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February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
May 1, 2009
/ 7 Iyar 5769
Foot-in-Mouth Disease
By
Linda Chavez
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
The White House, commendably, seems to be trying to quiet the hysteria
building around swine flu, but apparently the vice president didn't get
the memo. Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden told Americans to stay out
of airplanes, subways and other "confined spaces" on NBC's "Today Show."
When asked whether he'd advise members of his family against traveling
to Mexico, he offered this: "It's not just going into Mexico. If you're
anyplace in a confined aircraft and one person sneezes, it goes all the
way through the aircraft. . That's me. I would not be at this point, if
they had another way of transportation, suggesting they ride the
subway."
The vice president's office spent the rest of the day trying to downplay
the boss's irresponsible comments. Biden's staff claims the vice
president was telling family members: "If they are sick, they should
avoid airplanes and other confined public spaces, such as subways." But
the fact is, words matter and that is not what Biden said on TV. He
wasn't telling sick people to stay home; he was instructing healthy
people to do so out of simple, ignorant fear.
It's one thing for cable news whose business model depends on
whipping up public frenzy to drive ratings to behave irresponsibly.
It's quite another for the vice president to do so. Biden's
foot-in-mouth disease could turn out to be more dangerous to Americans
than the H1N1 virus.
At this point, swine flu is only a theoretical danger to most of us. The
cases in the U.S. so far have been mild, and according to most experts
there is little reason to believe this will change. Tens of thousands of
Americans die every year from the flu, and yet the media and Joe Biden
can't help but spread panic about swine flu, which has killed one person
here in America so far.
But what would happen if the public decided to take the vice president's
advice and stay off public transportation? We have actual experience on
this front and know the consequences. The anxiety that kept people off
airplanes and generally frightened people into staying home after the
9/11 attack made it difficult to recover from a mild recession in 2001
and that was at a time when we had a relatively healthy economy.
Imagine what would happen in the U.S. if similar fears were to drive
Americans into their bunkers now when we are in the midst of the worst
recession in almost 30 years? GDP declined 6.1 percent in the first
quarter 2009, following a decline of 6.3 percent the previous quarter.
Can you guess what would happen to the American economy if everyone
stayed home for the next three months?
We are all going to die sometime and from some cause, natural or
otherwise. In 2005, the last year for which data are available, more
than 45,000 Americans died from automobile accidents, and nearly 20,000
died from simple falls of one sort or another. Should we never step foot
in a car or bathtub again for fear it might kill us?
Communicable diseases are scary. But common sense and good hygiene are
the best protection. This is not 1918 when the so-called Spanish flu,
which may well have been a variant of swine flu killed more 50
million people worldwide. We have antibiotics and antiviral drugs.
People are more educated and understand how disease spreads. And we have
ways to communicate real threats when they occur, and to do so almost
instantaneously.
But we also have the ability to spread misinformation and terror more
broadly than at any time in history. The media make matters worse by
screaming headlines and nonstop cable coverage on each new case that
breaks out. This is the time for cool heads and genuine leadership.
President Obama has shown both. Unfortunately, his second-in-command
hasn't. Perhaps the most constructive thing the White House could do
until swine flu blows over is quarantine the vice president.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Linda Chavez is President of the Center for Equal Opportunity. Her latest book is "Betrayal: How Union Bosses Shake Down Their Members and Corrupt American Politics". (Click HERE to purchase. Sales help fund JWR.)
Linda Chavez Archives
© 2006, Creators Syndicate
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