As the world gets smaller, so it seems do our chances of avoiding strange and exotic diseases. Well, that's the price we all pay for civilization I guess. But as this tax-cut mania somehow becomes the obsession of the masses who are being led around by the nose by the republicans, it seems that the money that the government used to spend on public health concerns may be more affected than we once thought, or even knew. Some of these new (and old) pretty horrible diseases on their way to us here in the states, include West Nile Virus, dengue hemorragic fever, Rift Valley fever, encephalitis, and malaria. Here's a description of Rift Valley fever:

...And with that comes an increased chance of spreading more mosquito-borne diseases such as yellow fever, dengue fever, malaria, encephalitis and Rift Valley fever, a deadly virus transmitted from livestock to humans by mosquitoes that causes diarrhea, nausea, and internal bleeding and can result in death...

I doubt there are too many politicians who would have the guts to stand up to any American and tell them it's a tax cut or R&D on controlling these diseases and their carriers. What will they say when it's a constituents' loved one who might have been saved? Too bad, I had to vote for a tax cut because that's what you really wanted, not a live spouse/child/parent? Yeah, I'm seeing that happen.

Not the way I would choose to go. But hey, I got my tax cut before I went!

Thanks, Grover just like the government not having the money for "homeland security" now there's no money for public health! You're a real pal! Can we send the bills to you?