*sigh* I'm responding to Vulis... The short answer, perhaps, is that government should as a general rule adopt those policies that allow the greatest freedom over the long term. Private social pressure from families and communities may then develop into a more powerful force. -Declan On Tue, 18 Mar 1997, Dr.Dimitri Vulis KOTM wrote:
As you know, every year there are a certain number of child deaths as a result of reactions to state-mandated innoculations/vaccinations. Gone too?
Perhaps the difference, or rationale, here is the possible spread of disease to others, rather than trying to protect the individual from himself.
Suppose X chooses to innoculate their kids and Y chooses not to innoculate their kids against, say, polio; and Y's kids get it. They're not going to give it to someone whose parents chose to innoculate them. (This is a kind of borderline example, not unlike circumcision. The individual affected by the choice is too young to understand what it's all about, but doesn't want to be stuck with a needle. Why are the parents more qualified to make decisions for him than the state?)
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Dr.Dimitri Vulis KOTM Brighton Beach Boardwalk BBS, Forest Hills, N.Y.: +1-718-261-2013, 14.4Kbps