Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Double Standard

TV morning news/chat show host, interviewing a Federal functionary* about H1N1 (swine) flu and air travel:

Bubblehead: "...So, you're saying people with these symptoms shouldn't fly. What about the airlines? Shouldn't they stop those people from flying?"

Public Servant: (slightly huffy) "Oh, no, no, no. We wouldn't want to get into telling airlines who can and cannot fly..."

Meanwhile, over at TSA, they've got a little list, don'cha know. A list of who can and cannot fly, based not on observable symptoms but some vaguely secret criteria. They won't tell you how you might end up on it -- though having the same name as a suspected terrorist helps -- and they won't even tell you if you can be removed from the list.

How about that. H1N1 vector assistance, check. Baby-in-arms named Edward Abbey? Maybe not so much check. Even though the real guy is dead.
______________________
* Originally misspelled. Spellcheck options, "functionary" and "fornication." Ooookay.
at

8 comments:

  1. Tango JulietSeptember 2, 2009 at 8:12 AM

    Are you feeling better today? Hope so.

    ReplyDelete
  2. rickn8orSeptember 2, 2009 at 8:24 AM

    That's because Ted Kennedy WAS a terrorist, bent on the destruction of this country.

    Oh, and what Lorimor said.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Roberta XSeptember 2, 2009 at 1:56 PM

    Alas, he was -- but that's not why he was on the list.

    Me, not so much better (serious aches, fatigue and a little fever) but sinus has slowed down (after not being able to breathe through my nose at all last night) and I think (well, I hope) the worst is past.

    VW: "ships" H'mmmmm

    ReplyDelete
  4. TamSeptember 2, 2009 at 2:04 PM

    I fixed my roomie a sandwich and brought her a Vitamin Water.

    I'm a regular frickin' Florence Nightingale, I am.

    ReplyDelete
  5. samSeptember 2, 2009 at 6:41 PM

    One step closer to internal passports. Or is that, "Papieren, bitte!" Maybe they'll get to wear a neat armband, or something.

    Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery. Keep getting your rest and fluids, cutie, and don't push it. Pneumonia, you don't need.

    Tam, niuce nursing. Do you work with a cigarette, like Doc Cottle?

    WV: rearman

    Well yes, I guess I am. Aren't we all, to some extent?

    ReplyDelete
  6. staghoundsSeptember 4, 2009 at 8:11 AM

    I'll bet they'd tell someone with smallpox or contagious leprosy to take the bus instead.

    What a fraud.

    ReplyDelete
  7. dittoSeptember 7, 2009 at 4:17 PM

    "Alas, he was -- but that's not why he was on the list."

    Tell me exactly how you know he wasn't put there for that precise reason?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Roberta XSeptember 7, 2009 at 5:28 PM

    Tsk: "those who know, cannot say; those who say, cannot know."

    ReplyDelete

Comment moderation is enabled. Your comment will not be visible until approved. Arguing or use of insulting or derogatory language will result in your comment going unpublished: no name-calling. Comments I deem excessively partisan will not be published.