Policywanker Editorial
SWINE FLU = PIGS FLY
If we are to believe the hysteria as reported on the nightly news - we all better heavily dowse ourselves with anti-bacterial hand soap and scrub for 20 seconds.
Even President Obama was subjected to a "Symptoms Watch" News Alert... you know, just in case. After all, he was in Mexico and ate the taco salad.
In this slow news cycle atmosphere, who doesn't love a good Pandemic Scare? After all, the Republicans nixed Pandemic Preparedness Budget money, in favor of... I don't know, let's say Tax Reduction.
But let's take a little look back in time, to the last Swine Flu Pandemic Scare. In February of 1976, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare F. David Matthews, issued a prediction that a Swine Flu outbreak had come to our shores and would kill at least a million people.
Didn't happen.
What did happen was... then-president Ford got to look all presidenty and ready for re-election. He hosted a White House press conference with Jonas Salk, of heroic vaccine fame, to give street cred to the scare. Congress was muscled into relieving Big Drug companies from liability if the fast track Flu Vaccines did bad things instead of good. Lots of money went to Big Drug to save us.
So, bad things did happen. This Little Piggy got roast beef. And people died after receiving the vaccine.
And the Swine flew... went away. Replaced in prominence by Legionnaire's Disease, a much more exotic sounding and really deadly malady. Ford lost his edge on being an American saviour and went the way of the flu... chills and fever with fluids and plenty of rest.
So what can we learn here, students?
Beware the CAPITOL LETTERS in print and adverts. We are being sold something.
NEW! IMPROVED! SWINE FLU!
Step right up, get your masks here...
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