Chan Lowe: Rick Perry's HPV problem
Gov. Rick Perry is taking heat from conservatives over his signing of a law mandating anti-HPV vaccinations for Texas girls, which shows how easy it is to run afoul of principles that can’t even stand alongside each other.
Either you don’t mind a robust role for government in people’s lives, or you do. Perry did a sensible thing--a progressive thing--by requiring the vaccinations, but what those on the right are complaining about is that his law included an opt-out for parents, rather than an opt-in. One would assume that only a minority of parents are so benighted that they would sacrifice their children’s health because of the belief that an HPV shot increases the likelihood of sexual promiscuity. Therefore, an opt-out makes more sense from a public health standpoint.
Furthermore, if government is too intrusive when it mandates a vaccination, why is it not too intrusive when it intervenes in a very personal decision about carrying a child to term, particularly when, in the latter case, we’re talking about females of all ages?
One could say, “Well, preventing abortion is a matter of saving a life.” Preventing a girl or woman from dying of cervical cancer is also a matter of saving a life. Is there a difference?
One can only conclude that those who want government to stay out of the decision to vaccinate, yet butt in when it comes to telling a woman what she can do with her fetus value the unborn more than the born.
Talk about inconsistency. No wonder Rick Perry got himself into a fix.
CHAN LOWE has been the Sun Sentinel’s first and only editorial cartoonist for the past twenty-six years. Before that, he worked as cartoonist and writer for the Oklahoma City Times and the Shawnee (OK) News-Star.
Comments
The same inconsistencies about life are all through the conservative movement. Pro-life for fetuses, but they have not problem watching you die because you couldn't afford food or medical care. They also have no problem killing someone for murder. They claim to be Bible believing Christians with their mouths, but their actions suggest otherwise.
Posted by: Nicolas Naranja | September 13, 2011 10:16 PM
Typical spin on a non-issue by a left leaning "cant walk a straight line" journalist...
You conveniently left out the aspect that Parents had an "Opt out" of this mandate..didn't you? Jeez if your gonna write a story, write the entire story not one that spins to your (progressive) side..
Posted by: Pragmatist | September 14, 2011 8:16 AM
Thanks for the clarification Chan, my mistake not yours..getting dyslexic in my old age..
Posted by: Pragmatist | September 14, 2011 11:38 AM
Welcome to the absurdity of the right! Thank you Mr. Lowe.
Posted by: Sentinel Commentator | September 14, 2011 2:09 PM