Why conservatives cannot admit the existence of pandemics

[phantom power]

Yet another edition of What Digby Said

In case you're wondering what the head of the Republican Party thinks about the flu outbreak, here is his statement:

After the break, Rush attacked the UN for issuing a warning for a worldwide flu pandemic, claiming that it is "by design" to get people to respond to government orders. The media fall right in line with this stuff, Rush said, amplifying the nature of the crisis. Rush -- in his capacity as public health expert -- added that "the flu's a common thing."
http://mediamatters.org/limbaughwire/2009/04/27#0017

This makes perfect sense. If you are a conservative you can't believe that something like an epidemic or a pandemic could even exist or you would have to grant that the necessity for public health --- a government function. Indeed, you even have to grant that a pandemic requires that people are going to be forced to behave in ways that explicitly explicitly define their own personal survival with the common good.

Rush is right to be a little bit nervous about this, though. Public health crises tend to focus the public on the usefulness of things like science, international cooperation, government coordination. You know, the sort of thing that liberals think are necessary. Something like that simply doesn't fit into the conservative worldview. They see all problems and challenges in schoolyard terms of good guys and bad guys. This kind of challenge (like global warming) falls outside the paradigm by which they organize their world. Pandemics, like hurricanes, can't be dealt with by using tough talk and threats. So, they are lost.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/nothing-to-say-by-digby-in-case-youre.html

[Control-Z]

1. KnR

I'm not at all surprised by Rush's comments. What does surprise me, are the number of DU members who seem to be in agreement.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Maybe we can send Rush a Mexican blanket?

Man, that scene still haunts me.

[mikekohr]

5. It Would Have To Be XXXXX Large and have a pointy white hood on it

nt

[NNN0LHI]

3. Kind of proves the theory of evolution too which they can't contemplate without their head exploding

[tex-wyo-dem]

10. exactly what I was thinking...

At first I thought this is what the post was about...the fact that viruses mutate in response to vaccines is a perfect example of survival of the fittest and adaptation, two key elements I evolution.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. I WISH it was only conservatives

we have plenty of liberals spweing the same crap over here

Look this is not about party... but lack of science literacy and hate of any complex issue

[BlooInBloo]

6. Just like they denied the recession....

EDIT: And note that there's always Plan B: Blame brown people. Just like with the recession. Just like with Katrina.

EDITEDIT: And a little more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/27/top-15-health-jobs-remain_n_192024.html

[Hello_Kitty]

7. Unless they can fit the pandemic into a 'moral' paradigm like they do with AIDS.

Gawd knows they're trying their hardest with the Swine Flu by trying to blame it on the "Messicans".

[phantom power]

11. Yes, it's all good if they can blame it on somebody...

puts it all back into the good-guy/bad-guy framework again.

[mzmolly]

8. Oh good gawd.

:eyes:

[and-justice-for-all]

9. I hope the fat bastard gets Avian Flu the next time he is in Thailand

doing the only thing he is good at...