by Chris Bodenner
A reader writes:
The biggest problem with the Komen foundation isn't so much its political decision (and then reversal) to stop funding Planned Parenthood's breast exam programs. It's the fact that so little of their money – money they collect "For the Cure" – goes to fund cancer research. For the most recent year that numbers are available (2010), only 19% of total revenue was used to fund research. Komen's biggest expenditure is "education" – 37%. Really? People aren't aware that breast cancer is a danger?
Another writes:
I'd like to see Komen stop enjoying their ridiculous sacred cow status, and I'm glad that's being done. For more on the infantilizing, largely useless pink-ribbon culture, check out Barbara Ehrenreich's 2001 essay "Welcome to Cancerland".
Other readers recommend Gayle Sulik's book Pink Ribbon Blues. Last year, Stephen Colbert highlighted Komen's $1 million campaign to sue smaller foundations for using "for the cure" in their names. A reader sends the above video:
KFC donates 50 cents per pink bucket sold. Check out this truly obscene video from KFC's own YouTube page celebrating the partnership.
More on the commercializaton for the cure here.
The Dish 