LTTE from a fellow DUer: Flu Vaccine Crisis - Bush Bombs Again

[NightOwwl]

I am posting this LTTE from a friend of mine. She is literally sick from the stress of worrying what another four years of Bush will do to this country. She is going through a lot personally, but this isn't stopping her from putting up the good fight. Here is her message to DUers:

"We have many seniors here in Western Mass. and the flu disaster ("FluGate") is causing a near panic. I am writing a letter to the editor on the topic. Here is the lst draft...use any or all as you may wish. I'm going to try to get it printed in the battleground states. Keep in touch."

Flu Vaccine Crisis - Bush Bombs Again
No one dies because Mary Cheney is gay, Bill O'Reilly has a sex scandal, or Lynne Cheney wrote an erotic novel, all tawdry topics pandered by chicken-witted news media. In contrast, every day Americans are dying in Iraq; and countless Americans (including children) are going to die this winter for lack of adequate flu vaccine.

The CDC estimated 36,000 flu related fatalities last year with a particular predilection for seniors and children under age two. How many thousands more deaths will be added to that number remains to be seen, but it is likely that more Americans will die this winter of influenza than died during the Vietnam War.

No single issue typifies corporate greed, governmental ineptitude, and social irresponsibility as clearly as "FluGate." Vaccines are made by only a few drug companies because of the relatively low profit margins. Arthritis and erectile dysfunction drugs reap billions in profits, which vaccines do not so few invest in their manufacture. The problem is corporate callousness and pandering politicians, not lawsuits and lawyers.

This administration had ample warnings of a likely crisis since for years there have been severe problems producing sufficient flu vaccine. Yet, like intelligence warnings before 9/11, Bush chose not to act. This evolving tragedy was 100% preventable if this administration had the intelligence, compassion, and desire to protect the American people.

Bin Laden is not the only "virus" threatening America. Bush did not protect us from attack on September 11th, and he's not protecting us now. Obviously drug companies do not care whether people die from the flu; neither does the Bush Administration. But rest assured that despite his denials, G. W. Bush will get his flu shot and you and your loved ones could end up being just another statistic.

[RobertSeattle]

1. That 3rd paragraph is a killer!

My version:

No one died because Mary Cheney is gay, Bill O'Reilly is a sex fiend, Rush Limbaugh is a drug addict, Bill Bennett had a gambling problem, or Lynne Cheney wrote an erotic novel, but people will die as result of the Flu Vaccine shortage mismanagement by the Bush Administration.

[NightOwwl]

3. Yeah, she writes a powerful letter.

I like your version, too.

[oneighty]

2. Boy some of those

countries over seas got plenty of vaccine for their people. But they are red pinko socialists communistic folks. We cannot do that here we gotta war to fight to spread freedom and democracy.

180

[NightOwwl]

4. It's hard work

letting people die.

[DinahMoeHum]

5. This could be the "October Surprise" that no one anticipated. . .

This could be the final nail in Bush's coffin.

Bush could well lose the seniors' vote on this one (as well as Social Security and Medicare)


:kick:

[NightOwwl]

6. I didn't think the issue was that serious when it was first mentioned.

But there are people who are going to DIE because of Bush's incompetency. Warnings of vaccine shortage 3 years ago. What does Bush do? Same thing he did after reading the August PDB, nothing!

Bush ignores warnings and people die. That's a very disturbing pattern.

[NightOwwl]

7. a kick for my friend

:kick: