Three readers write:
DB sends this add-on to our comments about the EEOC interpretation of allowable discrimination and mandatory vaccinations:
So let’s get this straight.
I’m supposed to get a vaccine, developed against my moral standards, that may have complications, to give me a 90 to 95% chance of being immune to the disease for 3 to 5 months that I have less than .01% dying from.
Hmm, tough choice.
dlh asks – Did you notice something — hypocritical or unexemplary — in the picture of Stephen Colbert and Joe Biden? Accordingly we have re-captioned the authentic photo of Biden’s recent appearance on Colbert’s show.
DK says:
It defies common sense, which is in short supply of late, that the government should be able to coerce its citizens, or to go so far as to require its citizens to be vaccinated for covid, which is itself subject to much misunderstanding and politicization, when such a panic induced action was not taken (or even considered) in the past for much more deadly strains of flu.
What is it about this disease, which has a 99.9% survival rate, that makes it so different than all the strains of flu virus we’ve been subject to in the past?
My experiences tell me it’s several things: first of course is the media, especially the news media that is always inclined to sensationalize even the smallest thing;
But second and most likely the strongest are the blue state politicians — governors and mayors such as Cuomo and DeBlasio, who have essentially taught their citizenry to irrationally fear this. With their curiously decadent governing styles which DeBlasio freely admits gives him the opportunity to spread the wealth. So it’s easy to see they only desire the power that extends to them by way of the offices they hold. Power is not given. It must be taken. But is always about control.
Why now? Because we are living in a different time, different than just a few years ago. The rise of populism, especially populism with a conservative slant has scared the bejesus out of politicians who understand the threat posed to them by populism; the idea of “the people” against “the elite”. If this were considered to be an ideology, it would be one of the strongest and most inclusive, which is why many politicians fear it.
The forces aligned against the citizens are those who seek to control. Groups of people are most easily controlled by fear. And if those seeking control can demonstrate that there is no safe place to hide, then those seeking control have accomplished their objective.
But such a thing is anathema to conservatives and others who can think for themselves. Thus the rise of conservative populism, and those who tend to fight back against “the establishment”.
I can understand why taking the vaccine can help prevent contracting the disease and even prevent the spread to others, and I do commend President Trump for his initiative ‘Operation Warpspeed’ that gave us the vaccines, but I don’t intend to comply with taking the vaccine myself.
I haven’t gotten the dreaded covid virus, but I’m not convinced that taking the vaccine for its prevention is in my best interests. I vividly recall the numbers of people in the past who have been vaccinated against several varieties of the flu, only to contract the flu by virtue of the vaccines. That probably won’t happen, but this vaccine was rushed through the vetting and approval process by the CDC. I remain unsure whether I accept the CDC’s word for it due to their constantly changing position on something as simple as wearing a mask. If this were broadly accepted, there would not be such a strangely argued conversation that has lasted for so many months.
Thanks but no thanks.
It defies common sense, which is in short supply of late, that the government should be able to coerce its citizens, or to go so far as to require its citizens to be vaccinated for covid, which is itself subject to much misunderstanding and politicization, when such a panic induced action was not taken (or even considered) in the past for much more deadly strains of flu.
What is it about this disease, which has a 99.9% survival rate, that makes it so different than all the strains of flu virus we’ve been subject to in the past?
My experiences tell me it’s several things: first of course is the media, especially the news media that is always inclined to sensationalize even the smallest thing;
But second and most likely the strongest are the blue state politicians — governors and mayors such as Cuomo and DeBlasio, who have essentially taught their citizenry to irrationally fear this. With their curiously decadent governing styles which DeBlasio freely admits gives him the opportunity to spread the wealth. So it’s easy to see they only desire the power that extends to them by way of the offices they hold. Power is not given. It must be taken. But is always about control.
Why now? Because we are living in a different time, different than just a few years ago. The rise of populism, especially populism with a conservative slant has scared the bejesus out of politicians who understand the threat posed to them by populism; the idea of “the people” against “the elite”. If this were considered to be an ideology, it would be one of the strongest and most inclusive, which is why many politicians fear it.
The forces aligned against the citizens are those who seek to control. Groups of people are most easily controlled by fear. And if those seeking control can demonstrate that there is no safe place to hide, then those seeking control have accomplished their objective.
But such a thing is anathema to conservatives and others who can think for themselves. Thus the rise of conservative populism, and those who tend to fight back against “the establishment”.
I can understand why taking the vaccine can help prevent contracting the disease and even prevent the spread to others, and I do commend President Trump for his initiative ‘Operation Warpspeed’ that gave us the vaccines, but I don’t intend to comply with taking the vaccine myself.
I haven’t gotten the dreaded covid virus, but I’m not convinced that taking the vaccine for its prevention is in my best interests. I vividly recall the numbers of people in the past who have been vaccinated against several varieties of the flu, only to contract the flu by virtue of the vaccines. That probably won’t happen, but this vaccine was rushed through the vetting and approval process by the CDC. I remain unsure whether I accept the CDC’s word for it due to their constantly changing position on something as simple as wearing a mask. If this were broadly accepted, there would not be such a strangely argued conversation that has lasted for so many months.
Thanks but no thanks.