Comments on: Bird Flu Overreaction? http://poliblogger.com/?p=8576 A rough draft of my thoughts... Sat, 18 Nov 2024 05:31:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Jack http://poliblogger.com/?p=8576#comment-278203 Thu, 03 Nov 2024 07:32:58 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=8576#comment-278203 There are two things going on here: 1) An attempt to divert media (and therby public) attention from the various problems facing the administration 2) An attempt to downplay potential future accusations along the lines of "a pandemic is a bigger national threat than missles, yet you spend billions on a missile defense program that does not work and spend little on public health measures." In terms of money spent versus the relative risks and consequences, the amount requested for preparations that would be effective against many types of viruses (not just avian flu) is actually disproportionately small compared with many other, much lower probability events that would affect far fewer people. There are two things going on here:

1) An attempt to divert media (and therby public) attention from the various problems facing the administration

2) An attempt to downplay potential future accusations along the lines of “a pandemic is a bigger national threat than missles, yet you spend billions on a missile defense program that does not work and spend little on public health measures.”

In terms of money spent versus the relative risks and consequences, the amount requested for preparations that would be effective against many types of viruses (not just avian flu) is actually disproportionately small compared with many other, much lower probability events that would affect far fewer people.

]]> by: Dr. Steven Taylor http://poliblogger.com/?p=8576#comment-276249 Tue, 01 Nov 2024 22:33:39 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=8576#comment-276249 You raise a legit point. You raise a legit point.

]]> by: jhdfio http://poliblogger.com/?p=8576#comment-276248 Tue, 01 Nov 2024 22:27:44 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=8576#comment-276248 Obviously Bush does not have much public confidence for handling domestic emergencies; but this beats his original plan--to use the military to quarantinne people suspected of having the flu. He has a strong record of employing military means to solve non-military problems, wasting tons of money in the process. Obviously Bush does not have much public confidence for handling domestic emergencies; but this beats his original plan–to use the military to quarantinne people suspected of having the flu.

He has a strong record of employing military means to solve non-military problems, wasting tons of money in the process.

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