Reprise: "Vaccine Hospitalized My Son. I Would Vaccinate Him Again"

 

"Vaccine Hospitalized My Son. I Would Vaccinate Him Again"

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-vaccine-hospitalized-my-son-i-would.html

Alan: Americans who refuse to vaccinate their children are afraid of the "one in a million chance" they might optionally harm their kids by authorizing vaccination.

It is irrelevant to naysayers that statistics prove "a one in a hundred chance" that their child will be harmed if people stop vaccinating. 

Enthralled by American individualism, vaccination-resisters prefer the greater likelihood of harming their kids (and other kids) if only they can protect their precious conscience from the haunting fear of personal responsibility for a catastrophic decision.

Refusal to vaccinate one's children is a subtle form of egotism masquerading as prudence.

Such egotists would rather risk children's much more likely damage from a preventable disease than the horrifying thought that they were personally responsible should their child experience much less probable damage.

There are two political poles: one ruled by Reason, the other by anecdote. 

"I know a guy who know a guy who..."

People guided by Reason realize that life is probabilistic and that they will "almost certainly" be better off by heeding the "dictates" of "best knowledge."

People guided by anecdote on the other hand are on the lookout for "exceptions to rules" that defy probability and seem to promise "perfect" outcomes.

"The Danger Of Science Denial"

TED Talk by Michael Specter

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2013/03/ted-talk-danger-of-science-denial.html

Until 1750, half of humankind died by the age of 8. Almost all these kids died from the scourge of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Vaccination is the greatest health boon ever.

"The Death Of Epistemology: Anti-Vaccine Epert (And Playboy Model) Jenny McCarthy"
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-death-of-epistemology-anti-vaccine.html
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2013/07/jenny-mccarthy-vaccinations-and-autism.html
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2013/07/jenny-mccarthy-and-fear-based-parenting.html

The Anti-Vaccination Epidemic Is Fueled By "Education," Wealth And Privilege

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-anti-vaccination-epidemic-is-fueled.html

Jenny McCarthy: Poster Girl For Self-Terrorization
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/11/jenny-mccarthy-americas-poster-girl-for.html

"Self-Terrorization Is The National Pastime"
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/10/tom-toles-cartoon-self-terrorization-is.html
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/11/self-terrorization-cornerstone-of.html
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/06/uncle-sams-advice-for-superpatriots.html
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2011/10/self-terrorization-national-pastime.html
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2012/05/national-pastime-self-terrorization.html
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2013/02/faulty-risk-assessment-and-epidemic.html
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2013/04/americas-national-pastime-is-self.html
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/11/jenny-mccarthy-americas-poster-girl-for.html
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/11/self-terrorization-cornerstone-of.html
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-gop-campaign-message-be-afraid.html