War on Traffic

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 43,443 were killed last year driving down the freeway. This is the highest number since 1990. I imagine this will get little play over the news outlets. I imagine it will get even less attention from George Bush's speechwriters.

That is an infinitely higher number than the number of Americans who died in terrorist attacks last year. It is even much higher than the number of soldiers who died in Iraq last year fighting in the central front in the War on Terror.

The number of traffic fatalities is indeed very large, but the number of those who died of cancer in 2004 dwarfs that figure. The World Health Organization has the sobering details.

I am not waiting for Dick Cheney to take a hard line against the cancer epidemic. I am not expecting Mr. Cheney to declare war against traffic accidents or cancer. Part of the reason is that would mean he would likely have to order Shock and Awe against the offices of Monsanto which might put one of its subsidiaries', former CEO's in an awkward position.

However, the real reason is probably that fear of cancer and traffic cannot be exchanged for votes from the easily terrified. Terrorism wins elections and for the unscrupulous politicians, terrorism wins a lot of elections. There is just less than three months until the next election. Pay attention to who sells terror, and don't buy it.