Why you should not fear terrorists

[Worst Username Ever]

Let us put this in perspective one moment. We all know that we are suppose to be afraid, be VERY afraid of Al Queda and their flunkies. Bush told us to be, after all. Those of you that have seen F911 (and hadn't figured it out for yourselves) know how much BS the "threat alert" system has been. Ridge is turning it up to yellow today? BFG. Even if there IS an attack, lets think of a few numbers:

Number of deaths due to terrorism in 2001 (our worst year ever): approx 3000 (I am not saying that is not tragic, it is... BUT:)

Number of auto deaths in the US each year: Over 60,000
Number of deaths from guns: over 10,000
number of deaths from smoking related illnesses: 400,000
Number of deaths from obesity: 200,000
Number of deaths from the flu: 70,000
Number of deaths from BEE STINGS: 100 (our worst year of terrorism was 30 times as many deaths as from... BEE STINGS.)


Saying that we should fear terrorists while the administration allows us to get fat enough to kill OURSELVES is absolutely ridiculous. I hope to see the atmosphere of fear that Bush has created fall apart around them. What would they do without fear?

[Blue-Jay]

1. Great. Now I'm afraid of getting a bee sting.

Thanks a lot.

;)

[xocolatl]

2. OK...

... I get the big picture of what you're communicating.

But in this case, predicting future probabilities based on past probabilities is not plausible. Terrorism will be increasingly more probable as time goes on.

Still, tho, we should be able to distinguish real threats from cheap political manipulations...

[Worst Username Ever]

6. I am not saying we should not fight Terra

But it is interesting to think that if there is an attack 2 1/2 years from now that kills one MILLION americans, that is still less than obesity and cigarretes have killed during that 2 1/2 year period. I am not going to walk around and be concerned about a terrorist attack.

Think of what this 200 billion dollars we are spending in Iraq could have been used for.


on edit: spelling

[xocolatl]

7. Human beings are notoriously bad at assessing probabilities

This is well known in public health and health policy circles. Even statisticians (of which I am one) are bad at this. The only profession, as a group, whose members have a good intuitive grasp of probability is weather forecasters, who have constant feedback.

Personally, I'm of the opinion that one is better off spiritually (happier) if one lives one day at a time, taking only reasonable precautions and not obsessing about things that one has no control over.

(also edited for spelling)

[ibegurpard]

3. "fear is the mind-killer"

very apt quote from "Dune."

[mopinko]

4. the choice for every human-

will it be hope and love, or fear and hate? even if all else was equal, it is harder to manipulate the lovers!




you decide.

[SiouxJ]

5. apparently the only thing to fear is . . .

cigarettes. :-)

People are so afraid of terrorism and yet they are much more likely to die in a car crash on their way to work. Why is the government not pouring tons of money into making our cars and freeways safer? The politicians who don't vote for bills to make cars safer are un-American and we should vote them out! ;-)