President Obama promised his foreign policy would be less "arrogant" than George W. Bush's. Several recent pictures illustrate that he has kept part of his promise: he is only arrogant to our allies.
This picture shows President Obama shaking his finger at Stephen Harper, Canada's Prime Minister. I don't know what President Obama was bloviating about, but Secretary Clinton recently criticized the Prime Minister for not inviting Inuits to a conference regarding Arctic resources and for not including sufficient funding for abortions in its foreign aid. The Obama administration has also sternly lectured Israel about construction projects in Jerusalem and threatened the Honduran government for thwarting Manuel Zelaya's attempt to install himself as President for life.
On the other hand, if you are a foreign monarch or dictator, Obama will reflexively bow to you -- groveling is optional.
The late historian Bernard Lewis warned against a foreign policy that made us “harmless as an enemy and treacherous as a friend.” Unfortunately, President Obama seems oblivious to that danger.
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Of vaccine shortages and government-run health care
If the federal government effectively takes over the United States health care system, how well will it run it? The current shortage of the H1N1 flu vaccine at a critical time may provide a clue. The issue, however, is complicated.
Vaccines are privately manufactured. But government's role as a major buyer of vaccines has increased dramatically, starting with the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) in 1994. By 2002, VFC purchases alone were 41% of the total vaccine market, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local governments accounting for an additional 16%. (These figures are from an article by the National Center for Policy Analysis.) Members of the Clinton administration boasted at the time that the VFC was a dress rehearsal for Hillarycare. Since the federal government is now the single largest purchaser of vaccines in this country, it effectively controls the market.
Whether or not caused by government policies, there is a critical shortage of vaccine for the flu caused by the H1N1 virus. A study published on October 15 in Eurosurveillance and reported by the Washington Times predicts that almost two thirds of the population will become infected with the virus (though not necessarily exhibit symptoms) before the vaccine becomes widely available. The study was conducted by professors of Purdue University's statistics and mathematics departments. Canada, which already has the single-payer health system that Obama espouses, is in even more dire straits, because of their government's slowness to approve the vaccine.
Does this mean that the federal government will make a hash of our health care system? No, but it hardly inspires confidence.
Vaccines are privately manufactured. But government's role as a major buyer of vaccines has increased dramatically, starting with the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) in 1994. By 2002, VFC purchases alone were 41% of the total vaccine market, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local governments accounting for an additional 16%. (These figures are from an article by the National Center for Policy Analysis.) Members of the Clinton administration boasted at the time that the VFC was a dress rehearsal for Hillarycare. Since the federal government is now the single largest purchaser of vaccines in this country, it effectively controls the market.
Whether or not caused by government policies, there is a critical shortage of vaccine for the flu caused by the H1N1 virus. A study published on October 15 in Eurosurveillance and reported by the Washington Times predicts that almost two thirds of the population will become infected with the virus (though not necessarily exhibit symptoms) before the vaccine becomes widely available. The study was conducted by professors of Purdue University's statistics and mathematics departments. Canada, which already has the single-payer health system that Obama espouses, is in even more dire straits, because of their government's slowness to approve the vaccine.
Does this mean that the federal government will make a hash of our health care system? No, but it hardly inspires confidence.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)