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Been interesting watching justifications offered by some MLAs for voting against Bill 11, or the “vaccinate-if-you-wish-to-use-public-schools” bill. Obviously some want to find a pro-vaccine way to say no to this rule. Here’s why I find those arguments unconvincing. (Thread)
1. Some argue that they will enforce vaccines IF shown proof that the numbers threaten herd immunity (95%). It’s a tempting way to avoid making people mad, but...

Is it logical to say you support choice, but only until 6% make that choice, then you‘ll ban it?

An example....
2. Let’s say we give out bobbleheads at a Royals game.We want every child to get one. We have 500 toys & 450 kids. Some adults push into the line.

Do we say “Meh, let it go until we count 51 adults pushing”? Or have a GLOBAL rule that ALL adults have a duty to let kids go first?
3. It’s silly to say “I believe in the public good of vaccinations, but the first 5.1% of you are fine.” If you’ll remove a choice if 5.1% of people make it, it’s an antisocial choice.

Better to think of it as “We all have a duty to vaccinate unless medically unable”.
4. We don’t police shoplifting by saying “Well, if only 20 people steal the store won’t go under, so call me when you catch 21 shoplifters”. If the public good depends upon near-universal acceptance of a duty, we all have the duty. Citizenship can’t be first-come-first-served.
5. The other argument I’ve heard is that this is a limit on freedom and that is grounds to oppose it.

I’m disappointed when MLAs cite “freedom” without balancing it with “public good”. It’s how the Charter works. Yelling “rights” w/o citizenship is a toddler’s view of freedom.
6. Here are limits on my parental freedom. I can’t choose to:
-let my 10 year old drive
- drive w/o a car seat for my 2 year old
- let my 15 year old drink & drive
- punish my child by withholding food and water

Even if I disagree with the accepted science on those things.
7. The common principle appears to be: “Parental freedom is good, and will be respected within reasonable limits. Those limits occur when (a) thers’s overwhelming evidence that you risk harm, and (b) that harm is public, in that innocent others or your child will be harmed.
8. It seems to me those two things are why my parental freedom matters when deciding at what age my daughter can get a tattoo and whether or not I put my toddler in a car seat.

Haven’t seen the MLAs crying “freedom” share how they balance that with the public duty.
9. Nor have I heard those MLAs explain the balance with the child’s rights. You have a right to risk your health for your belief. Children, who can’t consent, have been protected by law from being forced to risk harm for beliefs they can’t yet consent to.
10. Now, maybe there’s a framing that shows that the personal invasiveness outweighs the risks of a revival of disease. I’d be open to hearing it. But the MLAs crying “freedom” largely are not speaking to that balance. They should. Citizens balance rights. Toddlers demand them.
11. The last thing I’ve heard — the Green view that the unelected health officer should invoke the law, not accountable ministers. I gently disagree. I believe that the decision MUST be based upon science and expert advice. But we don’t have rule by unelected experts.
12. In a democracy, we check politicians by making expert advice available, publicly disclosed, and persuasive. (Think the Auditor-General or Child Advocate...free to speak and make things public even if it embarrasses the government). Unelected experts carry great moral weight.
13. But the final call should rest with those we can unelect. Publicly ignoring health advice will likely carry a price with voters. But it’s still a democracy, not the Simpsons episode where we do away with elections and let MENSA members rule by decree.
14. Even if you prefer unelected expert rule, as the Greens do...it’s still your duty to vote on a final bill. Are we better with it or without it? Is it better than the status quo? If it is, vote YES. If not, vote NO.

Abstentions suggest a party that still placates its fringes.
15. Last point...to citizens who feel that this vote does not reflect public opinion.

We see this w/gun control in the US. 90% want background checks to buy guns. But the 10% who don’t will vote on ONLY that issue. The 90% really don’t engage. So a small angry group gets a veto.
16. Most politicians are nice people. They don’t like making people angry. It’s not evil. It’s human. And a very small group felt very emotional on this issue. Those who backed away from that anger believe that the rest of you will forget. You weren’t in their face, after all.
17. Bottom line...if your MLA took the risk and voted for Bill 11, defend them publicly. If they didn’t, and you want them to reconsider, let them know that you are willing to make it a ballot issue, in a party nomination or general election.

Or, prove them right and move on.
18. Anyway, I’m not going to engage further on this. We’ve had too much heated rhetoric. Many of the MLAs who disagree with me on this are good people, and I’m not inclined to reduce their careers to one vote. And I’ve had my say. I hope you all get yours.
19. And props to @dominiccardy for taking a risk. I’d rather have MLAs who stand for things, even if I sometimes disagree, than the survivors who survive by toeing the party line and never taking risks.

That’s it. Rant over.
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Keep Current with Kelly Lamrock, Q.C.

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