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All Terror, All the Time Is Giving Americans Heart Failure

A new UC Irvine study suggests that the Bush Administration's attempts to intensify fears of terrorism for political gain have significantly contributed to Americans' heart problems.

Researchers showed that stress responses to the 9/11 attacks—particularly those that persisted for years afterward—were linked to a 53 percent increase in cardiac ailments. The most common triggers of renewed stress were videos of the attacks in the media (thanks, Rudy!) and—you guessed it—the rise and fall of DHS' terror alert levels. All that politically opportunistic drum-beating has actually made us sick. Perhaps if Americans had universal health insurance, the government would think twice about such callous manipulation.

One of the Irvine study's findings seems to provide more general insight about violence. The study was able to document post-traumatic responses among Americans who merely saw the attacks on TV. If, as the finding suggests, seeing violence happen to others with whom we identify can spur emotional distress and ill-health, that says a lot about what it's like to be black, or a woman, or a soldier in Iraq, doesn't it?

Comments

The Democrates are lucky, we have a selection of candidates that appear to have the 'right stuff'!!
Hillary and Obama are both excellent choices. Hillary has substance, skills and life experience. Obama has vision and captures peoples imagination of a better country and he has community organizational skills. If we could put both together we may have a chance to reverse the mess we are in as a country.

Posted by: Heather on 01/07/08 at 5:40 PM Respond

Anti Gay Repubs! I am interested in embracing what is unique about being gay.The more I can recognize how I was made to feel ashamed for being gay . I believe staying in the closet and creating a false identity is not the answer. I grew up in a heterosexual Texas family in which I was reared as if were heterosexual and was constantly brain washed that heterosexuality was the only reality. Any expression of my Gay Self would result in receiving violent treatments from my father a former Texas Ranger. This violent homophobic society was too scary for me to express my genuine Gay Self.

Posted by: Buddy Hinton Sturmgewehr on 01/08/08 at 12:58 PM Respond

A Mighty River Of NaziBoyz Flowed Past Der Fuhrer!!

I expect an answer from you about those stunning uniforms, jymmy! All of the Nazi regalia was obviously conceived and coordinated by a GENIUS!

So MASTERFUL!! Sublimely understated, yet commandingly eye-catching in a wholesome, yet aggressively MASCULINE way! Yes, the colour and line of the young men's clothing was simply superb, and the accessories were simply perfection!

Oh! That early Fall of 1937...the summer leaves just beginning to change... the beautiful old city, the music, the splendid weather, the stirring pageantry of rank upon rank of magnificent men and powerful, potent machines, the tympanic beat of a hundred thousand gleaming leather boots, and over it all, arm raised in rigid salute, THE FURHER HIMSELF!!!

All Terror, All the Time Is Giving Americans Heart Failure

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