And as a fascist realist I do not fit in on the beach. I can't but humour, at best, the proponents of various long standing human delusions. On the beach these include a complex mixture of religion, superstition, social theory, agricultural theory and alternative medicine. I can't accept it, that different things are "true for some people". I'm not the arbiter of reality, but I'm pretty sure that it exists, and the objective form, is singular. The alternative people, so attractive as an escape from the strict system, will include the group incapable of accepting any system. They form not just their own 'system', but their own logic and truths. Anecdotal evidence and the results of our own deductive logic or fancies of understanding are very persuasive. Throw in some agreeable concepts such as fighting against a general conspiracy proposed by multinational corporations, and the conformity with your alternative peers, and it must be overpowering.
The trouble is, I've seen this somewhere else. This is the world described in the fiction of 'George Elliot', in 'Middlemarch', a book published mid 19th century but describing a world closer to the beginning of that century. The tale includes the strife of a young science-following doctor, working against a culture of superstition and crackpot medical theories. The book details the man's struggle against a profession where payment is made per potion delivered by the doctor-pharmacists of the time. But we have not escaped, enter the world of Ayurveda and a total lack of principle. Ayurveda is a traditional medicine which mixes herbal cures with theories on the 'Doshas', a term difficult to define as elements, spirits, energy or state. While Ayurvedic medicine is available for purchase separately from pharmacists, many of the 'ayurvedic doctors' in tourist areas at least, also sell the medicines prescribed. One of the more extreme treatments, a 'cleansing' known as Panchakarma, is sold for large sums of money by doctors willing to provide what foreign patients are seeking. The charge is perhaps 20,000 INR (200GBP), equivalent to two months wages. There is unsurprisingly no shortage of doctors and clinics willing to provide this treatment. Then there are the blood purifying pills, available at any good Ayurvedic pharmacy, exactly as proscribed to the fictional villagers in 'Middlemarch'. Something about the idea of purifying the blood is attractive through the centuries, it's a subset of a greater fear. A poison we cannot touch, taste, or clean away invading our bodies. Think of the innate fear of radiation or chemical contaminants. Dr. Strangelove was right, it's all about our precious bodily fluids.
Miracle cures and foods: Eat 5 pomegranates, 3 neem pills, 2 cloves of garlic, some spirulina (the 1974 world convention food of the future, as proudly boasted by it's hippy cult manufacture: Auroville), a live newt... etc...
Perhaps I can learn from the alternative real of the beach. At the end of one rambling and disconnected discussion on the solution to it all, a conclusion that the solution was to teach empathy.
An RSA animated short on empathy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7AWnfFRc7g
Medicine is perhaps my greatest pain; each day you will hear a new practice attested as the recipe for perfect health. I'm going to avoid using the term alternative too much, as this is a clever use of language by those who seek to condemn therapies which differ from the standard. The term 'alternative' unfairly groups any medical theory which has yet been proven with those which have been generally disproved. It is misleading to suggest that any medicine which works ceases to be alternative, as it is adoption by healthcare providers which determines the standard. There have been cases where eventually the alternative is recognised. I believe acupuncture is one, but don't cite me. Herbal medicine is not alternative medicine. There are many established herbal remedies, such as camomile or valerian root, and many drugs which mimic chemicals present in ancient herbal cures. Untested herbal medicine is alternative medicine. At best this is believable when treating non-specific pain, or stimulating the immune system. If you want a potential mechanism of action, the latest research in cancer treatments seem to be based on using the immune system to attack cancer, as is part of it's natural function.
The medical theories are many. The evidence is commonly close experience, the cure of an uncle, an aunt or friend. An even more common reason in fact seems to be 'it works for me'. I'm taking colloidal silver and I have been healthy ever since, therefore it must work. I was sick, and I got better, this cure is proven. But what about colloidal silver for example, can it offer any benefits. As a treatment which was long-established in the pre-anti-biotic era, and an element known to work in vitro, what is the conclusion of medical science. No, no it doesn't work. No conclusion can be absolute, especially in a complex ecosystem like the gut, but the general opinion is in: It's a load of utter bollocks. I've met a few descendants of homeopaths, who are tempting evolutionary principles by appearing in rather good health. Unfortunately I can't spare the time even to rubbish Homeopathy, it's not just utter bollocks, it's proven to be utter bollocks. Sadly, homeopaths have their own para-scientific journals which equally prove that it is the cure to all diseases. It's worth stating in full the flaw in the all too common "it works for some people" defense. These some people must be considered in proportion to those who were not helped by the treatment. This ratio will give the efficacy, which must then be compared against the expected number of people who would have recovered without treatment, ideally under controlled conditions. (Except if there was a diagnostic criteria for determining who would benefit from alternative medicine, excepting gullibility).
The medical theories are many. The evidence is commonly close experience, the cure of an uncle, an aunt or friend. An even more common reason in fact seems to be 'it works for me'. I'm taking colloidal silver and I have been healthy ever since, therefore it must work. I was sick, and I got better, this cure is proven. But what about colloidal silver for example, can it offer any benefits. As a treatment which was long-established in the pre-anti-biotic era, and an element known to work in vitro, what is the conclusion of medical science. No, no it doesn't work. No conclusion can be absolute, especially in a complex ecosystem like the gut, but the general opinion is in: It's a load of utter bollocks. I've met a few descendants of homeopaths, who are tempting evolutionary principles by appearing in rather good health. Unfortunately I can't spare the time even to rubbish Homeopathy, it's not just utter bollocks, it's proven to be utter bollocks. Sadly, homeopaths have their own para-scientific journals which equally prove that it is the cure to all diseases. It's worth stating in full the flaw in the all too common "it works for some people" defense. These some people must be considered in proportion to those who were not helped by the treatment. This ratio will give the efficacy, which must then be compared against the expected number of people who would have recovered without treatment, ideally under controlled conditions. (Except if there was a diagnostic criteria for determining who would benefit from alternative medicine, excepting gullibility).
The trouble is, I've seen this somewhere else. This is the world described in the fiction of 'George Elliot', in 'Middlemarch', a book published mid 19th century but describing a world closer to the beginning of that century. The tale includes the strife of a young science-following doctor, working against a culture of superstition and crackpot medical theories. The book details the man's struggle against a profession where payment is made per potion delivered by the doctor-pharmacists of the time. But we have not escaped, enter the world of Ayurveda and a total lack of principle. Ayurveda is a traditional medicine which mixes herbal cures with theories on the 'Doshas', a term difficult to define as elements, spirits, energy or state. While Ayurvedic medicine is available for purchase separately from pharmacists, many of the 'ayurvedic doctors' in tourist areas at least, also sell the medicines prescribed. One of the more extreme treatments, a 'cleansing' known as Panchakarma, is sold for large sums of money by doctors willing to provide what foreign patients are seeking. The charge is perhaps 20,000 INR (200GBP), equivalent to two months wages. There is unsurprisingly no shortage of doctors and clinics willing to provide this treatment. Then there are the blood purifying pills, available at any good Ayurvedic pharmacy, exactly as proscribed to the fictional villagers in 'Middlemarch'. Something about the idea of purifying the blood is attractive through the centuries, it's a subset of a greater fear. A poison we cannot touch, taste, or clean away invading our bodies. Think of the innate fear of radiation or chemical contaminants. Dr. Strangelove was right, it's all about our precious bodily fluids.
The anti-politicals don't want to hear about politics or economics. To them it's all part of the system, all politicians are corrupt, it's not interesting. But their disbelief in the impossibility of progress is the very thing which gives politicians the power to act unchecked. It's tempting in the face of complexity and a system which seems entirely dishonest to turn away and condemn it, isn't it so damn fashionable to say "they're all corrupt". But if you make this lazy generalisation you don't hold anyone to account. A servile political system relies on the scrutiny and differentiation of the actions of politicians, public interest and debate. If you can't handle a duty to be involved in the shaping of the world don't hold your head high when saying it. Damn alternatives, at least vote Green. Economics, oh economics is a lie, another part of the system. Economics describes the relative affordability of grain. In the last 5 years rising grain prices killed large numbers of people and toppled governments. Economic situations contributed to the rise of the far right in Europe, now, and in the past. Economics exists, what you don't like is the ruthless free-market capitalist system, which is fair enough.
Miracle cures and foods: Eat 5 pomegranates, 3 neem pills, 2 cloves of garlic, some spirulina (the 1974 world convention food of the future, as proudly boasted by it's hippy cult manufacture: Auroville), a live newt... etc...
Permaculture, the latest hippie theory on agriculture. Permaculture suffers from being an agglomeration of techniques and a refuge for it's sustainability seeking followers. It's hard to disagree with on the grounds that most of it's individual points are hard to disagree with. Permaculture targets sustainability, yes the concept has a single source if you wondered about the almost brand-like name. But it's methods are a mixture of the tested and perfectly agreeable, and various others with questionable proof as to their efficiency. It's hard to disagree with organic farming, which in theory does less harm to both consumers and wildlife, and I'm willing to remove a maggot when I find it. Reducing the carbon intensity is clearly a positive goal in farming. But the theory extends these basic principles with various other ideas which have yet to bear fruit. Clearing forest for farmland has resulted in terrible consequences in many continents, but the reactionary approach of no-tilling isn't necessarily backed by evidence. The idea that a permanent culture of sympathetic plants could survive ignores the dynamic nature of ecosystems. It's so wonderful to hear that certain plant combinations repel pests, but does it actually work? My biggest disagreement with Permaculture has to do with the reality of bulk nutrients. Crops remove Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium from the soil, and no number of drum circles or geometric arrangement of plants can replace this. The ideal answer is a composting toilet, which is adopted in the very far north of India. But as many westerners prefer home water toilets, I will be sure to redirect the needed quantities of raw sewage in the direction of permaculture proponents.
Perhaps I can learn from the alternative real of the beach. At the end of one rambling and disconnected discussion on the solution to it all, a conclusion that the solution was to teach empathy.
An RSA animated short on empathy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7AWnfFRc7g
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