I think it's just good public health policy, not even getting into anything else.

(whispers in a very snarky voice, "Except lots of right-leaning members of my extended family argue that the BEST public-health-policy in these circumstances is toss them all back over the Rio, don't make them WELL.")

Okay, that's what I thought, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.

My response:

please clarify: How is this different from the status quo? Is your complaint the lack of enforcement clause for "affordability credit" eligibility?

And since tax dollars pay for ER visits already, couldn't it actually lower costs if *somehow* (if illegal aliens cheat the system) tax dollars went to their preventative care instead?

SH, thanks for that very salient point. I shall hold it in reserve.

Once more into the breach, dear friends!

(If this gets annoying/too blood pressure raising, lemme know and I'll stop)

(whispers in a very snarky voice, "Except lots of right-leaning members of my extended family argue that the BEST public-health-policy in these circumstances is toss them all back over the Rio, don't make them WELL.")

Apparently those family members don't need to eat.

I have to say, the one good thing about Facebook's newsfeed going kablooey over the past week is it's saved me from getting too involved in any political discussions.

I've been using the FB Hide functionality when I feel my blood pressure rising. Sweet relief.

Disease isn't so good about respecting borders.

I think it's just good public health policy, not even getting into anything else.

Fuck yeah. Like vaccinations. (And ugh, I have a good friend who I think is extremely smart -- is in nursing school, as a matter of fact -- whose oldest just started kindergarten, and my friend isn't vaccinating his kids. He says he's researched the hell out of it, and he's intelligent and this isn't a decision he made without a lot of study. And I believe him, but it still pisses me off BIG TIME.)

He says he's researched the hell out of it, and he's intelligent and this isn't a decision he made without a lot of study.

But WHERE has he done the research? What legitimate scientific studies can he point to that prove vaccinations are bad?

man, few subjects make me angrier.

Our friends are waiting to vaccinate because they found out that their children are both allergic to metal. Their first was vaccinated and was diagnosed as autistic, which their doctors believe is associated with the metal from the needles, and not thimerisol. Their second is also autistic, but they are treating it medically and will vaccinate when the kids' systems are better able to process the metal toxins. Them, I give a pass. They have genetic and medical proof that their kids can't process metals out of their system.

But I look askance at anyone else who doesn't vaccinate their kids.

He says he's researched the hell out of it, and he's intelligent and this isn't a decision he made without a lot of study

For "study" read "crazy deluded internet propaganda," maybe. The science is not on his side, and I'm glad his kids aren't in my kid's school district.

Personally, I think that if you don't vaccinate your children (without a legitimate MEDICAL excuse), you shouldn't be able to send them to public school. (Vaccinations are already required in most school districts, but it's ridiculously easy to get a religious exemption. I'm all for freedom of religion, but I draw the line at willfully endangering public health.)

(And obviously, vaccinations should be free and distributed as widely as possible.)