...childhood illnesses were prevented between 1994 and 2014 due to vaccination” (CDC). Yet, some refuse to vaccinate their children. Vaccines prevent diseases, are safe, effective, and protect future generations. For these reasons, they should be mandatory for all children. Vaccines should be given to children in effort to prevent diseases. Some may say that vaccines cause harmful side effects such as seizures, ADHD, autism, diabetes and allergic reactions. According to Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon and Chief Medical Correspondent for CNN, "you are 100 times more likely to be struck by lightning than to have a serious allergic reaction to the vaccine that protects you against measles." Many studies taken on by prestigious institutions such as, the Center for Disease Control, Johns Hopkins, and the American Medical Association show it is worthwhile to protect your tot with the use of shots. MMR, dTap, the flu vaccine, and others show no correlation with instances of diabetes, autism, Bell’s Palsy, and asthma, a claim made by some. Results of false accusations by opposers, show that vaccinations should be administered to all children....
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...legalizing it and therefore taking away the drug cartels number one source of income. The U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy ... says that more than 60 percent of the profits reaped by Mexican drug lords are derived from the exportation and sale of cannabis to the American market (Armentano2). It is ridiculous to think that the United States can put out a statistic like this and ignore the fact that if they legalized the drug there would be less violence because there would be no point for Mexican drug cartels to try and smuggle the drug into the U.S. In the article “Blame Prohibition, Not Pot Smokers for Violence in Mexico”, published by AlterNet.org, Tony Newman tells us how the people who run the “Just Say No” campaign against drugs have a new scheme in which they plan to blame people who smoke pot for the violence in Mexico. They are hoping to stop younger people from smoking marijuana if they associate it with the murder of people by the drug cartels in Mexico. There are a few problems with these campaigns: They are inaccurate in some cases, and downright dishonest in others.Office of National Drug Control Policy It is disingenuous to connect the average American's marijuana consumption to the horrific violence of Mexico's drug war. The average pot smoker's growing and purchasing of marijuana has no relationship to the violence along the border that is the result of large-scale drug trafficking. It isn’t hard to understand that the legalization of marijuana...
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...Position Paper Khadijah Shabazz CNSL 5203 Dr. Sampson Prairie View A&M University 9/20/2015 The legalization of drugs is one of the most controversial and debated topics of the 21st century. There are both negative and positive reasons to legalize them as well as negative and positive reasons to keep them prohibited. According to LEAP, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, drug prohibition is the true cause of much of the social and personal damage that has historically been attributed to drug use. It is prohibition that makes these drugs so valuable – while giving criminals a monopoly over their supply ("Why Legalize Drugs? | LEAP").LEAP goes on to say that criminal gangs are driven by the huge profits from this monopoly, criminal gangs bribe and kill each other, law enforcers, and children and as such their trade is unregulated and they are, therefore, beyond our control ("Why Legalize Drugs? | LEAP"). It is LEAP’s belief that by eliminating prohibition of all drugs for adults and establishing appropriate regulation and standards for distribution and use, law enforcement could focus more on crimes of violence, such as rape, aggravated assault, child abuse and murder, making our communities much safer ("Why Legalize Drugs? | LEAP"). Another positive aspect of the legalization of drugs is financial gains. According to the International Business Times in a study for the Cato Institute, Jeffrey A. Miron, senior lecturer on economics at Harvard University and a senior...
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... But there have always been varying ulterior motives. According to Baylor University Professor of Sociology, Dr. Diana Kendall, the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was passed solely to criminalize marijuana by taxing it; this would dissuade migrant Mexican workers who smoked marijuana to seek employment elsewhere and not take jobs from U.S. citizens as the country struggled during the Great Depression (Kendall, 2010). Last year, voters in Colorado and Washington State approved legislation that supported the commercial growth, sale, possession and use of recreational marijuana. In response, United States Department of Justice, Deputy Attorney General James Cole, promulgated policy that established the posture for enforcing marijuana laws against people or organizations to that: Distribution of marijuana to minors; revenue from the sale of marijuana from going to criminal enterprises, gangs and cartels; the diversion of marijuana from states where it is legal under state law in some...
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...Global Politics: The feasibility of universal drug liberalization as an emerging phenomenon RWaterhouse Globalization & The War on Drugs: Assessing alternatives to criminalization The purpose of this paper is to address universal drug liberalization as a feasible alternative to the current drug control regime specifically in North America and potentially applicable elsewhere. With an in depth analysis of the historical regulation, implementation of law, and resulting consequences we will be able to see how nations are effected by complex drug politics and why there has been a global paradigm shift in looking spiritedly at the ideal of decriminalization. I argue in favor of liberalization by bringing to attention the violence associated with the commodification of illegal drugs, what the re-directed costs of control could mean for domestic investment into proactive drug awareness education, and finally recognizing Portugal’s success and weaknesses in the adoption of a compete legalization agenda. Following will be a discussion of concluding thoughts centered on the efficacy and feasibility of universal liberalization in today’s globalized world. Historical Context Libertarianism has almost always had position in political discourse but has been majorly popularized through public attention within the era of globalization. (article) Control of drug consumption has always been a contemporary ingredient in the political reform of Canada and the America’s and...
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...The so-called “War on Drugs,” as declared by the Nixon administration in the signing of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, marked the beginning of the current era of mandatory minimum sentencing, racism, privatized prisons, and a powerful constituency that profits as a result of the prohibition of drugs. Psychoactive substances have been apart of the human experience as long as humans have walked the earth. There is little hope that drug production will ever be curtailed, so long as there is a demand; a demand that has remained steady even though it has been forty years since the beginning of said war. As Judge James P. Gray from the Superior Court of Orange County has so plainly put it: “Where did this policy come from? Unfortunately I have conducted an inquiry into this and I have determined that drug prohibition laws came for reasons of racism, empire building, and ignorance.”(Booth) The War on Drugs is politically motivated as a means of profiting. One may ask them self how government can financially benefit from such policies. In fact, they benefit in a myriad of ways. The government spends an exorbitant amount of money in an attempt to combat drug production and drug usage. The U.S. government has spent over a trillion—that’s right a trillion—dollars in its attempt to eradicate the drug problem. With so much time, effort and money there should be something to show, right? Wrong. Today drugs are more prevalent, more potent and cheaper than...
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...Should Vaccines Be Required for Children? Terry J. Vervenne DeVry University Should Vaccines Be Required for Children? Shots, inoculations, vaccines, do children need them? This is the issue that needs to be discussed. Why are vaccines a necessity of current times? Even though vaccines may have some side effects, they have saved many lives as everyone already knows. They prevent many types of diseases and stop the spread of others. Just image having to send your children to school that’s filled with other children carrying diseases and viruses. Viruses such as small pox, measles, and mumps that could invade your child’s body which in most circumstances will then be brought home and spread to other family members. Therefore, every child in America needs to be vaccinated before beginning school because vaccines can prevent disease, save lives, and alleviate sick days at school. Firstly, many of these contagious diseases in children are preventable. Many of the viruses that cause diseases such as measles, mumps, or small pox are very dangerous. Sometimes the symptoms are very mild or not even noticed. While other times the symptoms can be severe, possibly even leaving a residual effect. For example, as everyone knows, if an adult male contracts mumps, this may cause sterility. Another example is polio, although preventable, once this disease is contracted it can lead to permanent muscle weakness. Once someone contracts one of these types of disease, it can possibly be fatal...
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...Review of Marilynn Larkin’s argument In Marilynn Larkin’s article “Why skipping vaccines is a public, not personal, health choice”, she argues that taking all the recommended vaccines is important to maximize the health of our society. She says that by taking vaccines we avoid spreading disease to people around us, including friends, family, and the elderly. Larking writes to the public who are not taking vaccines, to convince them why they should take all the recommended vaccines. Larkin’s article, “Why skipping vaccines is a public, not personal, health choice”, has a couple strong points but her argument badly lacks in evidence and she includes too much irrelevant information. Larkin has one strong factor in her article, she includes at least 5 quotes from experts throughout the argument. For example, “Vaccinations not only protect you. They also protect those around you,”. That quote came from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices...
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...University of Phoenix Anthrax: The Deadly Terror It is difficult to imagine that one’s own governmental agencies may have played a role in releasing among it is own citizens one of the deadliest viruses known to humankind. Such is the affirmation made by Thomas L. Rempfer in his 2009 controversial article entitled “The Anthrax Vaccine: A Dilemma for Homeland Security”. His argument essentially relies on the thesis that both the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Resources orchestrated an irrational climate of fear among the American people in which their vulnerability to anthrax and other potential terrorist was highlighted and presented as an issue of national security (2009). The primary reason for such shocking actions by these trusted and respected US institutions was to justify the continued testing of an anthrax vaccination that was imposed on American soldiers as part a mandatory anthrax vaccine immunization program (2009). According to Rempfer, the army and the Department of Defense officials believed that only the threat of an anthrax epidemic would force the government to reconsider closing the mandatory testing of the vaccine on the reluctant soldiers. He argues that the Department of Defense, as well as the Department of Health and Human Resources, played an unintentional role in the highly publicized 2001 anthrax attacks in which random individuals were targeted through the postal system. Scholars disagree on the actual causes of the anthrax...
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...Shannon Shull 1 Writing assignment 1 9-9-13 A Philosophical Argument on Forced Vaccines “A Philosophical Argument on Forced Vaccines” is an article written for infowars.com by a man named John Burke. Burke published this article on July 16, 2009, arguing that the medical field and doctors don’t always know what is best for anyone. He encourages the readers of this article to do their research about the good and the bad of the vaccines that the government makes them get. He is not writing to change their opinion on vaccinating their child; he just simply says there is a lot of research out there that most people don’t know The article was posted on www.infowars.com. Infowars homepage of Alex Jones, an American radio host, author, conspiracy theorist and documentary filmmaker. Jones has different articles published on his website that would make you believe that he is against the government and the requirements to vaccinate children. Burke’s audience seems to be geared towards those debating against if they should immunize their children. It all started when Burke was involved in a discussion with a friend about vaccines. The friend had a child who wasn’t up to date on their vaccines and the friend was debating on whether or not to get them. Without thinking about it Burke automatically was in favor of yes you should get the vaccines. After a few days Burke thought back on the conversation and was asking himself why he didn’t think more about the topic before...
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...Women’s Health Ethical Issues Research Paper NURS 318P Women’s Health Care A controversial topic that is currently being considered is the application of an early HPV vaccination in younger girls and boys. This sensitive subject has ethical implications and valid points can be argued both for and against the concept. Individuals that are for early vaccination hold that the vaccine prevents transmission of HPV, decreases chances of developing future complications, and is more cost effective in the long run. Individuals that take a stand against early vaccination will say the vaccine promotes risky sexual behavior, is not safe, takes away from parent’s autonomy, and is not cost effective in the immediate period. The following information will give insight to both sides of the argument and a personal stance on the issue. The first example in support of early vaccination is the prevention of transmission of human papilloma virus (HPV). There are symptoms that can occur as a result of having an HPV infection. Gardasil is found to be successful in preventing HPV infections from types 6, 11, 16, and 18 (Donahou, 2013). A benefit of the HPV vaccine is the provision that there is use of accepted medical technology that will prevent serious diseases when possible and minimize pain and suffering (Donahou, 2013). Vaccinating both young girls and boys is found to reduce HPV transmission (Chen, Shepherd, & Becker, 2012). White states “this vaccination may help prevent...
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...Professor Perez ENGL102 8 November 2015 The Anti-Vaccination Movement Over the last 30 years, the number of vaccine-preventable diseases has increased substantially. This is due to a rising number of “anti-vaxxers” spreading misinformation “that vaccines are actually ineffective, useless, or even dangerous” (Kata 3778). The internet and other forms of mass media have steered parents to believe these claims and it has had devastating results. It has been proven by scientists for hundreds of years that the use of vaccinations greatly outweighs the risk of not getting them. The research shows that the claim that vaccines cause autism or any other disease cannot be substantiated by any scientific evidence and therefore, should not be entertained under any circumstances. The background of the anti-vaccination movement is an old one. The United Kingdom’s Vaccination Act of 1853 is a good example of this. The act required parents to vaccinate their children for small pox at three months or risk life in prison. This is a harsh punishment for the parents, but considering the millions of deaths that small pox has caused world-wide, lawmakers at the time considered it a just penalty. “The anti-vaccination movement experienced a steady decline from the turn of the century up to the 1970's” (Kasarda 548). After the 1970’s there was a resurgence in the anti-vaccination movement. This is due to research from a group of authors working at London Hospital. “M. Kulenkampf, J.S. Schwartzman...
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...represent one of the most important strategies in the prevention of disease in children and infants. Due to the results of routine childhood immunizations, the reduction in mortality in the past century. Public concerns regarding the effects of vaccines has risen since the time of the first vaccination given by Dr. Edward Jenner in 1796. Many parents believe that their children were receiving too many vaccines and that these inoculations were weakening their immune systems. For years, the controversy stands, are immunizations hurting or helping our youth? In one single survey, nearly 25% of parents reported their impression that their children...
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...In the article “Vaccines, What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You”, Rob Pell contrasts the safety and effectiveness claims of vaccines to the actuality and scientific backing of vaccines administered in a medical facility. Rob Pell makes a clear argument that patients and parents of young minors are not fully informed on the truth about vaccines and that they should think twice before making a decision to be injected before they are informed upon the true effectiveness and safety claims of the manufacturer. Pell believes that those with a “pro-vaccine mentality” are in danger and need to rethink their decision before unknowingly going through with a vaccine that could possibly not help, but rather hurt them. Rob Pell is able to support his anti-vaccine argument through the use of statistics and facts. One important statistic he recognizes is” In the US and England, the death rate from Pertussis (whooping cough) dropped from about 60 deaths per thousand in the mid-1800s to about 2 per thousand in the early 1950s, even before the Pertussis vaccine was used. Deaths from measles from the mid-1800s until the 1963 introduction of the measles vaccine fell at a nearly identical rate.” Rob Pell uses this specific statistic in order to show that even before vaccines were administered, in both cases the death rate was already decreasing rapidly throughout the United States and England. An extremely important fact Pell uses to further his point is “A 1978 survey of 30 states showed that more than...
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...There are some parents against vaccinating their children as they believe harm can come from it. A. Some parents believe autism and vaccinations are linked together. 1. A couple years ago there was an article saying that vaccinations caused autism. 2. Pretty soon the paper was discredited and the scientific journal it was in redacted it. 3. Even though it was redacted and proven untrue parents still use this as an argument against vaccinating their children. B. Some parents believe their children should get ‘childhood diseases to prime their immune system against chronic diseases’ (Alaska). 1. This can hurt other children although. a. In 2008 an unvaccinated boy caught the measles in Switzerland and brought it back to the states. b. Everybody that came in contact with this boy or the places he was at had to be quarantined for a couple weeks. 2. When a parent doesn’t give their children vaccinations, they can cause serious and deadly outbreaks as with the case above. a. A woman whose son wasn’t old enough to get the vaccination got...
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