Avian Flu: The Choice

For those of you afraid of dying by Avian Flu [that means you, nate]: Senate Republicans propose their absolute truest values. Check this out guys, I'm not even kidding:

WHO has urged all countries to come up with plans for tackling a pandemic of bird flu, but U.S. efforts stalled on Thursday when Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives refused to approve funding for Bush's $7.1 billion plan.

After days of intensive talks between the House and Senate, negotiators dropped a plan for $8 billion in funds that Democrats pushed through the Senate last month.

Conservative Republicans in the House insisted that an emergency U.S. effort to stockpile vaccines and anti-viral drugs that could be effective against the deadly flu would have to be paid for by cutting other government programs.

Yes. House Republicans [led by the spector of Tom Delay] have vowed that the President's own Avian Flu pandempic pre-positioning plan would not be supported until other government programs are cut. In other words: If you are a poor American, expect the same beligerant non-assistance unless you take the cuts in medicare, food stamps, learning assistance, and other welfare programs.

Other Americans- your House Repulican leadership says you can't get your flu protections [which, currently, kills 50% of those it infects] unless you agree that everybody beneath you either dies by the flu or dies by social neglect.

Wow.




Wow...