by Tom Evslin
“No one has the right to tell me what I put into my body!!!”
“I have the right to take my drugs of choice!!”
“I’m not a slave; I don’t have to work!”
Suppose I don’t want to get vaccinated. Let’s ignore the fact that I put others at risk with my choice. Am I willing to accept the consequences? In Singapore the unvaccinated have to pay for their Covid treatment. Am I willing to go the end of queue for an ICU bed or for Covid meds? If I won’t take the consequences, then I don’t have the right to the freedom.
Outlawing drugs doesn’t work anymore than outlawing alcohol did. Many have paid a terrible price for their alcoholism; some have overcome it. The choice to use other drugs shouldn’t be a choice without consequences. The destigmatizing of drug abuse – “substance use disorder” – is not helpful to individuals or society. Everyone deserves a second chance. However, a lifetime free supply of Narcan or methadone is not a basic human right. We can’t have the freedom to make bad choices if we don’t have personal responsibility for consequences.
There have been some consequences for those who oversupplied and overprescribed opioids. However, drug manufacturers and distributors have also been awarded a vast new market for “maintenance” drugs paid for not by their users but by the rest of us. More a reward than a consequence.
Food and housing, we hear, are basic human rights. Work, however, is a basic human responsibility. If I choose not to work….
We can choose to have a society which allows a great range of personal freedom. We can choose to have a society which protects us from the consequence of bad choices. We can’t have both.
The author is an entrepreneur, former state official, and Stowe resident. He publishes the blog Fractals of Change.
Categories: Commentary
I really do wish people would stop saying that anyone who declines to take the jab is putting others at risk. It couldn’t be further from the truth. Where are the so-called fact checkers on this untruth? The treatment (others are calling them vaccines, however these products no longer fit the definition of a vaccine) does not prevent anyone from transmitting the disease to others (check the actual facts on this not the common belief). If you believe in the so-called vaccines then why would you be “in danger” from someone who isn’t vaccinated? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? I worry that if lies are told often enough they will become the accepted truth.
Thank you Steven! Well said!
I would add that perhaps the “unvaccinated” should be seriously cautious of the “vaccinated.”
Many doctors report that those who have been “vaccinated” shed the spike protein that is produced by the “vaccination” negatively affecting those around them with various symptoms.
Mr. Evslin, After government forces us to get vaccinated what else do you think government should be able to force us to do. You sir are an elitist and curry the favor of those who would impose mandate after mandate at the expense of your fellow citizens liberty while you reap the benefits of the masters you serve. The only people the unvaccinated are a threat to are themselves and no one else. Your rhetoric is a threat to everyone.
“I prefer dangerous freedom to peaceful slavery”. – Thomas Jefferson
“Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither”. – Benjamin Franklin
This commentary is offensive, and the line of thinking unfounded. In the state of Vermont 146 people died of COVID-19 between August 17 and December 1 of 2021. The age demographic of the deaths are as follows: 17 deaths were 60-69, 35 deaths were 70-79, and 72 deaths were 80 or older. That represents 12%, 24%, and 49% of total deaths in the state respectively (almost 90% of the total deaths for that period of time). The state of Vermont has also concluded that 95% of 60-69, 100% of 70-79, and 97% of 80+ are FULLY vaccinated.
If I understand Evslin correctly, he wants to penalize the most vulnerable because they utilize the health care system? It’s true, those between 20-29 have high covid positivity rates BUT they are also less likely to seek medical attention, have a PCP, or experience severe symptoms from covid (the CDC stated in March of 2020 that 89% of those infected experience mild symptoms and up to 30% of those people experience no symptoms). Furthermore, why are there so few commentaries questioning the “vaccination is the only solution” mantra that is being force fed to the public. If covid shots are effective then why are the majority of deaths occurring within the most vaccinated population?
Using the standard definition of “vaccine” (not the new and improved CDC version that allows the covid-19 shots to fall into this category), a vaccine prevents the receiver from getting infected with a virus. The available covid treatments do not prevent the vaccinated from getting sick nor do they prevent transmission to others. Which means that the available vaccines are treatments not preventatives (with claims like, “it MIGHT reduce the severity of symptoms or prevent hospitalization”). Last time I checked, medical treatments were optional, and not deemed vital to human survival.
These types of commentaries only perpetuate panic, fear, and mass hysteria. I often hear the phrase “trust the science,” and I am, by tracking the data. I suggest that you do the same.
Charles Darwin was right in his theory all those years ago. survival of the fittest. just so you know I and my partner are in 60-69 yr old category. We survived it well.
Re: “We can choose to have a society which allows a great range of personal freedom. We can choose to have a society which protects us from the consequence of bad choices. We can’t have both.”
And by what authority, Mr. Evslin, do you claim to have in making such a decree? …that the consequences of not being vaccinated is a ‘bad’ choice? Are you aware of the latest VT DOH report covering the last two weeks, indicating that vaccinated people are just as likely to die from Covid as are the unvaccinated?
https://vtdigger.org/2021/12/03/vermont-ends-november-with-record-breaking-streak-of-severe-covid-outcomes/
To answer this question in advance, let me submit that Mr. Evslin has never responded to these questions when they are asked of him…. which is, in my opinion, answer enough.
I was beginning to wonder what happened to Mr. Evslin as his last diatribe was about getting his booster. I’m glad to see he weathered another clot shot. Mr. Evslin enjoys being a pincussion for Big Pharma and thinks you should be too! Misery loves company. Mr Evslin, please take allergy medicine daily so the dander and dust in my house will stop my nose running. Thanks!
“We can choose to have a society which allows a great range of personal freedom. We can choose to have a society which protects us from the consequence of bad choices. We can’t have both.”
I wish we could choose to have a society without the Communists (Evslin).
Mr. Evslin’s arguments are invalid. Act 48, codified law, requires Vermont residents to purchase health insurance, under penalty of law. For those that cannot afford to purchase, it is subsidized by Vermont taxpayers. Is Mr. Evslin proposing additional laws exempting coverage for SARS-CoV-2, to “incentivize” compliance with his wishes? That idea is a dangerous stretch for Vermont, but I’d imagine we’ll see lots more foolish ideas before this is over.
What kind of ‘hogwash’ is this, Tom?!
You wrote, “Food and housing, we hear, are basic human rights. Work, however, is a basic human responsibility. If I choose not to work….we can choose to have a society which allows a great range of personal freedom. We can choose to have a society which protects us from the consequence of bad choices. We can’t have both.”
People are usually able to house/feed themselves when making a concerted effort re: work. Taking responsibility is key. I was a single mom at one time and did my best to rebuild my life after a long-term marriage. I went back to school and piece-sealed work as it related to my skill-set as a musician. Government is NOT God. Your comments are a ‘slow-drip’ towards government dependence/communism.
I have stated ” Your rights END when you have to forcibly involve other people for you to have that right”
The Tyrant Claims Freedom To Kill Freedom, and Yet Keep It For Himself
When Tyranny Becomes Law Rebellion Becomes Duty
So obese patient should also be in that category since a good 80% of hospitalized covid patients are obese. Maybe we should lump Type II diabetes in there too.
Same goes for smokers no new lung for you.
Drinkers no new liver for you.
Yea and those food stamps you use to buy anything you want, we need to stop that right now, only fruits and vegetables !!!!!
Jeez we can really save some money!!!!!!!!
Vermont has plenty of welfare programs, many given away based on the honor system. We dont tell people that you better stay in school, dont smoke, dont commit crimes that will stay on your “permanent record” and dont get hooked on booze or drugs, because that may prevent you from getting a job and you wont have any money…no, for that behavior there are no consequences. Why has personal responsibility suddenly come back in fashion, and only pertaining to getting a hastily tested and approved vaccine???