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> ACLU officials similarly reject the implication that their support of COVID-vaccine mandates is inconsistent with the organization’s opposition to past immuni

> ACLU officials similarly reject the implication that their support of COVID-vaccine mandates is inconsistent with the organization’s opposition to past immunization requirements. They argue that COVID-19 is a more infectious and deadlier virus than H1N1, and that the vaccines are better. “What is the risk to public health? How effective is the vaccine? What are the alternatives?” asked Allie Bohm, a policy counsel for the New York Civil Liberties Union, summarizing the questions she considered. “The facts of H1N1 are different, and they lead to different conclusions. I don’t think that is inconsistent, because it is the same test being applied.” That seems perfectly reasonable to me. A virus that has killed more people than WWII is very clearly over the line, even if I couldn't tell you exactly where the line is. (The same mushiness exists for free speech, unless you think it should be legal to shout "fire" in a crowded theater.)

Ekaros 5y ago
So I suppose we should bring back prohibition as alcohol has killed more and is clear drag on public health. Maybe we should also extend this to everything, like drownings, stopping pedestrian traffic and so on...
- Wowfunhappy 5y ago
  IMO, it depends on the downside of the measure. I can pretty clearly state the problems with banning alcohol; I'm having a lot of trouble seeing how our society would be worse-off if in-person jobs required employees to be vaccinated. Particularly as e.g. schools have required vaccines for a very long time.
slibhb 5y ago
I agree that a vaccine mandate is reasonable at some point. As is martial law. But the death rate of covid is around 1% (and substantially less for young, healthy people). Given that death rate, I don't think a mandate is reasonable. Given a substantially higher death rate, I doubt one would be necessary. The comparison to WWII is a little silly. We consider dying of viral infection to be an act of god, i.e. we do not hold people responsible for exhaling virons into "public air". If you want to question the wisdom of that judgement, consider that you quite possibly have been a link in a chain of infections that killed people. Does that make you a fraction of a murderer?

Ekaros 5y ago

So I suppose we should bring back prohibition as alcohol has killed more and is clear drag on public health. Maybe we should also extend this to everything, like drownings, stopping pedestrian traffic and so on...

Wowfunhappy 5y ago
IMO, it depends on the downside of the measure. I can pretty clearly state the problems with banning alcohol; I'm having a lot of trouble seeing how our society would be worse-off if in-person jobs required employees to be vaccinated. Particularly as e.g. schools have required vaccines for a very long time.

slibhb 5y ago

I agree that a vaccine mandate is reasonable at some point. As is martial law. But the death rate of covid is around 1% (and substantially less for young, healthy people). Given that death rate, I don't think a mandate is reasonable. Given a substantially higher death rate, I doubt one would be necessary. The comparison to WWII is a little silly. We consider dying of viral infection to be an act of god, i.e. we do not hold people responsible for exhaling virons into "public air". If you want to question the wisdom of that judgement, consider that you quite possibly have been a link in a chain of infections that killed people. Does that make you a fraction of a murderer?