I just received a phone call from someone at JohnKerry.com asking me to add my name to the list of citizens in support of the "Kids First Act", which will be making its debut on the Senate floor sometime soon. I was told the bill is a plan to provide health insurance for the millions of uninsured children in America.

Well, I'm fully in support of people having health insurance (I'm a firm supporter of socialized medicine), so I said yes add me to the list. Then he asked me "to put my money where my mouth is" by donating $100 so that poor children could get "much-needed immunizations, flu-shots, and TB tests right now!" Whoa whoa whoa..... hold on a second!

I told him I support health insurance for poor children, not the pharmaceutical industry pushing every vaccine under the sun onto poor families! And I certainly won't pay for it to happen.

Then he said (and this is hilarious), "Haven't you heard about the new viruses being spread? That one from birds... it's sweeping the nation... children are dying!" Um, that would be the West Nile Virus, and there is no vaccine for it, and I don't think scores of people are dying from it, anyway. :rolleyes

Then he said, "Well, what if I told you this money was for fixing broken bones? Then would you donate?" Um, no, because you already told me it was for vaccines. :irked:

Anyway, just wanted to get the word out there about this bill. It annoys me to no end that health insurance for needy children has to automatically mean vaccinations. If this gets pushed through at all, it will be because of the support from the Pharm industry, and their shareholders, not because anyone cares about the health of America's children. :(

Did you know that over 80% of people with West Nile never show symptoms? (it's listed in my pharmacy on a giant billboard) Then it goes on to say how deadly it is to those who contract it.

Then my question would be .....then how do you know they had it ? exactly how deadly is it ? And when will the vaccine be introduced ? After mass hysteria ?

I got in big trouble for not supporting that new organization ONE. They too are using our money for vast immunizations.

I got in big trouble for not supporting that new organization ONE. They too are using our money for vast immunizations.

What is ONE? What do you mean you got in big trouble? Just curious. :innocent

Isn't that virus being spread by birds called the avian flu? (there was a tread about it a while ago) I thought West nile virus was spread by mosquitoes?
Just wondering....

I'm not in support of donating money to vaccinate children. It's akin to the USA donating medical aid to third world countries and shipping off all the thimerosal containing vaccines that are banned here. I'm sure it happens!

Isn't that virus being spread by birds called the avian flu? (there was a tread about it a while ago) I thought West nile virus was spread by mosquitoes?
Just wondering....

Yeah, the guy was totally talking out of his :moon. West Nile does infect birds and wildlife, though. But, yes, it is spread by mosquitoes.

What is ONE? What do you mean you got in big trouble? Just curious. :innocent


ONE is the new organization that celebrities have started to end poverty. The ONE Campaign. Meaning we stand together as ONE to stamp out poverty. I think it's www.one.org .....but dont' hold me to that. edit: checked it out...yup that's it.....

I got into "trouble" was just a phrase. The lady at the booth in front of Walmart was pushing for me to sign up and donate just a few dollars. When I politely refused "No thank you" , she raised her voice about me not wanting to end poverty and offered me a stupid rubber bracelet. The others standing around were giving me dirty looks. I said "I have my reasons for not signing. Have a good day" and started walking away. Because I can't let it go...and because my kids weren't there to witness their mama losing it.... I told her all about my reasons. She was flustered when I left. And I'm not proud of that...but darnit! She pushed me ! Still.... I shoulda been the bigger person and walk away.

That's what I meant by "in trouble". :bouncy

The birds are a host for west nile. They get it from mosquitos. It also infects horses. There is a vaccine for horses.

He might have been talking about the avian flu as well. That strain could be included in the flu vaccine next year.

I hate telemarketers. And telephone surveyors. I am not rude, but I will not spend one moment more than "No" *click* on them. That's why I have a cell - it's illegal for them to call me.

I hate telemarketers. And telephone surveyors. I am not rude, but I will not spend one moment more than "No" *click* on them. That's why I have a cell - it's illegal for them to call me.

The do-not-call list doesn't apply to political organizations. ;) And if you've ever made a donation to a political party or an election campaign, they will find you eventually.... (insert Jaws music here) :LOL


My whole point wasn't to debate avian bird flu vs. West Nile virus. :blah Just that it's sad that there doesn't seem to be a way to provide political support for health insurance for 11 million uninsured children, without injecting them with vaccinations.

No one can call a cell phone - not even religious organizations. It's the ultimate Do Not Call list.

No one can call a cell phone - not even religious organizations. It's the ultimate Do Not Call list.

Really? Is this a law? Just in WA or everywhere? :confused:

This law, the 1991 Telemarketing Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), makes it illegal for solicitation calls to be made to wireless phone numbers without clear permission from the individual to whom a number has been assigned.
http://www.the-dma.org/cgi/disppressrelease?article=609
In particular, automated dialers are forbidden.

I want to thank you, gottaknit. I would never have known about this vax and bill connection if you hadn't posted it.

No one can call a cell phone - not even religious organizations. It's the ultimate Do Not Call list.

OT: do you know if it has to be listed as a cell phone? I use a cell as my main phone (no landline) and so I list it as a 'home' number on forms that require the information - so would this be why I get solicitations, etc.?

They have to be diligent to not get cell phones, but they don't have to be perfect.

Then he said (and this is hilarious), "Haven't you heard about the new viruses being spread? That one from birds... it's sweeping the nation... children are dying!" Um, that would be the West Nile Virus, and there is no vaccine for it, :(
NO one is dying from the West Nile Virus...or avian flu...

I found a large bird dead on my back porch, and I called the Health Department, the Animal Shelter, and the Police...no one really cared...so what is the BIG deal?

If there was really some emergency, I think some one would have come out...but nothing....

I picked it up and put it in the trash.

Poor thing. :(

applejuice :laugh:

Actually people do die from West Nile, just in extremely low numbers and I don't know if any children have. 80% of people with WN do not show any symptoms. The people who do show symptoms are those with a lower immunity, heart problems, the elderly. What I find ironic about WN is that it became a big news thing around 3-4 years ago and they already knew what it was, how to prevent it(so they had to do deet testing), etc so how long has WN really been around? WM and the Avian Flu both are flu's, both show the same symptoms as other flu's and around the same percentage of people who have the disease in them do not get the disease. Testing positive for a disease and being sick from the same disease are 2 completely different situations.

I think the only reason the guy mentioned WN/avian flu was because it was the first thing that popped into his head. NPR did a little story on West Nile virus last weekend, and since this guy works for JohnKerry.com, we know he probably listens to NPR 24/7. :LOL

O/T: Did you ever notice how Democrats always quote stuff they heard on NPR as if NPR is the end-all-be-all of information? Just the other day my DH told me that polio is making a comeback in the US, so maybe we should have DS vaxed for it. :rolleyes It must be true! He heard it on NPR! :LOL

Actually people do die from West Nile, just in extremely low numbers and I don't know if any children have.

This is true...I stand corrected.

Actually people do die from West Nile, just in extremely low numbers and I don't know if any children have. 80% of people with WN do not show any symptoms. The people who do show symptoms are those with a lower immunity, heart problems, the elderly. What I find ironic about WN is that it became a big news thing around 3-4 years ago and they already knew what it was, how to prevent it(so they had to do deet testing), etc so how long has WN really been around? WM and the Avian Flu both are flu's, both show the same symptoms as other flu's and around the same percentage of people who have the disease in them do not get the disease. Testing positive for a disease and being sick from the same disease are 2 completely different situations.
Yep. People die, but not as much as they die from the common cold :eyesroll

In our area the big thing right now is they're spraying pesticides on us to kill the mosquitos. It's "epedemic" here - 7 in 1,000 :eyesroll Never mind that the miniscuel (sp?) number of mosquitos infected by WN may never even kill anyone, they're going to spray poison on our kid's food and playground equipment and possibly slowly kill us later :bang

If 80% of people with West Nile show NO symptoms how do we know they even have it ?

If 80% of people with West Nile show NO symptoms how do we know they even have it ?NAK
From what I understand it's an estimate. Most of the documented cases were done from blood work. Someone coming in for some routine blood test and WN turns up (like for donating or something).