms ban, opposition to late-term abortion ban, oppostition to the war in Iraq, opposition to the tax cuts of 2004, and oh yeah, another little item possibly of interest to future docs...
OPPOSITION TO MEDICAL MALPRACTICE REFORM INCLUDING CAPS ON PUNITIVE DAMAGES.
Here's the bottom line. If you want to be a AMSA puppet, go ahead. But they lure these brand new med students into a irrevocable 4-year membership at orientation with a "free" Netters. WITHOUT FULL DISCLOSURE OF THEIR POLICIES. The document I posted last yearr showing their views on the above issues was buried deep inside their website, and required a very targeted search to locate. If anyone saved that link or has it (I doubt it's still valid since it was targeted at the 2004 election year policies, but I think you can guess their views on nearly all policies), I'd appreciate if you'd post it, so that everyone can be assured, my statements are most certainly not fabricated.
Anyways, once signed up, if you were able to cancel (as their website states), you aren't refunded any money. However, two years ago, I was involved in trying to help several students cancel their AMSA memberships, after they became aware of what exactly they were supporting.
Calls, emails, and letter writing failed to produce any response from AMSA's leadership, and we were unable to get any confirmation that their names had been removed from their rosters.
So, the next time, a senator steps out in favor of "Nationalized Health Care", you might be a bit reserved in your response. Your name just might be on the petition.
(AMSA is a radical organization, folks. Granted they do alot of good, as the opposition to my post will tell you. They've lobbied for lower resident hours, better access to healthcare for all, care regardless of ability to pay, etc.
But, it's impossible to ignore their policy views, as those views affect all of us in their lobbying. The views of a few is representing the masses, but unlike traditional political elections, with AMSA you only have one "party" to vote for, (name for me another med student organization with less radical views) and you pay 70 bucks to do so. All I ask is that you be an informed voter.
(and in the future, I'd appreciate an honest discussion without labeling me a propaganda slinging conservative). My opinions are mostly unapologetically conservative, and I back up my statements with facts. Disagreement is fine, just please do the same.
