Obama declares swine flu a national emergency

This is the absolute worse politicizing of an issue I've seen since teh Korean Air plane was shot down over Soviet air space. Obama has 100% fabricated this national emergency in order to promote his healthcare agenda. This is the worse type of fear to play and for the worst reason.

In the spring and summer I was dating this smart chick who was over in Stockholm repeatedly giving presentations and speeches on H1N1. It is absolutely not a national emergency. Obama is completely ignoring the science. This is nothing but change for the worse.

I'd like to see anyone defend this move. Defend the willful ignorance of the science. Defend the playing of the fear card yet again. Defend the poloticizing of peoples health in a vain attempt to win the healthcare debate.

http://www.canada.com/health/Obama+declares+swine+national+emergency/2141655/story.html

Obama declares swine flu a national emergency
By Patricia Zengerle, ReutersOctober 24, 2009 1:02 PM
WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Barack Obama has declared 2009 H1N1 swine flu a national emergency, the White House said on Saturday.


The declaration will make it easier for U.S. medical facilities to handle a surge in flu patients by allowing the waiver of some requirements of Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health insurance programs as needed, the White House said in a statement.


The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday that H1N1 swine flu has become widespread in 46 of the 50 U.S. states, a level comparable to the peak of ordinary flu seasons but far earlier and with more waves of infection expected.


Obama signed the statement on Friday night.


The White House statement said the declaration was intended to prepare the country in case of "a rapid increase in illness that may overburden health care resources." It was similar to disaster declarations issued before hurricanes hit coastal areas.


"It's important to note that this is a proactive measure - not a response to a new development," an administration official said.


"H1N1 is moving rapidly, as expected. By the time regions or healthcare systems recognize they are becoming overburdened, they need to implement disaster plans quickly," he said.


Seasonal flu normally peaks sometime between late November and early March.


Swine flu has hit young adults and children the hardest, while seasonal flu normally is more dangerous for people over age 65.


H1N1 has killed more than 1,000 Americans and put more than 20,000 in the hospital in the United States since it emerged earlier this year, the CDC said. But health officials are quick to note that the actual number of cases cannot be measured.


H1N1 swine flu had been declared a public health emergency earlier in the year.


The new declaration clears the way for waivers of federal requirements that, for example, could prevent hospitals from establishing off-site, alternate care facilities that could help them deal with emergency department demands, the White House said.

You're a joke.

Fascist ploy. Genius.

No wait, he knows what he's talking about because he "dated a smart chick in Stockholm"

Coming from an idiot I'm honored.

I date a smart chick from Boston. That means something.

nice

Tyler, did you read the story?

Considering the smart chick was helping WHO craft it's H1N1 policy and is considered a leading expert in the world on H1N1, I'm pretty sure she knew what she was talking about.

Why don't you try to stick to the topic. Try to defend making the flu an national emergency.

Tyler, who is this woman? We would love to know, if she is considered a leading expert.

Okay, you obviously have the credentials then. My apologies.

I'm confused on how anything here is being politicized. This isn't news, people know swine flu isn't the bubonic plague. Are you picturing something like this in every American city:

I did. Notice the wording about over-burdening hospitals and mentioning deaths. Note the neat cprrelation between this very public announcement and the healthcare debate. You may think this is just prudent management of the flu biut when it's the president making this announcement I see it as nothing other than fear mongering and politics of the worse sort.

First of all, I apologize for coming off very hot headed in this thread. But the fear mongering really burns me up. I really thought Obama was better than that.

I'm uncomfortable to give out anyone's name in a chat room. But I'm pretty sure if you did some googling you could figure out who it is given that I live on the west coast of Canada.

Why is the US the only country that I am aware that has declard a ntional emergency over H1N1? Hell, I'm 100 miles or so from Seattle and we in Canada seem to be able to handle H1N1 without a national emergency. Maybe that's because we listen to the science.

It's a strain of the flu, not bubonic plague.

What in the hell are you talking about?

It's not like an asteroid is hurdling toward Earth, Bart.

I heard the H1N1 vaccine is actually a serum that makes you more willing to accept socialist/communist/fascist ideas (they're all the same thing, right?).

Thousands more people die each and every year from regular old flu. Why is this a national emergency?