Commentary: Should RFK Jr. Head HHS?

Disinformation/Dishonest, Misinformation/Mis-informed.

   I was watching a Sunday news show on CNN, and the host, Fareed Zakaria said there has been a decline in trust in institutions, especially in America, and that people were putting their faith in individuals, like Donald Trump and RFK Jr. He said there has been a shift in trust in the medical establishment to podcasters, as well as a shift from traditional media to independent journalists. All I have to do is look at myself to see my shift in trust from traditional main-stream media to a few trusted independent journalists and podcasters. I haven’t totally turned away from the major networks, as I do watch two weekend CNN news shows, Fareed Zakaria and Smerconish. Zakaria’s show, called the Global Public Square, deals mostly with global issues. Smerconish, hosted by former republican turned independent Michael Smerconish, is the only member of major network news shows that I’m aware of, that had RFK Jr. on for an interview. This type of choice is one reason I watch his show. During the week I’ll often watch Fox News in the evening and occasionally the first few minutes of one of the morning news shows. So I haven’t fully abandoned traditional media.

   Recently on one of the major networks, the news host mentioned RFK Jr. making the rounds in the Senate as part of his confirmation process after Trump nominated him to lead HHS, Health and Human Services, and the host referred to Kennedy as an anti-vaxxer. I’ve heard this allegation many times over the last several months. If you take the time to listen to Kennedy, you’ll soon realize that he is not an anti-vaxxer. I have heard of people who are against all vaccines, usually for religious reasons, and this group would accurately be described as anti-vaxxers. RFK has said several times that he and his entire family have been vaccinated, you just have to take the time to listen to him, and there are many interviews of him on the internet, usually posted on YouTube. So, to call him an anti-vaxxer is saying something that is not true, it’s misinformation or disinformation. Awhile back I looked up the definition of these two words because I wasn’t sure of the difference, and I found a way to help me remember. Misinformation is something that isn’t true, but the person spreading or posting the information is misinformed, they think the information is correct but it isn’t. Disinformation is information that is being spread by someone who is dishonest, they know it’s not true but they spread or post it anyway. Disinformation/Dishonest, Misinformation/Mis-informed.

   Calling RFK Jr. an anti-vaxxer by people working for the major networks is just one reason why my trust in MSM has been negatively affected. 

   There are a couple of things I feel the need to point out when it comes to Kennedy. He has worked as an environmental lawyer for something like 35 years, starting when he helped some friends, who fished along the Hudson River near New York, sue companies who were polluting the river. Their efforts made a noticeable difference in the Hudson’s water quality. During one case that he was preparing for trial, his team discovered that a person who worked at the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency, also worked for the company he was suing. A conflict of interest to say the least, and what I would call corruption. This raises the question, if there is corruption in the EPA, is there also corruption in the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration, formed in 1906 to ensure America’s food supply is safe? 

   Where does RFK Jr. stand on the subject of vaccines? After listening to several RFK interviews, I came away with the understanding that a member of his team noticed a spike in childhood chronic diseases that started in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, and he asked them to look for anything from that period that might help explain the spike. They came back with two suggestions;1) in 1986 the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act was signed into law. “NCVIA’s purpose was to eliminate the potential financial liability of vaccine manufacturers due to vaccine injury claims to ensure a stable market supply of vaccines, and to provide cost-effective arbitration for vaccine injury claims.” Wikipedia ; 2) The number of vaccines required by most public-school districts increased by 3-4 times. 

   RFK Jr. says he remembers getting 3 vaccines when he was school age. I remember getting 2, a polio and a smallpox vaccine. I don’t remember much from elementary school, but I do remember being sent to the nurses’ office to get a vaccine, and when the nurse told me to sit down and then handed me a sugar cube and said to put it in my mouth and let it dissolve, the look on my face must have told her I was confused. She said the vaccine was in the sugar cube and that I could go back to class. I thought I was going to get a shot and was relieved when I learned the polio vaccine was in the sugar cube. The other vaccine I remember getting was the smallpox vaccine, where the nurse used a circular tool to prick the skin on my upper arm, without much pain. I was disappointed when days later I didn’t have a circular scar that most of my classmates had. Somehow, I felt cheated, I wanted that scar. Now RFK Jr. is a year or two younger than me so we probably got the same vaccines, I just don’t remember the 3^rd. This was the early 1960’s.

   The childhood chronic diseases Kennedy claims that spiked are autism, diabetes, asthma and food allergies. Some say that better diagnostic techniques mean more cases are being discovered, therefor higher case numbers. I have suffered from asthma for 60 years and it was obvious to my doctor when it first started when I was 13. No advanced diagnostic equipment was required. It was pretty obvious to the doctor that I had asthma. Diabetes and food allergies may be a different story, maybe better diagnostic tools equates to higher numbers of these diseases being reported. What RFK is calling for is additional scientific study of the vaccines that were mandated starting in the late 1980’s and early 90’s. With his experience with what he calls agency capture by corporations, agencies being the EPA, FDA and the CDC, and possible corruption, he may be uniquely qualified to deal with this issue as Secretary of HHS, Health and Human Services.

   One other important issue RFK Jr. often talks about is the chemicals and preservatives that are added to American processed food. I have heard that some of these chemicals are banned in Europe. Why is that? What dangers do they pose to U.S. consumers? He also says that these chemicals may play a part in childhood chronic diseases. Again, he’s calling for further research. Does this sound like a conspiracy theorist? It’s a simple, straight forward request by Kennedy. 

   If there is corruption within our regulatory agencies, as RFK Jr. claims, who better to make changes than someone who has had 30 plus years of court battles? 

   I suggest that before you judge this man, take the time to listen to a couple of the interviews that are available on the internet. See for yourself, instead of relying on what members of main-stream media tell you. That’s my simple, straight forward request. 

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