Recent Comments

1. almost 4 years ago on Ted Rall

   No, of course not. But public health history going all the way back to the late 19th century is a litany of failed vaccination mandates. There has never been a mandated program that was 100% successful. They can’t be because vaccinations are not 100% effective. And because some people, being human, will just not cooperate when they feel forced. Waldemar Haffkine discovered this in 1894. He didn’t achieve success with his cholera vaccine until people saw that it was effective. Herd immunity isn’t based on 100% immunity; just enough to prevent indiscriminate spread. The quickest and safest way to immunity is widespread vaccination. And a robust and trusted public health network; which is under more threat now than at any other time in my lifetime. Perhaps what we need most is to restore confidence in public health organisations first.

2. almost 4 years ago on Ted Rall

   Some states do have laws about this. Not sure about other states but Missouri allows criminal penalties for parents who knowingly allow sick children to attend school. It was passed in 1963 but I would be surprised if most people here know about it.

3. almost 4 years ago on Ted Rall

   As a former microbiologist who worked in an infectious disease lab in a large teaching hospital; I take every vaccine for a disease I might be exposed to. Never had a severe reaction to any shot I got. That being said, severe reactions are possible and do occur; I have seen that myself. But fewer by orders of magnitude from the occurrence of the disease in unvaccinated people. Saw that much more often than serious reactions. Getting a vaccination is, and should be, a personal choice but there are good choices and bad ones.

4. almost 4 years ago on M2Bulls

   Glory gained by standing on the the bodies of those who got you there.

5. almost 4 years ago on Ted Rall

   Obviously talking about a Rush Limbaugh vaccine. EAU rulings are based on safety, not effectiveness. And I notice that several other vaccines still in Phase 3 trials are being used on what amounts to a EAU approval. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55212787

6. almost 4 years ago on Ted Rall

   Indeed. I find it interesting to browse the different state laws concerning faithless electors. Could it be that the obviously doomed court challenges are a distraction to cover backroom negotiations going on for a Dec 14th “surprise”? Or is that a conspiracy born of a fever dream?

7. almost 4 years ago on Ted Rall

   That’s true, but fishing in a bigger pool gives you more opportunities to find them.

8. almost 4 years ago on Ted Rall

   So we do need more than 2 parties in government?

9. almost 4 years ago on Ted Rall

   They both have? I think that’s the point, isn’t it?

10. almost 4 years ago on Ted Rall

    And who says he hasn’t? Jury is still out on this; plus he’s got another month or so for more random mischief.