Let's see...what's going on in the world today? Oh that's right, swine flu. Oops I forgot, we're not allowed to call it that anymore. The correct term is H1N1 Type A Influenza, or H1N1 for short. We've had to change the name to its correct medical term because it was causing panic and annoying pig farmers.
Really? The NAME of the flu is causing panic? I don't think so. It's not the name. It's not even the actual disease. It's our friends in the media inciting panic yet again. Think I'm crazy? Let's take a closer look...
Every year, 30,000 people in this country ALONE die from the flu. Not Avian flu. Not Swine flu. Just regular Influenza. There are 900 reported cases of swine flu worldwide. Seven of those cases were fatal in Mexico. Yet we have WHO (World Health Organization) and the CDC (Center for Disease Control) clamoring that we have a pandemic on our hands. I'm not trying to minimize the tragic deaths of the people who contracted this disease. However, we once again need to put things in perspective. Something our friends in the media have yet to figure out how to do.
Here are a few more statistics you may or may not be aware of. More than 2700 people worldwide die from malaria. Just since January of this year, 13,000 people in the United States have died from influenza. Worldwide, it is estimated that between 250,000 and 500,000 people die of regular influenza each year. Why isn't that considered a pandemic? And really, if swine flu, or H1N1, is so dangerous, where is the treatment? Where are the vaccines? The health "experts" can only tell us to take the same precautions we take when we are protecting ourselves from the regular flu: wash your hands and avoid large crowds in confined spaces.
I think I'll play the role of a conspiracy theorist here. I think, and I know without a doubt this will ruffle some feathers, that this is just another way for the current administration to continue down the road toward socialism. They can use this "pandemic" scare as an argument for controlling our medical care and further expand their governmental control.
I for one am not participating in this media feeding frenzy, much in the same way I am not participating in this "recession." Those of you reading this who are familiar with the teachings of Dave Ramsey will understand what I am talking about. Yes, we will be careful and take normal precautions to prevent the flu. But I refuse to be drawn in to this panic.
As always, I welcome your comments.
Please visit www.startswiththefamily.org.
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I was 100% with you about the hype and media frenzy behind the disease of the week here...
ReplyDeleteThat is until you said "that this is just another way for the current administration to continue down the road toward socialism. That's about where you start sounding a bit like someone with the tinfoil hat looking for secret messages in their breakfast cereal.
It sounds that way because:
1) The entire WORLD media is making a big deal out of this. Not just the US media (which includes Fox News who is ALSO making a big deal out of it, and they certainly aren't working for this government conspiracy you mention) but the media ALL OVER the world is carrying this story......you know, because it's happening all over the world.
2) The road to socialism was beaten down, paved, blacktopped, painted and greased by the previous administration. Wire taps, nationalizing banks, offshore prisons, etc. etc. etc.
Applying crazed socialist theories to the current occupant's first 100 days doesn't begin to compare to W. Not even close.
Media over-crazed? Yes.
Evil socialist conspiracy? Come on now.