Homoeopathy: Help explain it to our credulous parliamentarians!

[Mashuna]

I'm hoping for a reply from my letter, as my MP signed this EDM and has a majority of less than 150.

Marginal constituencies - democracy at work.

 

[homer]

200 signed this . That's about one third . So one third of our MPs are idiots , that's less than I would have guessed ! Judging by the stupid laws they keep passing I would have put the figure at 90% .
It's not helped by the unasked for opinion of our next unelected King , Chuck the Hippy .
I fail to understand why any medicine offered to the public should be made available without proper testing .

 

[JonWhite]

Letter just posted to Emily Thornberry - Islington South & Finsbury

Don't s'pose it will make a difference - I have every confidence in our MP's ability to do the wrong thing. Makes me feel better for trying though.

 

[Badly Shaved Monkey]

My MP is not guilty of supporting this.

I think Mojo's link woul dbe a very good introduction to the uninitiated;

http://www.btinternet.com/~wellmother/venusbase.htm

If they can't see that is ridiculous then they probably also need a grown-up's help tying their shoelaces.

 

[Father Dagon]

Oooh. It looks as if MPs can be contacted by post simply by sending a letter to:

[MP Name]
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

We could do individually-enveloped letters and send them in one pack, saving a tonne of postage.

Nah, let's not zerg rush it.

 

[Jackalgirl]

Look, I'm coming to this really, really late, but I wanted to make the offer:

If you're still at the "preparing letter" stage and would like a Microsoft Word mail merge template to generate the individual letters automatically, let me know. I can do that, and I have an art background, so I can make the letter look pretty snazzy. All I need is whatever text you want to put in the letter. I'll make the template, then send you instructions for how to hook it into your Excel spreadsheet (and if you send me that, too, I'll make sure that the entire process works before I send it back to you).

Whoever's got the individual parts of the puzzle -- if you're not done already and this isn't already old old news, PM me and we'll work out the details (if you like).

 

[volatile]

Look, I'm coming to this really, really late, but I wanted to make the offer:

If you're still at the "preparing letter" stage and would like a Microsoft Word mail merge template to generate the individual letters automatically, let me know. I can do that, and I have an art background, so I can make the letter look pretty snazzy. All I need is whatever text you want to put in the letter. I'll make the template, then send you instructions for how to hook it into your Excel spreadsheet (and if you send me that, too, I'll make sure that the entire process works before I send it back to you).

Whoever's got the individual parts of the puzzle -- if you're not done already and this isn't already old old news, PM me and we'll work out the details (if you like).

We certainly haven't got anything together yet - and this would be more than useful! I think the current plan is to include the Sense About Science leaflet and a relatively short letter... anyone fancy drafting such?

 

[brodski]

Look, I'm coming to this really, really late, but I wanted to make the offer:

If you're still at the "preparing letter" stage and would like a Microsoft Word mail merge template to generate the individual letters automatically, let me know. I can do that, and I have an art background, so I can make the letter look pretty snazzy. All I need is whatever text you want to put in the letter. I'll make the template, then send you instructions for how to hook it into your Excel spreadsheet (and if you send me that, too, I'll make sure that the entire process works before I send it back to you).

Whoever's got the individual parts of the puzzle -- if you're not done already and this isn't already old old news, PM me and we'll work out the details (if you like).

It’s a great offer Jackagirl, but unfortunately letters that look mail merged or overly snazzy and/ or professionally produced will elicit much less of a repose than lots of (or even a few) individualised ( ) letters from “concerned constituents”,
Individualise the letter- make it personal.

I have booked a session to meet my MP (who is a junior minister and therefore not able to sign this EDM- I don’t know her sCAM views) in two weeks time, if you can do that it’s even better than writing, and probably less time consuming too.

 

[Pipirr]

I have booked a session to meet my MP (who is a junior minister and therefore not able to sign this EDM-

Really? Did not know that. Is there a rule?

 

[Asolepius]

We certainly haven't got anything together yet - and this would be more than useful! I think the current plan is to include the Sense About Science leaflet and a relatively short letter... anyone fancy drafting such?

I would suggest something other than the Sense About Science leaflet. I hear a rumour that they will get that from another source. I agree that personalised letters are best. If you want to send an enclosure, I'd suggest a `bottom line' summary from Bandolier. These are written for anyone to understand, even MPs.

 

[brodski]

Really? Did not know that. Is there a rule?

I’m not sure if it is a rule or a convention, it in practice it is Not Done ™
Ministers are part of the Government as well as being part of government, and as EDMs are designed to alter policy of the Government it is seen as contrary to Collective Responsibility for ministers (even lowly PPS’s) to sign EDMs.
What they usually do is write to the appropriate minister to get them to explain why the EDM is a bad thing and shouldn’t be signed.

 

[Pipirr]

I’m not sure if it is a rule or a convention, it in practice it is Not Done ™
Ministers are part of the Government as well as being part of government, and as EDMs are designed to alter policy of the Government it is seen as contrary to Collective Responsibility for ministers (even lowly PPS’s) to sign EDMs.
What they usually do is write to the appropriate minister to get them to explain why the EDM is a bad thing and shouldn’t be signed.

Thanks. That makes a lot of sense, and might explain why Jim Knight didn't sign. I think he had some rank or other.

Cheers.

 

[brodski]

Thanks. That makes a lot of sense, and might explain why Jim Knight didn't sign. I think he had some rank or other.

Cheers.

he's a Minister of state in the Department for Children, Schools and Families

 

[typondis]

There's obviously a very strong emotional response behind all this...

 

[Darat]

You will find that here - people do tend to get quite worked up when people are being frauded and even worse of course not receiving proper medical care for their aliments.

 

[Asolepius]

There's obviously a very strong emotional response behind all this...

It's a strong intellectual response to people who tell lies at the expense of the vulnerable. I see you are new here so welcome - if you get out of this forum half as much as I have you'll love it. Yes, there is an emotional element, but it's based on reason. In the past I was religious, but the adrenaline buzz I get from even small successes in the support of truth and evidence renders my erstwhile faith an empty shell. Try it, you'll like it - if you haven't already.

 

[Rolfe]

Oh, that's standard homoeopath approach #3. I've had it flung at me umpteen times before. "You are obviously emotional about this. What is it that makes you so angry?" The next step is to suggest a nice homoeopathic remedy for anger!

The idea that we might be angry about blatant fraud directed against the sick and vulnerable really doesn't seem to occur to them. I genuinely believe it's because they don't have any concept that what they're doing is fraud. And possibly, suggesting that anyone who points out that it is, is emotional and angry, is good displacement activity.

Rolfe.

 

[typondis]

illuminati member? I dunno. I think I might trump that rank. Hahahah, I was expecting exactly that kind of response, Rolfe, possibly from you. Not expecting as in designed my post to evoke it, but as in felt it very likely to occur in relation to it. I'll come back to you in a minute...

Asolepius: um, this isn't the philosophy forum (and not to antagonise), but I will say this: people believe what insures mental security for them.

I'm generally interested in emotional vitality, yet, unattachment, and expressing this through my basic operation. (It is not often interpreted accurately by others, I must say.) Searching for things to vilify is a different thing, entirely.

So, Rolfe, no hidden agenda. Merely entering the waters, however much that might test the current.

 

[volatile]

So, Rolfe, no hidden agenda. Merely entering the waters, however much that might test the current.

Testing the waters is precisely what this thread is about.

 

[Badly Shaved Monkey]

I always enjoy these meta-discussions. It's just a pity we never seem to make any progress with getting homeopathy advocates to deal with the issues.

Here's one, typondis;

Do airport X-ray scanners inactivate remedies? Yes or no. Give the reasons for your answer.