Ignorance and Stupidity A Danger to All

The anti-vaccination campaign has finally produced a dangerous result: a measles epidemic now has 84 cases in 14 states. The "anti-vaxxers" have spread lies and distortions that now endanger all of us. Rand Paul, a practicing ophthalmologist no less, appeared on CNBC and repeated the old lie that vaccines cause mental disorders in children. Paul justifies his stance on the grounds of "freedom" and "parents own their children."

Let's leave aside, for the moment, the question of whether children should be considered "property." There is no such thing as a "right" to endanger the health of other people. The anti-vaxxers are endangering their children, which is bad enough, but they are also endangering the health of everyone else. If these idiots have their way, we'll go back to millions of people being killed by smallpox or paralyzed by polio.