I think it was George Will who acerbically noted that one of the more off-putting features of liberalism, at least in its most recent form, is the underlying paternalism in so many of its communal prescriptions. It is almost as though some of them share a grim belief that anything which is not forbidden must be compulsory. Based on the tone of his comments in Iowa, at least one presidential aspirant appears to agree:
Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards said on Sunday that his universal health care proposal would require that Americans go to the doctor for preventive care.
“It requires that everybody be covered. It requires that everybody get preventive care,” he told a crowd sitting in lawn chairs in front of the Cedar County Courthouse. “If you are going to be in the system, you can’t choose not to go to the doctor for 20 years. You have to go in and be checked and make sure that you are OK.”
Far be it from me to disagree in principle: Preventative care makes great good sense and is cheaper for everyone over the long haul. For my own part, I’m compelled to take an (increasingly intrusive) annual flight physical even though 1) I’m feeling just fine, thank you and 2) I’m not even flying any more. But military folks are used to the notion of having to give up certain freedoms when they swear the oath.
I would think most civilians would rather resent this sort of notion as a heavy-handed governmental intrusion into their private affairs – I mean, what kind of enforcement regime can he have in mind?
I’ll bet before the race is run he finds a way to soften his language on this.
How rude! Too bad your life is such that, your stress level so great that, you allow yourself to behave so badly, publicly.
Go ahead and give up your freedoms to governmental control in return for an illusion of safety. It’s the American way. Just don’t think you can give up MY freedoms for me.
I have never said that no one should vaccinate their children, or even if my own, are! I have not said that I do not approve of testing for infectious diseases where there is a chance people have been exposed. In fact, I am concerned about the diseases that are coming to our shores now that our world is shrinking so rapidly.
I simply said I do not want to the government to FORCE me, and later I added that the government cannot be trusted to give even basic information, so parents could make an informed choice.
You, however, rather than having an informed discourse, just want to flog your own dead horse. That’s your prerogative, but so far, I am not mandated to watch OR help.
doorkeeper
Hey Door, you are entitled to your opinion, just don’t make up your own facts.
The government has been setting health standards for a hundred years. You are certainly able to opt out but that doesn’t make your point of view any more valid than mine. Rude? Why don’t you think about that for a few minutes. Maybe you might want to re-read the thread.
Hey, I’m done. Don’t expect me to check in here again.
I’m so happy my children and I don’t have to fight this battle any longer.
Get all your facts lined up kids, the evil gov’t is out to innoculate you and there is nothing your parents can do about it!
What a bunch of lunatics.
Hey Babs,
Your posts are so mean spirited and I do not understand this.
I have never been called crazy or an extremist in my entire life. Ever. I had no idea that the belief that the family doctor would know more about their patients care and needs, then the government, would put me into those classifications.
If you look back at my original posts, I did not say that I was anti vaccine. I stated that I did not endorse them. And I don’t. You will also noticed that I mentioned that I stated that my children were indeed vaccinated. Some until beyond school aage and the youngest until she was two. I did not know that I should have questioned their safety.
Babs… I have 5 children, 4 have had seizures. Only one of those have been from vaccine damage. Not all of them. And my son with the vaccine injury is the only one who still struggles.
I take my kids to the doctor on a regular basis, for well checks, asthma, sports injuries, ear infections. They are monitored closely. When there is conversation about vaccines, my doctor and I have long conversations about all the odds. Of not having the shot, the odds of the illness being contracted. Odds of the risks. Then we make the the descision for what is best for my kids. Sometimes that may mean they get a shot, sometimes not.
What I am saying is that the families.. or you as the patient should have the right to chose your course of treatment or care, not the government. Most families will probably vaccinate and some will not, that is our right, to choose.
and as for your statement
Fine, so be it. Jennifer, I get it, you home school your children. One day they will have to come out into the society
My kids are already in society….. every day, they do not live in a closet. Thank you very much.
Funny how “rude” is defined by you as someone who disagrees. Guess that also implies that my stress level is elevated.
I think you are all crazy; what ? You don’t think that of anyone else in the universe?
I can’t help but think that I am the first person that didn’t back down from your crazy theory(oh yeah, the gov’t FORCING us to submit to innoculations). It must upset you terribly door.
I am so sorry about that. I wish someone would have taken you on long ago.
wow–the definition of projection.
d
We have all started out here discussing in good faith an issue which has tremendous emotional resonance for many of us, in different ways. That’s all to the good, and much encouraged.
But we have also come close, if not actually crossed over, the kind of behavior that questions peoples’ motivations more than their arguments, and we are perilously close to personalizing what ought to be a civil discussion – the kind that is so very valuable to members of our community.
I do hope everyone will step back, take a deep breath and remember that while there are many places online to engage in personal enmity, this is not one of them
Thanks,
Your host.
[...] Jenny Wrayne wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI think it was George Will who acerbically noted that one of the more off-putting features of liberalism, at least in its most recent form, is the underlying paternalism in so many of its communal prescriptions. … [...]