what is national security?

[rmcrobertson]

I'm asking as someone looking forward to a week of misery, this winter, because the Bush government dropped the ball on a vital issue--flu shots.

We will lose more American citizens, and see many permanently injured, because of flu this year, than we lost during 9/11. Yet the Bush admin hasn't responded to the problem, or done a damn thing.

I guess chest-thumping is more important than protecting American citizens. It figures, especially since despite the CDC recommendations, I suspect that somehow the wealthy will get their shots all the same.

 

[MA-Caver]

Chest thumping around election time has always been the priority of politicians so that is nothing new. The "lets get me elected first then I'll look into whatever the problem is and if the solution will benefit me four years later on the next election.." shitck is also nothing new.
The present administration "dropped the ball" alright... but ya gotta ask... was it on purpose? Was it intentional? I mean how convienent that there's a shortage right at this particular moment... they didn't see it coming?... or did they MAKE it so a bunch of it would be quarantined right at this moment in time... the height of flu-season...just right when we needed it or will need it.
Oh no, can't be that... it would be too monstrous to think of wouldn't it.

Power, control... what is the best way to obtain them? Through fear and weaknesses, subterfuge, manipulation, intimidation, being passive aggressive, sieze whatever opportunities that arises and bend them to your purposes.
It isn't Bush himself per-se', but the whole administration.
Kerry's will be no different. Both parties serve the same interests... themselves.
Two factions at war for control of the most powerful country on the planet. Like the satire poster says... who ever wins ... we lose.

You bet your furry bunny slippers that the rich will get theirs. Geez, you think that they wouldn't? That they wouldn't FIND a way to get theirs.
Seeing how the flu vaccine is usually the dead flu virus itself injected into living tissue... uhh, they can have it.
Let me ask this as well... this present flu season is reportedly supposed to be a new strain of flu... geez ... how did they know what vaccine to use and where they'd get it from?

What is national security? Being damn sure that the powers that be don't try to gain too much Power and Control over their constituents.

National Security is supposed to be exactly what the military oath is supposed to provide. To protect the consitution and the country from all enemies... foreign AND domestic. Anyone care to point a finger at (any) domestic enemy? Can we really do that? Can we be sure of the identification? Do we want to be? The answer might be too scary.

 

[Darksoul]

-Good question! Its a movie with Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn. j/k In regards to the flu, the better we take care of ourselves, the better we can fight off diseases. I know the elderly and children and those with bad immune systems are screwed in a way. Where's my o.j.? No, not that one...orange juice!!! National Security should be a gov't priority based on a good intelligence community directed at protecting our borders. Its a building process, see, one thing builds on the next. Good information should lead to better security.

A---)

 

[Phoenix44]

There's another piece of inequity: the more affluent among us will be able to afford Relenza and Tamiflu to treat the flu. The less affluent will be sicker longer.

 

[Flatlander]

You'd think that someone as cozy with business as GW would understand that a healthy population is a productive population, and a productive population is always better for the bottom line.

You'd think.

 

[Phoenix44]

Since he balks at the idea of importation of drugs, how come he relied on a British vaccine manufacturer?