3 thoughts on “The “Public Health” Non Sequitur — Part II”

  1. Interesting. The state wants to control what a woman may do with cells that contain 100% of her DNA, but the state cannot be involved with what a woman does with cells from which only 50% of the DNA comes from her.

  2. I agree that the source of the article that inspired Fleming’s blog post is interesting. The current issue of the British Medical Journal has a focus on politics and health. Many of the articles deal with potential effects of freedom and democracy on health. Go here and scroll down to the “Politics and Health” section:

    http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/current.shtml

    It’s certainly interesting to think about.

  3. the demand for compliance in “public health measures” might emulate the relentless expansion of rules governing U.S. nursing homes, by requiring weigh-ins for the overweight or universal blood tests for drugs and tobacco. Perhaps we might all be compelled to consume a specified diet or, as suggested in the NHS, take a “polypill” to reduce our national rate of heart disease. For example, in 2003, Arkansas legislators mandated that public schools record the body mass index of each student, and send the results home with a warning and nutritional advice to parents.

    That reminds me of this:

    General Jack D. Ripper: Mandrake, do you realize that in addition to fluoridating water, why, there are studies underway to fluoridate salt, flour, fruit juices, soup, sugar, milk… ice cream. Ice cream, Mandrake, children’s ice cream.

    Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Lord, Jack.
    General Jack D. Ripper: You know when fluoridation first began?

    Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: I… no, no. I don’t, Jack.

    General Jack D. Ripper: Nineteen hundred and forty-six. Nineteen forty-six, Mandrake. How does that coincide with your post-war Commie conspiracy, huh? It’s incredibly obvious, isn’t it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That’s the way your hard-core Commie works.

    Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Uh, Jack, Jack, listen, tell me, tell me, Jack. When did you first… become… well, develop this theory?

    General Jack D. Ripper: Well, I, uh… I… I… first became aware of it, Mandrake, during the physical act of love.

    Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Hmm.

    General Jack D. Ripper: Yes, a uh, a profound sense of fatigue… a feeling of emptiness followed. Luckily I… I was able to interpret these feelings correctly. Loss of essence.

    Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Hmm.

    General Jack D. Ripper: I can assure you it has not recurred, Mandrake. Women uh… women sense my power and they seek the life essence. I, uh… I do not avoid women, Mandrake.

    Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: No.

    General Jack D. Ripper: But I… I do deny them my essence.

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