OBAMA+ LUGAR 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/06/opinion/06obama.html?pagewanted=print
INVESTING IN BIOTECH 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/07/us/politics/07obama.html?pagewanted=print
SWINE FLU 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/06/opinion/06obama.html?pagewanted=print
INVESTING IN BIOTECH 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/07/us/politics/07obama.html?pagewanted=print
SWINE FLU 2009
(note the section of the Times the above article appears on)
Is there cause for concern according to these three articles?
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Should we be concerned about policy makers investing in private companies?
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How are policy makers using fear?
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What seems to be the link between Obama and the Flu?
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How can a "Swine Flu" in Queens become a billion dollar money maker for investors?
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What is something you heard in class today that you would like to know more about?
(eg. blind trusts, the 1976 Ford Inoculation Blunder, the Great Influenza of 1918, telecommunications nationalization agenda or anything?)
.
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24 comments:
This news story could very well be another example to add to the conspiracy theory that news media inflicts fear into the minds of people and controls us while blowing things out of proportion significantly. Although the effects of this swine flu don't sound like any other "coughin' cold", no one in our country has yet to die from it, and only 50 people have been diagnosed. The only positive effect the media has had on this situation is making it visible to the population. Now that people know it has occurred, they can take typical precautions and be more careful with their hygiene.
To touch on the whole Obama/drug company conspiracy, Obama should not be allowed to pull a Nixon and do whatever he wants in office. Though barring he broke any insider trading rules, and even then, he invested in drug companies that were mass producing VACCINES in the event of an influenza epidemic. What's so bad about that? So what if he made money off of it, if he didn't use his celebrity to raise awareness about the impending possibility of an outbreak, who knows if it could have been avoided?
A similar conspiracy theory has been rumored about connections between former Vice President Dick Cheney's Halliburton company and the US's involvement in the Iraq War. I would rather have our nation's leaders investing money in vaccines to save lives here than rebuilding Iraq.
There is no way around the possibility that many politicians do what Obama is accused of doing in this article. This article defines politics in our government at its highest level. I'm sure this happens all of the time.
The issue about the flu is serious and it is a big issue that should be taken care off. But i dont think that all that money needs to be used for that one cause, because there are also other issues that should be taken care off, like in class we mentioned Aids/Hiv. Those are also major issues that should be dealt with, because such a large number of people have them. The issue about the flu doesn't sound so serious because people with the flu havent died yet, to take action. And the problem with Obama investing money to have a stock of vaccines in case of a emedimic is pretty smart. As presdient if he thinks its right then it must be right, and it doesnt seem like he invested in it because of the money, he invested bwcause its a good cause. But i still think there are other issues that should be taken care of before this one.
-Gitu K.
THE SWINE FLU IS NOT A JOKE. I THINK IT IS A SICKNESS THAT SPREAD REAL QUICK. 28 IN QUEENS THAT IS ALOT. WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT SPEND AS MUCH MONEY ON VACCINES. WHAT THEY SHOULD SPEND THAT MONEY ON IS TREATMENT FOR AIDS/HIV. ALL THAT MONEY CAN GO TO THAT SO WE HAVE HAVE BETTER TREATMENTS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DO HAVE AIDS/HIV.
If u really think about it the flu is a common sickness but this so called swine flu to me is a joke a hoax by the goverment to distract americans from the economic crisis that is at hand.For example pontiac just shut down instead of a bail out to get things back into equilibrium but instead they are talking about the swine flu. Wheras at hand Aids hiv is where the science and money should be. If it was in the hood it wouldn't get as much attention as it is now because prepy kids at saint francis complained bout it.
I don't think this is serious at all, there's no need to create mass hysteria. The virus rarely transfers from human to human. I really hope they don't rush vaccines that haven't been proven to be effective especially if it causes serious medical problems. We should always be hygienic, we shouldn't be going out of our way or being paranoid over something so mundane.
I'm really glad I got to hear class that day. When Mr. Brown pointed out that a hell of alot of people have far worst sicknesses, like aids. More money should be going to increase medical study in that. It would seem that they might be using fear to profit off. Distracting us from the economy and making us worry that more drugs should be produced so more money can be made.
"As presdient if he thinks its right then it must be right",-Gitu
The guy doesnt walk on water
Obama has a lot to do with the events that is going on. It may not have happened now,but as history repeats itself it was destineed to happen under his reign. I personally when i think about this situation and with the new information that i recieved i do not believe in all of this hype. Yes there may be a virus goin around, but i don't see the reason for all this money toward pharmacicudical companies recieving so much money from the government to get the cure
I look at everyone's reactions and especially K. Weston. Swine Flu is spread in the country but think about how many people are in America alone. Now think about how many people are in the New York Residential area alone. 50 people may sound like a lot, but it really isn't. You could argue about the fact that hey, its still a sickness but in the United States, the medical standard is way higher then it is in Mexico.
According to the conspiracy theory yes it may be right. There are so many theories its endless, but you brought the facts up and yes, politicians are out there for the money. IF politics gave you no money, then Teachers wouldn't be able to teach. You just have to be smart and research something before making a radical statement, but obama i understand he is trying to make radical changes and he shouldn't be allowed to.
Alot and alot of people are worried and scared of this flu that has been going around from Mexico and now to the U.S. People are taking this issue alittle more seriously then they should actually take it. I agree to what Johnray said that "Think about how many people are in America alone, alot then in Mexico".Also, "In Ny state alone a number 50 is not meant alot to be treated". Its a rumor that has the eye of the media and people.
a.pervaiz
Honestly, i think its a scam.The media has people all over feaked out about the flu. Just becuase it has a small fancy word attached to it doesn't mean that its that life threatening.Allergies are everywhere and nobody is paranoid about that, so what makes this so different.Yea, there have been cases that people died but everybody has a different immune system and are acutally clean when it comes to personal hygiene. And i think its jsut another way for the government to gain money.Its just a cold get a grip people.
I think it is a good idea to put money into this Flu but i agree with Mr.Brown. Where was the money for Aids and HIV? I guess its our own fault that HIV was spread so why should we get money for it. Since the Flu was Nobody's fault then we deserve to get money to protect ourselves. I disagree with that. If there is money to be spent, it shouldn't matter is it was our own fault. The government is suppose to take care of us like a mother. Don't give up on us just because we made a bonehead move.
Yo Big ups to Mr. Brown, very smart man. it's crazy cause from what we learned today in class and from this article i truly believe that the government could be making money from the swin flu, because just like any other flu outbreak to recover you have stay home get rest and when you get a fever you have to cool yourself of. People watch the newa and autmaticlly get scared because they see that about a hunderd people that died in mexico from the flu. but they never think about other things that may have contribute to those people death. such things as the temputure in mexico, by it being hotter than nomral it makes it hader to cool down from a fever and the other thing people dont think of is that mexico doesnt have the same resources as we do. so ofcourse people will die.
I think that the swine flu is something to be concerned about. though I feel that is being taken a bit too far. It's all you hear about anywhere you go, the president already has enough money put in for medicine so why worry so much for something that has a cure. Many people are going all out on this issue when we actually have bigger issues to deal with. There are many people that are infected with HIV/AIDS and they also need medicine and for them is necessary because they actually need it to live a better life on a daily basis. So how about instead of investing money on more medicine for the flu they start putting money up to get more medicine for those who actually need it soon.
Some of you guys think that this whole swine flu act is a conspiracy and think its not a big deal, but in 1918, 20-40 million died from this disease. You may think that Obama is trying to make money off of this but so far, there hasnt been 1 person who died in the U.S so far so that means something must be working and you are the one who are making this into a big deal. Sometimes I thought that the U.S didnt care of its people but they do. Over the couple few years we been through, the U.S has always tried to protect its people, and what Obama is doing is also protecting his people.
I'm glad to see that somebody has a different perspective about the swine flu. Mr. Brown made very good points about the financial situation occurring with the swine flu. People have died from the swine flu but clearly not as much as some of the other diseases that have done more harm. But not surprising at all, the media might be blowing this way out of proportion. Mr. Brown showed great examples in class about how Swine Flue might not be as big as it seems, and it might all be a money thing. But I guess we have to see what happens.
Is there cause for concern according to these three articles?
Should we be concerned about the Swine flu ? I think so, not because its actually a bad thing. But because people are hyping things up,and are making many people panic. I don't think this " Swine Flu" aka N1H1 flu is really a big deal. I mean if all there telling us to do is .. WASH YOUR HANDS, and cover your mouth, to stay protected. Well then I think this is pretty stupid. That is what your supposed to do on a daily basis. My opinion might change, but for now, I'm really not scared of the "flu", just scared of the not so smart things that might happen.
i think obama is doing this for a reason. since the news of this virus has sky rocketed thanks to our media, he has to prove to the U.S. that he is on top ofthings no matter what type of situation it is. this is exactly why obama is trying to give money for this virus. the government is not stupid they tend to play with their money pretty well, and they dont do anything unless theres a reason behind it.
I think that this swine flu is becoming something big for no reason. We have so many people that have AIDS/HIV and there dying from that and were not closing schools for it. Nobody in NY has died from this swine flu. To spend all this money on vaccines seems a little crazy to me. If you have the swine flu get treated but if you don’t than there is reason to start panicking.
-CMartinez
I don't think we should invest money into companies that make flu vaccines when it only effected a handful of people in New York. I think that the government should put some money into helping the people that already have the swine flu get the medication that they need. It would be a lot cheaper! Not to mention we could use the rest of the money to keep our economy going!
Oh, and I forgot to mention, stocking up on a vaccine may sound good because we can be prepared for an outbreak, but they are forgetting a small detail. the virus mutates! Soon, all the vaccines that we are using now will not be able to cure the sickness. And America will be left with money invested in a flu vaccine that doesn't work and tax money wasted.
I think that swine flu is becoming something real issue right now because, we have other so many dieases. There are noone died from swine flu so what's the reason for closing the schools for no reason. By any chance if you get swine flu stay home or get treatment.
Mr. Browns comment about the whole virus was funny but also made me think. What if this really is Obama's way of giving out more money under the carpet so no one creams him for his bad judgement? Its hard to say becasue we really could have used the research or Obama could just have used this oppurtunity to give out money to who he thinks really needs it. But in actuality, we all need the money
There is no cause for concern. It could be possible that Obama and Lugar profited from the Avian flu scare in Asia back in 2005, but there's nothing bad about it.
All I want is the legislation that will expand health care, and that is why Obama keeps mentioning health care once in a while.
I think Mr. Brown should have focused on this article, "Shortage of Doctors an Obstacle to Obama Goals" instead that was printed in The New York Times the same day, and was the most important news besides the Swine Flue Emergency declared.
I don't have a doubt in my mind that what we talked about was true. Many government officials and the media scare us to a distraction that we cant see. Did you know that on the day the news came out about the swine flu car company pontaic closed down if im not mistaken. Media distracts us from what is really going on and fumbles with out brains, we just need to know what is really going on and be less ignorant and know the truth.
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