Word: anthrax
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...even be true that other drugs in plentiful supply work just as well for anthrax as Cipro does. If so, there's no reason to hoard Cipro but also no reason people shouldn't hoard Cipro if they want to. Whether valid or not, the government's own concern about a Cipro shortage is why the government wants to persuade us there's no cause for concern about a Cipro shortage. That, plus the worry that germs develop resistance to antibiotics that are used promiscuously...
...government doesn't want you to stock up on Cipro, the antibiotic treatment for anthrax. Officials emphasize that your risk of getting anthrax is very small. They promise that Cipro or other equally effective drugs will be available if needed. They warn of rare but dangerous side effects. This is all patently disingenuous. No one has any idea how many people might ultimately be exposed to anthrax. And why are we supposed to shrug off the allegedly tiny risk of getting anthrax but worry profoundly about the tiny risk of side effects from Cipro--except that both attitudes support...
...risk of scarcity and the risk of reduced effectiveness are both excellent arguments for discouraging people with no known exposure to anthrax from stockpiling Cipro. So why are these reasons downplayed in favor of others that make less sense? Answer: the dubious ones involve risks to you as an individual, whereas the good ones involve risks to Americans as a society. Cipro is a classic example of the democratic dilemma known as "the problem of the commons." This refers to situations in which we would all be better off if we all did one thing but each...
There could not be a milder test of American patriotism than asking people who have not been exposed to anthrax to keep their hands off the Cipro. If we're not up to that, we should put the flags away...
...knew how much or for how long. Last week a realization was settling in, particularly among those who don't live in cities or work in skyscrapers or frequently fly: you could avoid all the hard targets and still never feel safe, because a weapon like anthrax pays no attention to landmarks or street signs. Last week only the fear of it was finely ground and easily spread--but with each new report at a newsroom or mail room, a new conversation was gathering force. How tough are we? How ready are we? How long will this last? From that...