$250 million dollars...is that what they've spent total on this?

......

spent on something that could actually make the world a better place......

..........

As an amputee myself, I guess my perception is kinda skewed, but why aren't we spending billions on this research? Knowing what I know about the bullsh*t government spends money on, and then hearing about the $.25 spent on this tech... just f*cking sucks.

Does anyone in power CARE what losing a limb has actually done to my life?

no.

Do they care how it would affect my life to have my limb back?

Podboq,

They care more about creating multi-billion dollars weapons than creating ways to regrow limbs or stop cancer and aging.

I have been an amputee for 19 years and you guys need to chill out. Yes, it sucks that our system grossly underfunds prosthetic and clinical development, however, take time to look at the larger picture. By virtue of our country spending billions in military expenditures, many areas in medical advancement are and will remain underfunded. Try and take pleasure in the fact that initiatives to promote prosthetic studies are being taken. I am not mandating complacency or suggesting passivity, I am merely pointing out that there are those whose illnesses and mental defects will never have an opportunity to receive the attention or the governmental backing that the area of prosthetics is currently receiving.

And you are right, no one in power cares what losing a limb has done in your life. They are too busy worrying about trivial things such as diplomacy, globalization, and what a mess they created by catering to oil cartels to unjustly maximize profit.

sidenote:
Obama 08

wouldn't need prosthetics at all if they'd get on the ball with the restorations and regrowth. No sense in it, many might disagree with me, but quality of life IS affected by number of limbs, and so are employment opportunities.

I've been an amputee for 20 yrs, So I got seniority here, don't tell me to chill. :D

Podboq like all new technologies we have to start somewhere. Field rations (Hard tack and coffee) were a joke during the civil war until canning became widespread. As with prosthetics they have been out a while and there are alot out there that have had their lives much improved by them. The Tech in this article is still new so too many people do not know of its value but as more hear about it more will be done. All technologies have to start out somewhere and they do not all come out full blown.

While i agree with the premise of Podboq's comment, i would mention that throwing money at something does not always make it more efficient.

however, i do feel that much, much more money should be shifted towards medical fields like this, if for no other reason than that the vast majority of americans would approve of their tax dollars being spent on it.

let's not forget, gentlemen, that the government is only spending OUR money.

Well palarious, unfortunately the govt. seems to do whatever they want with OUR money whether we approve or not. There are alot of things that need attention that dont get it. And the beat goes on.

USD 250 million compared to USD 23 Billion contractors stole is peanuts!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/7438372.stm

Perhaps you can download this docu somewhere. It's worth it!

I think its disappointing that the "richest damn country" in the world cannot devote more money and time to actually helping the injured regrow and or repair limbs, finding better and quicker ways to do so will cost time and money but what is that worth compared with a man or a womans mobility, independence and life? answer.

God Damn, its still frigging disappointing

and

I have all of my limbs!

mhm, this is for the one who wont spend money in a right way :

.I...