Pew Poll: Americans Aren't Buying Fox News' Ebola Scare Tactics

[jmotivator]

People should be concerned about Chagas, but not overly. They should be concerned about the possibility of an eventual outbreak of Ebola as well, and should take some preventative measures.

But these things need to be seen in perspective. The hoopla about Ebola is not based on the actual threat posed by that disease.

When patient #1 is sent home by the hospital that should have quarantined him it is worthy of alarm. That isn't to say that anyone is afraid that they will contract Ebola, only that the people who SHOULD be on alert were not. So in place of the proper authority showing sufficient alert the people fill the vacuum.

 

[Karl]

[...] The media will probably not be permitted to let us know, to keep people from panicking, but these stories always come out eventually anyway. The problem is that most people probably won't know what to do, but since the possibility exists, sad to say, shouldn't the government or the medical profession be giving the people instructions, via TV, the internet, or newspapers, on a low-key "just in case" basis? Ignoring it won't make it go away, and suddenly declaring martial law or something will only add anger and outrage to fear. It could allow people time to buy a few extra groceries in case they are housebound for a while. Just sayin'.....

Wow... hang on a sec, let me get my tinfoil hat on

 

[Perotista]

Greetings, Pero. :2wave:

The media will probably not be permitted to let us know, to keep people from panicking, but these stories always come out eventually anyway. The problem is that most people probably won't know what to do, but since the possibility exists, sad to say, shouldn't the government or the medical profession be giving the people instructions, via TV, the internet, or newspapers, on a low-key "just in case" basis? Ignoring it won't make it go away, and suddenly declaring martial law or something will only add anger and outrage to fear. It could allow people time to buy a few extra groceries in case they are housebound for a while. Just sayin'.....

good morning Pol, one case does not an epidemic make. But still most Americans want to see their government doing something about Ebola and the possibility of it coming to the U.S. In today's global environment that probably isn't possible as seen with the case in Dallas.

Lack of instructions as you put it, could be caused by two things. 1. The government does not want the people to panic and 2. There really isn't that much danger. What people expect probably has to do with their trust in their government, which is very low today. I think most people want to see their government doing something, perhaps doing anything whether it will actually help or not.

Chances are placing a travel ban on west Africa probably would do little to no good. But it would give the people confidence that their government is doing something about the spread of Ebola. Perhaps lack of information coming from the government is the worst way to go. Then again being reassured by the government and whether the people as a whole believe in those reassurance goes back to the trust factor.

 

[Hamster Buddha]

Indeed only 11% are very worried they will be exposed to the virus.

Using the unfolding Ebola health crisis as vehicle for their constant attacks on the federal government, Fox News talkers are leading the right-wing media charge (with some assistance from Beltway pundits) in insisting Americans have lost faith in the government's ability to deal the infectious disease, as well as other challenges facing the country.

Pointing to what they claim to be previous bouts of Obama administration clumsiness, such as the terror attack in Benghazi, Secret Service woes, and the so-called IRS scandal, conservative commentators, as part of an increasingly unbalanced response to the Ebola story, claim Americans see the Obama administration as filled with utterly inept players who are unable to provide citizens with basic protections.

"The overriding impression is of disarray, confusion, bad management, failed communication, anomie, disillusion, corruption, and secrecy," announced Matthew Continetti at Washington Free Beacon.

The Ebola threat "is containable if government is still remotely competent," claimed the Wall Street Journal editorial page, which signaled its doubts by suggesting "these days government competence is all too often exposed as a fragile veneer."

And appearing on Fox News yesterday, Donald Trump agreed:

I think very few people trust our government as being competent," Trump told the hosts. "Let's not kid ourselves. I mean with the five billion dollar website for Obamacare, which is still not working frankly and it's a disaster. And so many other things: Benghazi, wars... IRS."
​

But a new Pew Research poll undercuts all of that:

Most Are Confident in Government's Ability to Prevent Major Ebola Outbreak in U.S.

Pew Poll: Americans Aren't Buying Fox News' Ebola Scare Tactics | Blog | Media Matters for America

​

You must be joking if you think Fox News is the only one Pushing the Ebola stuff, every time I flip on CNN or MSNBC, they seem to be talking about Ebola as well.

Regardless of your childish political antics, I am happy to see that most Americans aren't buying into the Ebola fear mongering going on across all major news outlets.

 

[polgara]

Wow... hang on a sec, let me get my tinfoil hat on

Greetings, Karl. :2wave:

Is there a problem in being proactive when and if the time comes? I didn't mean that we had to start tomorrow! Other countries are taking steps now, and so should we, IMO, since we have also had patients with Ebola here. :think:

 

[jmotivator]

The people also aren't buying the fear from CNN, either. Oh pbrauer, when will you learn?

Ebola airborne: A nightmare that could happen - CNN.com

In 1989 and 2012 there are recorded cases on Ebola mutating into an airborne virus. Every new infection of Ebola results in one of two mutation in the virus, so as the numbers of cases grow the chance of a repeat of 1989 or 2012 in a human host increases.

Currently the WHO has projected as many as 1.4 million Ebola cases in Western Africa by January and expect that their 7000 current cases is really a tip of the iceberg given how many unlikely events have to happen for a case in the African bush to be tallied by the WHO protocol. By the time the WHO could establish that the most feared and disastrous mutation had occurred it would already be too late.

 

[polgara]

good morning Pol, one case does not an epidemic make. But still most Americans want to see their government doing something about Ebola and the possibility of it coming to the U.S. In today's global environment that probably isn't possible as seen with the case in Dallas.

Lack of instructions as you put it, could be caused by two things. 1. The government does not want the people to panic and 2. There really isn't that much danger. What people expect probably has to do with their trust in their government, which is very low today. I think most people want to see their government doing something, perhaps doing anything whether it will actually help or not.

Chances are placing a travel ban on west Africa probably would do little to no good. But it would give the people confidence that their government is doing something about the spread of Ebola. Perhaps lack of information coming from the government is the worst way to go. Then again being reassured by the government and whether the people as a whole believe in those reassurance goes back to the trust factor.

Prepardedness information is not a bad thing, whether or not you ever have to use it. I know how to help a person having a heart attack, as an example, thanks to the Red Cross training I was required to take by my employer, but that doesn't mean I hope to be able to use that knowledge someday - however it's nice to know "just in case it happens," and a life can maybe be saved! :shrug:

 

[Karl]

Fox Supports (flip-flops on) Gov't Healthcare

[...] To make that point, Fox's Gretchen Carlson on Monday tried to tie the Ebola story to Benghazi:

And do we trust that we know all the answers yet about Benghazi? What more and more people seem to be asking about Ebola now isn't that they are necessarily scared about actually getting the disease, but that they're scared the government agencies responsible with helping us if we do get sick might not be up to the task.​

Pew Poll: Americans Aren't Buying Fox News' Ebola Scare Tactics | Blog | Media Matters for America

Is there anything that really needs to be said? :lamo

 

[Karl]

You must be joking if you think Fox News is the only one Pushing the Ebola stuff, every time I flip on CNN or MSNBC, they seem to be talking about Ebola as well. [...]

Are they also blaming it on Obama?

 

[Karl]

The people also aren't buying the fear from CNN, either. [...]

Is CNN, like Fox, also blaming it on Obama?

 

[Perotista]

Prepardedness information is not a bad thing, whether or not you ever have to use it. I know how to help a person having a heart attack, as an example, thanks to the Red Cross training I was required to take by my employer, but that doesn't mean I hope to be able to use that knowledge someday - however it's nice to know "just in case it happens," and a life can maybe be saved! :shrug:

Sure, but at times I wonder how much of not informing the people on what steps to take and placing a travel ban on West Africa isn't political correctness rum amok. Think how a travel ban would look? How many people would be up in arms saying the travel ban is only being used to keep blacks from entering the United States.

 

[Hamster Buddha]

Are they also blaming it on Obama?

This article is about if people are afraid of Ebola, and buying into it. The government's response to Ebola is not what people were thinking about when they answered this poll.

 

[Karl]

Prepardedness information is not a bad thing [...]

I'm sure that the "preparedness information" will be provided when martial law is declared and Obama suspends all elections :lamo

In the meantime, can you give us some clue as to what kind of "preparedness information" you desire?

Also, is there any reason you cannot obtain this info yourself from general sources? Has information on how Ebola spreads been suppressed by the Obama administration?

 

[CRUE CAB]

Well the guy is dead. Sooooo, is it real enough now?

 

[Karl]

This article is about if people are afraid of Ebola, and buying into it. The government's response to Ebola is not what people were thinking about when they answered this poll.

I suggest you read the article:

"Using the unfolding Ebola health crisis as vehicle for their constant attacks on the federal government, Fox News talkers are leading the right-wing media charge (with some assistance from Beltway pundits) in insisting Americans have lost faith in the government's ability to deal the infectious disease, as well as other challenges facing the country.

Pointing to what they claim to be previous bouts of Obama administration clumsiness, [...]"

Pew Poll: Americans Aren't Buying Fox News' Ebola Scare Tactics | Blog | Media Matters for America​

 

[Hamster Buddha]

Prepardedness information is not a bad thing, whether or not you ever have to use it. I know how to help a person having a heart attack, as an example, thanks to the Red Cross training I was required to take by my employer, but that doesn't mean I hope to be able to use that knowledge someday - however it's nice to know "just in case it happens," and a life can maybe be saved! :shrug:

If we come out of this scare with a better preparedness for a real pandemic (which really, we are overdue for one...) then I'm all for it. Really though, I think all that will come of this is people staying away from black people looking sick for fear of catching Ebola. Though, it seems only 11% will do that, and in general I think at least 10% of this country is nuts anyways so, I'm good with that.

Sure, but at times I wonder how much of not informing the people on what steps to take and placing a travel ban on West Africa isn't political correctness rum amok. Think how a travel ban would look? How many people would be up in arms saying the travel ban is only being used to keep blacks from entering the United States.

I hadn't even though of the racial component, though I'm sure some black leaders would certainly go there.

 

[Hamster Buddha]

I suggest you read the article:

"Using the unfolding Ebola health crisis as vehicle for their constant attacks on the federal government, Fox News talkers are leading the right-wing media charge (with some assistance from Beltway pundits) in insisting Americans have lost faith in the government's ability to deal the infectious disease, as well as other challenges facing the country.

Pointing to what they claim to be previous bouts of Obama administration clumsiness, [...]"

Pew Poll: Americans Aren't Buying Fox News' Ebola Scare Tactics | Blog | Media Matters for America​

The day I read Media Matters is the day you listen to the Rush Limbaugh Show... all of it.

 

[Karl]

Well the guy is dead. Sooooo, is it real enough now?

Why would it have not been real before? Did you think the story was a fake?

However, I'm sure his death pleases Fox and their minions.

 

[Hamster Buddha]

Well the guy is dead. Sooooo, is it real enough now?

You know how many people die from the flu every year in this country? One death, doesn't make a national issue...

 

[Karl]

The day I read Media Matters is the day you listen to the Rush Limbaugh Show... all of it.

Oh, my, what a massive fail! Thank you for the gift, and have a nice day :2wave:

 

[Ockham]

You know how many people die from the flu every year in this country? One death, doesn't make a national issue...

The flu doesn't have a 70% mortality rate.

 

[countryboy]

The incubation period is up to 21 days. So its way too early to announce this as "one case".

That idiot John Kerry just said in a news conference a little while ago, the best way to protect us from Ebola is to keep air travel from West Africa open, and keep our borders open? Really? That's the best way to protect us? Does anyone but brain dead drones agree with that? Gimme a ****ing break already.

 

[Hamster Buddha]

Oh, my, what a massive fail! Thank you for the gift, and have a nice day :2wave:

K, you too.:2wave:

 

[jmotivator]

Is CNN, like Fox, also blaming it on Obama?

So you are really just interested in arguing that the President shouldn't be included in the discussion of breakdowns in government agencies?

Some of us see it as only fair that we hold Obama as accountable for government screw ups as the left credits him for government successes.

 

[polgara]

Sure, but at times I wonder how much of not informing the people on what steps to take and placing a travel ban on West Africa isn't political correctness rum amok. Think how a travel ban would look? How many people would be up in arms saying the travel ban is only being used to keep blacks from entering the United States.

Yeah, you have a point. :thumbdown: I do know that the illegals coming here from Central America and other locations are bringing diseases that we conquered long ago, though, and I don't think that millions of them were given health exams and shots when they arrived here! Whooping cough is the latest example of something the medical profession is concerned about, and that is something we haven't had to worry about for a long time!