Sunday, September 06, 2009

Now taking bets:

Who passes the sillier, more intrusive "zomg swine flu panic!!1!1!!one" legislation: California or Massachusetts?

12 comments:

Siltazay said...

If you're not sick, you have nothing to fear :)

WV: agshiess. Sounds like the sound I made trying to keep my blood pressure from skyrocketing when I read that article.

Anonymous said...

Quarantine them were, in jail? Give all the cops H1N1? That should work out well for everybody involved...

Brad K. said...

I think the Massachusetts is just doing the same old, same old. I imagine the quarantine is in your home or residence - something like house arrest.

I suppose you could organize local boy scouts and girl scouts (rainbow girls?) to guard quarantined neighborhoods with indelible paint ball guns, to "tag" violators.

The one I am waiting for is Utah. I remember when they needed emergency legislation to make AIDS and HIV communicable diseases instead of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. They were running into problems getting people treated, without having to admit to aberrant sex lives. Now, that is one state that cares!

Don M said...

Of course Mexico will build a border fence to keep people who are H1N1 influenza infected from sneaking across to freedom in Mexico...

Anonymous said...

How many people have died of H1N1? In that time frame, how many have died from causes related to obesity and smoking? What about motor vehicle accidents? I'd rather see results than totalitarian claptrap like that law. Forcible entry into homes, indeed.

Jim

Tam said...

"How many people have died of H1N1? In that time frame, how many have died from causes related to obesity and smoking? What about motor vehicle accidents?"

Shh! We're trying to have a panic over here.

Borepatch said...

Always safe to bet on stupidity from Beacon Hill. Being a stone's throw away from Harvard Yard doesn't seem to add to the IQ, and there's quite a good argument that it pulls down the total.

Probably adds to the HQ (Hubris Quotient), thoush.

Anonymous said...

Hey, the legislative credo is, "When you don't know what to do, pass a law!"

Everything I've ever heard about any flu is that you feel seriously yucky. Me, I'm gonna quarantine myownself, just because my own little comfy nest is the best place I can think of.

Pretty good place even when I don't have the flu, come to think of it...

Art

Crucis said...

I posted on this a few days ago. http://crucis-court.blogspot.com/2009/09/police-state-usa.html

It appears that Massachusetts if prepared to violate not only the US Constitution but their own state constitution as well.

Joseph said...

Forcible entry into private homes? For what conceivable purpose? Staying at home sick is now a felony?
"You! In the bathrobe!! On the floor! Don't breath in my direction or I'll shoot!" I think someone is looking to get they're name in the paper...they will, but not the way they want.
The fact that this bill even made it out of committee is scary. These people are mostly lawyers, they should know better. Well, they DO know better, they just don't seem to care.

John A said...

I do wish they would learn the difference between pandemic¹ and epidemic².

There is quite a bit of precedent for involuntary quarantine during epidemics, particularly when other facilities are unable to cope with an influx. But the precedents were quite definitely temporary measures: the new ones (something similar is awaiting action in the Federal area) are not, they are permanent enabling laws, and spread the authority from legislatures and other senior elected officials such as State Governors to almost anyone who wants it.

----
¹ pandemic = widespread: if there is one case in Australia and one in Siberia, it is pandemic. Bird flu, swine flu...

² epidemic = common: if there are four cases in a kindergarten class of thirty, it is epidemic - to that class, but not necessarly to one in another country. E.g. malaria...

T.Stahl said...

In Germany the politicians are thinking about mandatory shots against the 'New Flu'. Which seems to be the official name the gubmint issued, because 'Swine' Flu is too offensive. I wonder what they'll call next year's Dog Flu. The 'Newer Flu'?

wv: comycl, comical misspelt