Texas Republican: "Vaccines are sorcery"

[Bear Stearns]

Tbh vaccines should be outlawed. If you aren't tough enough to be naturally immune to measles then tough shit. If that includes most of humanity then so be it.

We need more plagues.

[The South Falls]

Tbh vaccines should be outlawed. If you aren't tough enough to be naturally immune to measles then tough shit. If that includes most of humanity then so be it.

We need more plagues.

Hear! Hear! And if you can't drink milk, tough shit! You must be strong enough to ingest it! No more weak motherfuckers.

[Andsed]

Tbh vaccines should be outlawed. If you aren't tough enough to be naturally immune to measles then tough shit. If that includes most of humanity then so be it.

We need more plagues.

Wat?

[Galloism]

The WV state board of education argued that children refusing to salute the flag damaged national cohesion, would undermine national unity, and threaten the very existence of the United States itself (unironically).

In other words, either children salute the flag, or we all die.

I know that seems silly, but WW2 was raging at the time. A lot of it seems silly in retrospect.

One could make the argument that everyone who isn't vaccinated will die if they get infected.

You could, but it would defy all history and logic.

Consent insofar as parents deciding what their children can and cannot have, has failed miserably. "I'm their mother/father, and I know what's best for my child" is absolutely the worst mindset anyone can have.

I mean, arguably, we could just take all children to be raised by the state.

[The Supreme Magnificent High Swaglord]

Tbh vaccines should be outlawed. If you aren't tough enough to be naturally immune to measles then tough shit. If that includes most of humanity then so be it.

We need more plagues.

Wat?

Bear Stearns is likely being (at least in part) somewhat facetious. Do correct me if I’m mistaken, however.

[Nea Byzantia]

Tbh vaccines should be outlawed. If you aren't tough enough to be naturally immune to measles then tough shit. If that includes most of humanity then so be it.

We need more plagues.

[Flaxxony]

This unscientific religious section of the right is destroying the party with it's bad press.

We need more parties. As an engineer who supports protectionism and limited immigration I feel like I have no representation in this country. I either have to support a party that denies climate change, or is pushing for open borders (on it's leftmost flank).

[Imbalistan]

Because you cry for a minute after a vaccine does not mean it gives you god damn wizard powers.

[Bluelight-R006]

Tbh vaccines should be outlawed. If you aren't tough enough to be naturally immune to measles then tough shit. If that includes most of humanity then so be it.

We need more plagues.

Lives have value too.

Anti-vaxxers shouldn’t be vaccinated. Oh how I wish they weren’t since childhood. Then they’ll learn the importance of how it protects themselves when compare different to the other anti-vaxxers.

[Xmara]

Because you cry for a minute after a vaccine does not mean it gives you god damn wizard powers.

One time I cried after getting a vaccination, and next thing I knew the nurse had become a toad.

[Valentine Z]

I now propose that doctors and nurses dress up as sorcerers/sorceresses, and wizards. I will now only take my vaccine from a man who dresses up like Gandalf.

-----

Jokes aside, yeah... people say the darndest of things, I'm not too surprised.

[The Greater Ohio Valley]

Roe v. Wade is about right to choose and access valid medical procedures.

I think you should re-read Roe v. Wade’s holding again.

The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides a fundamental "right to privacy" that protects a pregnant woman's liberty to choose whether or not to have an abortion. This right is not absolute, and must be balanced against the government's interests in protecting women's health and protecting prenatal life. Texas law making it a crime to assist a woman to get an abortion violated this right.

It was a right to privacy ruling, nothing about it covers potential mandatory vaccination.

[The Greater Ohio Valley]

Tbh vaccines should be outlawed. If you aren't tough enough to be naturally immune to measles then tough shit. If that includes most of humanity then so be it.

We need more plagues.

[The Rich Port]

Tbh vaccines should be outlawed. If you aren't tough enough to be naturally immune to measles then tough shit. If that includes most of humanity then so be it.

We need more plagues.

I'm shocked you're not working for a Washington lobbying group, you'd make an amazing spin doctor.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

No one here is demanding vaccines for literally everyone without excuse or reason. Just the people trying to wiggle out by reason of religion or "ethical reasons". The reason most people here are pushing for mandatory vaccines are to protect those who can't get vaccines for legitimate reasons.

Modern society was meant to have irradicated measles and other 18th century diseases, but instead we find ourselves back in the dark ages of medicine. Fucking A.

I get what you are trying to say, but mandatory vaccinations would violate the 1st Amendment because it violates Freedoms of Speech and Religion.

The public's right to health and safety trumps both of those.

[The South Falls]

Tbh vaccines should be outlawed. If you aren't tough enough to be naturally immune to measles then tough shit. If that includes most of humanity then so be it.

We need more plagues.

I'm shocked you're not working for a Washington lobbying group, you'd make an amazing spin doctor.

He's joking, b.

[Sycar]

Sadly, neither of these sources are the Onion

Texas lawmaker Jonathan Stickland called vaccines "sorcery" Tuesday in a social media post criticizing a vaccine expert.

Stickland – a state representative who describes himself as a "Christian Conservative" and a "Liberty Loving Republican" in his Twitter bio – made the comment as part of an extended critique of vaccines and the scientific community.

The exchange started with a tweet by pediatrician Peter Hotez lamenting the upward trend of Texas children exempted from vaccines. Hotez – a vaccine expert and founder of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine – said the "children of #Texas have been placed in harm's way for the financial gain of special & outside interest groups."

"Mind your own business," Stickland replied in part to Hotez, alleging that his vaccine advocacy was "self enriching 'science.' "

Hotez said he does not take money from the vaccine industry. His role as a Texas pediatrician and scientist makes the issue of rising vaccine exemptions a part of his business, he said.

"Make the case for your sorcery to consumers on your own dime. Like every other business," Stickland tweeted. "Quit using the heavy hand of government to make your business profitable through mandates and immunity. It’s disgusting."

Make the case for your sorcery to consumers on your own dime. Like every other business. Quit using the heavy hand of government to make your business profitable through mandates and immunity. It’s disgusting.

— Jonathan Stickland (@RepStickland) May 7, 2019
Stickland claimed "vaccines are dangerous" and compared government involvement in vaccinations to communism.

Hotez blames "an aggressive anti-vaccine lobby" for a surge in Texas children exempted from vaccinations, Newsweek reported.

“It looks as though there are a few bad apples in the Legislature who will do almost anything for those funds and recognition, including the endangerment of children and attacks on pediatricians and medical school professors,” Hotez told the publication.

The USA is struggling with a historic resurgence in measles cases. The longer the outbreaks continue, the greater the chance that measles will again become entrenched, health officials warn.

You are bought and paid for by the biggest special interest in politics. Do our state a favor and mind your own business. Parental rights mean more to us than your self enriching “science.” #txlege

— Jonathan Stickland (@RepStickland) May 7, 2019
Texas is among the states reporting measles cases in 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

The disease, which typically kills one or two per 1,000 cases and can cause long-term damage, has made a comeback largely because of pockets of unvaccinated communities.

Some parents reject immunizations because of erroneous information, often distributed through social media.

Public health practitioners regard the measles vaccine, administered along with immunization for mumps and rubella, as safe and highly effective. It provides 93% protection after a first dose, recommended at 12-15 months of age, and 97% protection after a second shot at ages 4-6.

For some vaccine skeptics, distrust of Big Pharma and fear of government overreach motivate their opposition.

My apologies if this already had a thread and that this is news from last month.

But I don't think it can be understated how much damage he is doing to Texas by spouting such bullshit.

This is just nuts.

What say you NSG?

As a Republican from Texas, I apologize for this Stickland idiot.

[The Rich Port]

I'm shocked you're not working for a Washington lobbying group, you'd make an amazing spin doctor.

He's joking, b.

Erm, yeah, so was I... B.

[Mihnoa]

I get what you are trying to say, but mandatory vaccinations would violate the 1st Amendment because it violates Freedoms of Speech and Religion.

The public's right to health and safety trumps both of those.

The Supreme Court ruled that in an event of a mass outbreak, a temporary mandatory vaccination order can be put in place.
However, the Guarantee of Free Exercise of Religion was incorporated to the states after the Cantwell vs Connecticut case in 1940.
So if a madatory vaccination order is in place, and someone refuses because of religion, we have a problem.

[Major-Tom]

No one here is demanding vaccines for literally everyone without excuse or reason. Just the people trying to wiggle out by reason of religion or "ethical reasons". The reason most people here are pushing for mandatory vaccines are to protect those who can't get vaccines for legitimate reasons.

Modern society was meant to have irradicated measles and other 18th century diseases, but instead we find ourselves back in the dark ages of medicine. Fucking A.

I get what you are trying to say, but mandatory vaccinations would violate the 1st Amendment because it violates Freedoms of Speech and Religion.

If you argue from an absolutist point of view, then anything and everything could violate the 1st amendment. Seatbelt laws? Nah, some people may argue it infringes on their rights, therefore those laws shouldn't be in place! That's the sorta precedent that mindset puts into play.

In any society, especially in a functioning democracy such as our own, we must always value the right to do as one pleases, so long as it doesn't infringe on the right of another to live happily. By allowing parents to exclude their kids from vaccinations, it infringes on the rights of the child.

[Diopolis]

I get what you are trying to say, but mandatory vaccinations would violate the 1st Amendment because it violates Freedoms of Speech and Religion.

If you argue from an absolutist point of view, then anything and everything could violate the 1st amendment. Seatbelt laws? Nah, some people may argue it infringes on their rights, therefore those laws shouldn't be in place! That's the sorta precedent that mindset puts into play.

In any society, especially in a functioning democracy such as our own, we must always value the right to do as one pleases, so long as it doesn't infringe on the right of another to live happily. By allowing parents to exclude their kids from vaccinations, it infringes on the rights of the child.

At the same time, there probably aren't enough religions that genuinely teach against vaccinations to compromise herd immunity. Most religious objectors to vaxxing, anecdotally, are just gossippy housewives whose church circles put them in touch with anti-vaxxing gossippy housewives, and check their facts about as well as you'd expect,then use religion as a fig leaf(there are aborted babies in the vaccines! is a common one- which if they'd checked their facts they'd realize was a misleading and mostly incorrect statement.)
The solution would be to make religious objections to vaccines require a statement of belief from the church body or something. If you're a Christian scientist, fair. If you just believe they cause autism, sorry.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

If you argue from an absolutist point of view, then anything and everything could violate the 1st amendment. Seatbelt laws? Nah, some people may argue it infringes on their rights, therefore those laws shouldn't be in place! That's the sorta precedent that mindset puts into play.

In any society, especially in a functioning democracy such as our own, we must always value the right to do as one pleases, so long as it doesn't infringe on the right of another to live happily. By allowing parents to exclude their kids from vaccinations, it infringes on the rights of the child.

At the same time, there probably aren't enough religions that genuinely teach against vaccinations to compromise herd immunity. Most religious objectors to vaxxing, anecdotally, are just gossippy housewives whose church circles put them in touch with anti-vaxxing gossippy housewives, and check their facts about as well as you'd expect,then use religion as a fig leaf(there are aborted babies in the vaccines! is a common one- which if they'd checked their facts they'd realize was a misleading and mostly incorrect statement.)
The solution would be to make religious objections to vaccines require a statement of belief from the church body or something. If you're a Christian scientist, fair. If you just believe they cause autism, sorry.

Christian scientists... pray the fever away. You know, pray, ok, but take your sick kid to see a doctor. Makes me seethe every time I remember the case of the child that died because of his or her parents being of that denomination.

Edit: it was a boy. Aaron Grady. Nine years old and died of complications of untreated diabetes. Iirc, his case was discussed on NSG but I can’t recall if it was here or while on Jolt.