rrizzo@bbncca.ARPA (Ron Rizzo) (11/06/84)
The following is a blatant attempt to influence how you vote on November 6th. It's addressed to all voters who think they may vote for Reagan, but especially to closet Republicans, [Ll]ibertarians, and gay people. (The views expressed herein are my own, & not those of my employer.) PART SIX [NYNative, 8/29-9/11/83, S. Christopher Hagsch, "CDC May Be Shaving Figures", p. 8] A source within CDC's AIDS project said AIDS cases figures "are inaccurate for many states because Dr. Brandt [Assistant Secretary, Health & Human Services, HHS] wants it that way. Less money will be appropriated for research if the numbers are smaller." (Note this is against a background of chronic underfunding of AIDS efforts even for the most rudimentary projects.) For example, in July (1983) Tennessee reported 8 confirmed cases, but the CDC monthly tally claimed 2. Four of the 8 victims had died as of July! In June Tennessee reported 5, CDC claimed only 2. In August, CDC still claimed only 2 cases! CDC Public Affairs office spokesperson Chuck Fallis speculated "I don't know [what is causing the discrepancy]. My best guess is... a time lag." A two-month time-lag, he was asked? "I don't know." On August 18th the Texas Public Health Dept. reported 62 AIDS cases, but CDC claimed there were only 47. CDC credibility was low enough & the discrepancies large enough that NGTF and Weiss & his HSGOH said they "might poll the states" directly themselves to find what the actual figures were! There had been problems from the beginning with CDC reporting: the basic information (number & distirbution of cases) needed to do any serious planning or writing of budget proposals to obtain funds was not being reliably gathered & reported by CDC, & they revealed little incentive to obtain the information. CONTINUED: MORE ON REAGAN & AIDS Cheers, Ron Rizzo "Why, dahling! The Left is what's left over, the Right is what's wrong, & the Middle-Of-The-Road is no place for a lady." -- Electra Collage, Miss Ballot-box of 1947 Washington, AC/DC