Jon Stewart shows mindful ignorance can be devoid of ideology
Jon Stewart points out that the fringes on the Left and the fringes on the Right can both be equally ignorant. Why do so many refuse to get the measles vaccine or for that matter all vaccines.
“You may ask, why is measles, a disease that had effectively been eradicated through vaccination suddenly back,” Jon Stewart asked. “Like most things you can blame it on science denying affluent California Liberals.”
Stewart plays a clip where Marin County California Tracy Skytt, a parent who does not believe in forced immunization, is asked if her kids were vaccinated. She answered that they were “for the most part.” Why just “for the most part?” Her answer is rather bewildering.
“We live here in Marin County which is a Liberal place,” Tracy Skytt replied. “It is a well educated group of people. It is a thoughtful group of people. And I think if parents are choosing not to vaccinate it is probably for a reason.”
Jon Stewart’s response is epic. “This is Marin County,” Jon Stewart snapped. “They are not rednecks. They are not ignorant. They practice a mindful stupidity. … California, if your crazy wellness ideas only affected you, I would be fine with that. … But your choice puts other people in jeopardy.”
Stewart went on to show that the stupidity of vaccination hesitancy is not relegated solely to ‘elitist educated California Liberals’ but to Conservative politicians as well. He played a clip with potential Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul making debunked assertions about ‘walking talking normal children’ who wound up with ‘profound mental disorders’ after vaccines.
Stewart also showed a clip of Governor Chris Christie defending the quarantine of a healthy nurse to pander to the then overblown and irresponsible Ebola fear mongering. He said then that certain things should not be voluntary and it was government’s job to protect the well-being of the public. Yet he recently waffled when asked if the vaccines should be mandatory.
While Jon Stewart made fun of the current measles vaccination fiasco, it is very serious on many levels. One can forgive the mindful stupidity of some Liberal parents. One can forgive the false association of unfettered freedom and required vaccination by some Conservatives and Libertarians.
It is inexcusable for any politician, someone responsible for the well-being of the country and all constituents to play politics with ones health. For too long it this has been done. Playing politics with vaccinations kill. Playing politics with healthcare (the Affordable Care Act) kills. All politicians doing so should all be removed from office through the ballot box.