-By Gary Krasner
Gov. Chris Christie is an anti-vaccine conspiracy nut?!
Any observer of politics can only sit back and marvel at the irony of this event. The fact that this is another instance of political demagoguery tainting a complicated science issue is nothing to celebrate. So don’t get me wrong. It’s unpleasant to watch. But it’s so educational about the disgusting dumbing-down of any issue that’s not of Micky-Mouse simplicity.
But just look at what’s happened.
Up until yesterday, Chris Christie was the top sound bite winner of all time. He used his power as governor to hog the spotlight and shout down voices of dissent. He was a “debate ender”. He never fostered thoughtful commentary which departed from his views. Why permit dissenting views when you command all the attention, by way of being governor?
He defended, for example, judicial rulings that were in accord with sharia law. And he nominated a pro sharia lawyer to judgeship. Thoughtful criticism was published. But Christie lashed back with intolerance and didn’t address the criticism on-point. He just issued the usual demagoguery and strawman arguments in sound bite format against dissenters. he called them Islamophobes.
OK, you get the point.
Well, the one issue that he happens to take a forthright and principled stand on—-parental choice on what gets injected into their own children—-Christie gets clobbered by demagoguery from all sides. Wow.
They say that Christie made an “insane” remark yesterday, which caters to “anti vaccine conspiracy theorists.” What did he say? Brace yourselves. This is the outrageous thing he said relating to the measles “outbreak”:
“It’s more important what you think as a parent than what you think as a public official.”
“I also understand that parents need to have some measure of choice in things as well.”
“So that’s the balance that the government has to decide.”
Sentence #1 explains that the mission of public officials to encourage vaccination is not the same as the role of the parent who must decide the question on individual medical factors per one’s child. Outrageous!!!
Sentence #2 opines that the parent should have some say in what drug is injected into her child. Outrageous!!!
Sentence #3 cautions us that government must permit informed consent by way of reasonable opt out provisions in vaccination laws. Outrageous!!!
Christie could not have been more misunderstood than if Martians, fluent solely in Martianese, interpreted his remarks. But then, that’s what political demagoguery is all about. And this is textbook demagoguery.
Just consider what prompted his remarks. There’s a measles “epidemic.” Are there thousands of people afflicted? No, just 100. 100 people out of 300 million Americans!
But there is an epidemic, to be sure. A uniquely American variant on the “Stupid” virus. The expression of which is now being seen nationwide. Enjoy the show for what it is. Because there’s no known cure.