Killing people with paperwork instead of a gun doesn’t make you any less of a murderer
Nicely put. And put on many t-shirts already too, I imagine/hope.
I was browsing some info about an ESG ETF yesterday, and its top holding is UHC. I know that it’s based on a ranking system, e.g. so an otherwise questionable company might be “least awful,” but I can’t figure out how UHC floated all the way to the top of that heap.
Perhaps they use 100% renewable energy and send their surplus into the grid, while deciding that, no, one can get by with some of their digits & organs.
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Some will kill you with a handgun, some with a ballpoint pen…
I stupidly tried that last year. After six months I was fed up with all the drug coverage changes, so I sent in a letter to rescind it. Fortunately that worked, but I have had more and more problems with prescriptions in the past couple of years. So coverage is still worse than it was. And this is federal employee insurance, which is overall good.
The first time I ever heard “right to die” was in university from a libertarian who contrasted it with “right to life”. See, nobody is entitled to things like food, but they shouldn’t be forced to continue on if they feel they’re a burden. It took me a long time to ever accept the idea of assisted suicide after that, and I’m sure it would be a nightmare if it touches for-profit anything. 
This is the thing. There are folks who are suffering horribly with no recourse medically. Forcing them to go on is inhuman. BUT to make it an economic, “you are a burden on your family and should just die” kinda shit is equally inhuman. We should be able to square this circle. But it seems not.
Oklahoma and Alabama have proposals that would require parental consent for any vaccine given to minors. Bills in Wyoming, Oregon and Oklahoma would prohibit “discrimination” against people who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19 or other diseases.
New York and Oklahoma have bills that would require providers to give people getting shots a full ingredient list, and Florida legislation would ban edible vaccines, though none are approved for use in the U.S. and research is still in early stages.
It’s gonna get so much worse, man…
The Oregon one has as much chance of passing as a tricycle has of passing Sebastian Loeb at the Monte Carlo rally…
For anybody who has time and inclination to add their voices:
Advocacy update from AAP President
January 28, 2025
Dear colleagues:
Though it has been just over a week since I last wrote to you — it has been a busy one. Let me fill you in on what the AAP has been up to and how you can add your voice. It’s a big week for children’s health!
Tomorrow and Thursday, two senate committees will be holding hearings to consider the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
As pediatricians, we see firsthand the community benefits of immunization in helping children to grow up strong and healthy, so it’s no surprise that we have been engaged throughout this process. Yesterday, we announced that AAP collected stories from pediatrician members across the country about the importance of childhood vaccinations and the risks of vaccine-preventable illnesses.
We’ve shared testimonials with key senators who will weigh this nomination. Read more in AAP News and on Instagram, as well as this Associated Press article I was quoted in about vaccination rates and what’s at stake for children. AAP’s social media posts on the vaccine stories are the most popular content we’ve ever shared on social media, reaching nearly 1 million people and counting.
Now is the time to add your voice and contact your senators in support of immunizations for children. It’s critical we keep up the momentum we’ve built. AAP members can visit federaladvocacy.aap.org and go to “Protect Child Health and Support Access to Vaccines” under Key Issues for an email to guide your outreach.
Part of our advocacy work includes responding to executive orders and policy proposals impacting child health that were released last week by the Trump Administration. Here’s a brief update on what we’ve said so far:
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My statement in response to several executive orders related to immigrant children and families, including the rescission of protections against immigration enforcement in sensitive locations. Here’s a new resource from the National Immigration Law Center on that directive specifically, with more to come from us next week.
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AAP’s joint statement with five other leading national medical organizations opposing the stated withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization.
We are also monitoring other orders and announcements impacting child health on other topics, and you’ll continue to hear more about those in the days ahead.
As always, our North Star remains the health and well-being of children everywhere, and together we will continue advocating for federal policies that ensure children are supported and cared for, no matter where they live or where they come from. We will also look for opportunities to partner with the new Administration to advance policies that prioritize child health.
Every day pediatricians show up, it’s a better day for kids. Let’s keep showing up.
Thank you again for all you do for children.
Best,
Sue Kressly, MD, FAAP
President
And here we go, it’s RFK jr day on Capitol Hill…
To say my hopes are limited would be overly optimistic.
I remember the good old days when children were immunized against TB, and got shots to prevent measles and lotsa other [ETA: POTENTIALLY DEADLY] shit no one should have to deal with!
Back to traditional, robust, natural cures like, I don’t know, licking dead bears?