Good approach. Shotguns are for people who cant aim. metaphically speaking.

The chief witch dockor forgets to list his number 1 problem, foot in mouth. He helped destory New York City, now is intent on the whole country.

Teen pregnancy now falls under 'disease control and prevention' concerns?

Lets see, is he into mind control? Does he think he can get the whole country to do his will, when it comes to his short list? Good luck doc, better get prepared for a lot of disappointment.

The saturated fat and salt battles are not won yet. It can't be necessary for soup to contain any salt, Just a statement in large type on the container to add your own salt. Is bacon dangerous to your heart health? Container does not say so. Restaurant menus do not show salt, saturated fat, trans fat on the menu by the item described.

Is eating a club sandwich good for you? Why watered down the health warning on smokes, just contains carbon monixide means nothing to high school dropouts!

Politicians/govt need to stay the eff out of our lives! There's no role in the Constitution for the govt to be involved in our health!

Currently around 18,000 die of AIDS in the US every year and at least 8,000 die of Hepatitis C which is going to triple in the next 10 years. There are many baby boomers out there that don't know they have it. I found mine when I was being treated for rheumatoid arthritis, which makes the rheumatoid factor show very high from the virus in blood work. If you had a transfusion or experimented with IV drugs, you need to be checked. We should be checked when any of us have an AIDS test. Need I say more?

When is the Government going to start banning Breathing ? Hell, they want to Ban everything else in our lives. I never thought that i would live long enough to see the Government wanting to Control every waking minute of our Existence. But here we are on the verge of 1984 !

The CDC = Center for Disease Control and PREVENTION. These things may not be diseases (ie. teen preg, car accidents) But they are a HUGE health problem. The number of complications for teen pregnancies are huge compared to that of women in their 20s and 30s.

Also may of the "old" diseases (mumps, measles) rarely pop up because of vaccines! It's about time we looked at ALL health and not just diseases. Obesity may not be a disease but many people will die from it. The same goes for car accidents. So instead of bashing this guy. Maybe understand that in today's society there is more to health then being free from "disease."

Let's see, which should people whine about? The big "waste of money" on public health efforts on solvable problems or their astronomical health insurance premiums? Duh--prevention will lower health care costs. You still have the freedom to choose to smoke, drink, and fool around--- but let's just have government has to stop FUNDING the clean up efforts of your bad behavior through Medicaid and Medicare. Live healthy or pay for your own cancer treatments and dialysis.

he says, proven programs can save lives

For crying out loud ! Death is the proven outcome of life. Nobody can save lives.

Oh, and by the way, governments all across the world are in trouble because of the pension costs of people with prolonged lives. Why don't these do-gooders just admit that if they prevent one cause of death, another will take its place, eventually at a greater cost.

Goals of the CDC are articulated as follows;

They are “smoking, AIDS, obesity/nutrition, teen pregnancy, auto injuries and health care infections.”

These are long-standing, major challenges that get a lot of attention already although the structure of research may include other infirmities of which although mute still remain strong in the research field at CDC.

For example one of these main concerns for winnable battles is smoking.

Smoking per-se sounds bare but the concerns of stroke, cardiovascular disease, desensitization of the smelling sense, and respiratory system is also covered under this heading.

Another example may be found in the AIDS research. In my opinion there seems to be a symbiotic (research-relationship) between AIDS, HIV and (Hepatic C Viral Infection) HCV that in approaching a cure for one of these diseases there may the same approach for HCV by researchers following the same paths of disease manifestations in our bodies.

HCV may be observed either under AIDS research and/or also HCV under the Health Care Infections goals coverage.

I believe that CDC as well as Dr. Thomas Freiden are very well aware about biological safety and public health. Let’s stay on top of this.

Reply to Matt 1085933 (comment 8.4):

I want what gives the best results for the lowest cost. If buying ads on social networking sites is LESS COSTLY and SAVES MORE LIVES than researchers in lab coats, then I'm all for it. Otherwise, no.

shiftIV:  There is no law which requires anyone to get vaccinated.

You didn't seem to read what tc had to say.  It is mandatory for children to get vaccinated to attend public schools.  Just because an adult does not have to have a flu vaccination doesn't mean the children who can spread some of the worse diseases shouldn't have their vaccinations before attending school.   As far as the issue of the waivers for religious reasons go, most of them home school their children or people die getting stung by bees or praying because they won't get medical attention, or vaccinations, that could have prevented a premature death.  Yes, if they want to die that way, that is their prerogative but I want my kids as healthy as they can be and around as long as possible.

smoking, AIDS, obesity/nutrition, teen pregnancy, auto injuries: Which of these are diseases? Only AIDS, which is promoted by a lifestyle/behaviors in exactly the same way that tuberculosis and leprosy are: being exposed in some requisite way to others who are infected. THAT (with other viral problems like HCV) is appropriately in the purview of the CDC.

What I have for lunch is not. Whether a teen drives or has sex in an unsafe manner is not. Whether there are people smoking in a bar is not. I'm not saying these are not issues in our lives, just that the CDC has no business spending our money on addressing them.

As for the last item in the list, I don't think the CDC can help us with our current "health care infections" - that's up to the voters in November to take the first step at getting rid of the Health Care monstrosity we're infected with!

Here is the website to know something about our own Government, one of the departments: http://www.hhs.gov/about/

Here is the website to know the departments under U.S. DHHS : http://www.hhs.gov/open/contacts/index.html#od

Smoking has been one of the concerns in 2010 Health people survey; the smoking have been caused a lot of illnesses and deaths, and some of them are secondary, such as second hand smokers. The costs from preventive measures to surgical/chemical measures are very pricy and expensive; and it also costs the reduction of labor forces. The victims are mostly adults.

When one is sick, one may have right to refuse to get medical attention; but then it also may involve some legal and psychological evaluation for refusing medical attention. It is for public safety, it is better we at least get some medical attention; for instance, the flu vaccines during the flu season and children immunization programs.

It is not about the right issues, especially when infectious diseases involved. It is about what is the better way to see humanity in terms of our well-beings and healthcare in the midst of community.

The charter of the CDC is to fight communicable diseases. They have no authority to spend even one penny on anything else. The Obama administration should be taken to court for misuse of taxpayer funds for allowing this loony tune to corrupt the mission of the CDC.

Think of a disease right now that kills Americans in the largest numbers. Did you think of cancer or heart disease, or stroke? Congratulations, you just thought up diseases which are preventable/modifiable through tackling Frieden's 6.

I think it's a good direction that Frieden plans to take the CDC. From a public health perspective, targeting several factors that play a part in so many prevalent diseases across Canada and the US would be a big win. Do you want him spending time on figuring out how to vaccinate people for Ebola, or to help instill some lifestyle values which will help your kids make it to 30?

And if money's a really big woe on you, the taxpayer, think of this: Would you rather have the money spent on programs that could help you? Or would would you rather spend much more when you need that triple bypass or a new organ? Your call.

Oh, and if you REALLY want them spending research on diseases that are based on bacteria and viruses, keep abusing antibiotics. MRSA needs to get a little stronger to get in the CDC radar!

I can't believe the use of alcohol isn't on the list. Overuse leads to alot of deaths. The government is trying to reduce health care costs in America in case you havn't figured it out yet. These problems have a direct link to the high cost of medical care in the US. If you can't see the link you are a moron. A healthy popultation uses less health care $'s, thereby saving us all money and reducing health care costs. People who are overweight, smoke, drink excesively, teens who get pregnant etc. cost us all alot of money because we have to pay for thier medical problems related to these factors. Get a clue.

I'm a supporter of government health care money and even I think these are a stretch for the CDC. AIDS and health care infections are the only communicable diseases on that list. Auto accidents aren't just caused by how we drive, but are also influenced by traffic congestion, road design and conditions, and auto safety and design. Sounds more like a job for the DOT. Wasn't it just last year we were worried about a flu pandemic. Before that it was bioterrorists releasing deadly diseases. The CDC should concentrate on communicable diseases and leave the rest for other agencies.

Your smoking, your AIDS infection, your obesity and lack of nutrition, your teen pregnancy, your inability to drive safely, and health care infections in hospitals and care facilities all lead to increased costs for me from second hand smoke that damages my health, increased health insurance premiums to pay for the consequences of your lifestyle choices, to risking becoming sick with something else when I need medical care. When your the consequences of your choices effect other people negatively and you refuse to modify your behavior, it is not an issue of personal freedom if the government makes you stop because your rights to personal freedom stop when you start to intrude on mine or others' rights due to the consequences of your actions.