More thoughts on Ebola. Specifically, why Americans feel so threatened by the possibility of contracting it.
Maybe it’s because a man died from it in Texas, even though he contracted it in Africa, and two nurses and a doctor who treated Ebola patients have been infected, though they are now recovering.
But, then, over the last ten years the number of Americans who have died each year from influenza has averaged more than 32,000. Not 32. Not 3200. We’re talking 32,000.
If truth be told, the life of my 96 year old mother will be threatened more by people with flu symptoms who will be able to board the plane she will be on in January than by anyone carrying Ebola, yet no governor anywhere has suggested we quarantine them.
But, then, the truth is seldom told by politicians and political pundits who want to exploit people’s fears.
That probably explains why we’ve seen so much fear mongering as the November elections approach.
And since we’re speaking of imminent threats, has anyone heard anything about ISIL lately?
Only a few weeks ago Senators Lindsay Graham and John McCain and Fix News hosts were telling us that if we don’t fight them “over there” we will be fighting them here at home.
So what happened? There is hardly anything in the news right now about it.
Maybe ISIL heard about the Ebola threat here and decided they just as soon stay where they are?
Probably not. But one thing’s for sure. Once Ebola fears have been stoked for all they are worth, we will start hearing about the imminent threat ISIL poses again, by some of the same people, and no doubt by new ones.
But the old song of fear will sound familiar.
linnposts.com 
Jan,
Please stop confusing the willfully ignorant by presenting them with undeniable facts. Fear is their friend, and gives them focus in finding all the politicians who will protect them from reality.
Bill, I probably should take your advice, but facts make me stubborn. It’s their nature (or perhaps mine!).
In economics as I understand it, there’s a concept called the law of diminishing marginal returns, eg. the more chocolate cake you have, the more you crave, until it gets to the point where you begin to enjoy it less. And in the end, you never want to see a chocolate cake as long as you live…
So, as the song of fear gets more and more familiar to people, watch for the ‘been there – done that’ phenomenon, as people get less and less credulous. I expect this to happen as much on my cynical little island as much as in your country.
(Kind regards to your mother, by the way – mine turns 90 next week!)
Nigel. I can only hope you are right. Greetings to your mother as well.