Forced Medicine and Zero Tolerance: Blanket Policies That Harm Society

In recent months, there has been a lot of talk about forced medicine. The primary focus on this talk has been vaccination. Many people feel that vaccination is a matter of public health and should be fully mandatory, with no exceptions for religion or personal choice. The media isn’t helping, either: they, too, believe in mandatory vaccination, and go so far as to call those who refuse “dummies,” “ignorant,” and “just plain stupid.” It’s a lot of hype without much fact or information behind it.

In addition to this fight, the recent case of Daniel Hauser has created even more insanity. At what point do parents no longer have the right to choose – or refuse – medical care for their children? The government, the media, and mainstream society in general say it is when the children are ‘medically neglected’ and will suffer serious harm or death from refusing this treatment.

The entire movement to forced medicine is extraordinarily arrogant, one of the most arrogant things I’ve seen recently. It does, however, parallel the “zero tolerance” policies that schools put in place in the ‘90s, which most people have accepted were useless at best. These policies were enacted so that there would be no judgment calls, no cries of “unfair!” when certain situations arose.

As we know now, this punished many people. There was the story of the high school honors student who was suspended from school for bringing in a butter knife to cut her apple at lunch. She wasn’t using it outside of the cafeteria or for anything but its intended purpose, but – she brought a “weapon” to school. Another story involved a kindergartener who brought in his father’s gun to show his friends. Clearly his parents had issues and should not have left the gun where such a young child could get it, but also the child had NO intention of shooting up the school. The child didn’t even understand what the gun really was or what it did. He, too, was suspended, much to the country’s unhappiness. Neither of these children were doing anything wrong – but because of misconceptions that public policy must be completely unambiguous, with no room for interpretation – innocent children were punished.

The same arrogance applies to the current medical controversies. In the frequent mainstream articles, reporters and medical personnel quoted within say “There is MOUNTAINS of scientific evidence supporting vaccination and NOTHING against it.” This is just a pure lie. There is plenty of scientific evidence noting that vaccines are associated with higher rates of asthma, allergies, and yes – even autism. If this “fact” were true, then the reporters could provide evidence to back up their statement – let’s actually SEE some of those ‘mountains of evidence.’ But not even a single source of study is ever listed. The reporters instead rely on people simply believing what they say without question and without evidence, and continuing to fear-monger in hopes that no one will try to look deeper and find out if what they’re saying is true.

Because it isn’t.

Anyone who does some research knows that there are NO studies proving that vaccines are safe, either individually or in combination. They contain many potential allergens (and parents don’t know if their children are allergic or not until it’s too late, as vaccines are recommended beginning with newborns), heavy metals (trace amounts of mercury do remain, as well as aluminum), monkey cells, aborted fetus tissue, and many other chemicals. The vaccines are tested not against true placebos (i.e. saline solution) but against other vaccines previously licensed or against the current vaccine with the antibody removed (but with all the chemical ingredients included). How can one assess the true safety of vaccines without a true placebo-controlled trial? Vaccines are also NOT tested in combination, based on age, weight, or any other individual circumstance. They are still licensed and universally recommended almost despite a child’s individual circumstances.

Despite all of this information (which is on the package inserts; doctors don’t read these or provide them to parents anymore before recommending and administering shots), parents somehow do NOT have the right to know this, or to choose what is best for their child. Children who are highly sensitive to heavy metals and who do not metabolize them well would be at high risk for reactions when given shots. But parents are supposed to take doctors’ word and inject children anyway, because “the benefits outweigh the risks.”

Do they? I don’t believe so. Even in non-vaccinated communities, rates of illness are low and rates of complications/death are even lower. Vaccine reactions, however, are much more common than one would think. Very few are ever reported because reporting is voluntary, and because doctors are trained to think that vaccinations could not possibly cause the reactions that they see – even if the reaction occurs immediately afterward (as for reactions during trials – they are considered “coincidence,” or the drug companies separate a reaction into subcategories so it looks like serious side effects occurred in fewer cases).

It’s extraordinarily arrogant to assume that vaccines don’t cause reactions. Anything and everything can cause a reaction. Most people are annoyed by a bee sting, but a few immediately go into anaphylactic shock and could easily die. The same is true with peanuts, eggs, and many other seemingly innocent items. Nothing is safe across the board for everyone in every circumstance. To assume that it is is either entirely arrogant or just plain stupid. In this case, I’m voting for both. Doctors today are both arrogant AND stupid. Just try to show one some current research that suggests vaccines may not be so safe – first they’ll dismiss it outright as “not real evidence” (no matter how the study was conducted or by whom), and then they will get angry that you dared to even question their judgment at all. THEY went to medical school and you didn’t, so they know best. For everyone.

Supposing that all of this weren’t true (although it is, check out www.cdc.gov or www.who.int), do doctors or worse, reporters, have the right to force parents into giving their children injections?

NO. They don’t. Because society as a whole cannot possibly know what is best for any individual child. No one has the right to tell any parent what to choose for their children. That is, whether or not to give vaccines, whether or not to give antibiotics, or whether or not to choose chemo for cancer. Parents must do their own research, be provided with informed consent forms, and if they refuse to consent, should be left alone.

Public policy, especially that which leaves no room for interpretation or different circumstances, has no business dictating any medical situation, ever. People and their situations are too individual for a blanket statement to cover everyone. The government has, in the past, harmed far more people than they’ve helped with such policies, which was only realized after the fact.

For another example, take the “swine flu” outbreak in the ‘70s. One person died of this flu; at least 25 were killed or permanently disabled by the vaccine to prevent it. It’s just another example of public policy gone awry, and I doubt the government ever apologized for it. In fact, they don’t even seem to remember as they’re attempting to do the same thing now.

The government’s role is to run the country so that people don’t have to think about the over all issues. There are too many for everyone to deal with and still have a life; it’s why we have a representative democracy. There are times and places for public policy, such as creating transportation systems and laws, the penitentiary system, and other large bodies. These are then governed at the state level, the county level, and the town level, where the laws are made more specific and interpreted as necessary. The government’s job is NOT to dictate public policy so strict that individual circumstances cannot be considered.

The government especially should stay out of our health care. The government does not know what is best for the people; it does not have the proper research. There is research out there to support MANY positions currently, from standard treatment to entirely alternative care (which, by the way, has really been around for thousands of years and has an incredible amount of evidence to back its use). There is absolutely no reason for the government to dictate that everyone should receive the same care under any circumstances.

And, no, public health doesn’t matter a bit. Public health is just a type of hysteria that people talk about, as if we can somehow prevent diseases and illness by doing something to everyone. It’s like giving everyone “preventative antibiotics” (and we all know about antibiotic resistance that has occurred from over-prescription and the deadly MRSA). Guess what? In any society where people live in close contact, diseases WILL spread, whether they are the common cold or something much more deadly. It can’t be avoided. It shouldn’t be avoided. To dictate that everyone MUST do something to somehow prevent the spread of disease is ludicrous and it strips people of personal freedoms. Not to mention that those who don’t vaccinate don’t even believe that vaccines work, so to mandate them is even more ridiculous.

In the future, those who do not believe in vaccines will continue to resist, because we have done our research and we know that we are making the best choice for our families. We will continue to battle the government to stay out of our business because that’s what it is – OUR business. Especially with the research still being done, and new risks being found everyday, the government has no business creating public policy. Should they try, they will find more and more people are becoming chronically ill, injured, and dead, and they will be puzzled.

So far now we will stick with our freedoms. Choose to vaccinate or choose not to – it’s a free country (supposedly) and we will protect our right to choose at any cost.

Favorite Breakfast Recipes

In our home, we've lately been getting rid of all processed foods, including white flour and sugar. We're baking everything ourselves these days and slowly adding new healthy alternatives each week. I had a favorite pancake recipe that called for white flour and sugar, plus milk and butter (we're also cutting out all dairy, with the exception of small amounts of goat and sheep cheese), which I could not make anymore. So instead, I came up with this! It is very light and fluffy and yummy, we really enjoyed it.

Whole Grain Pancakes
1.5 cups of whole-grain, finely ground flour (wheat or spelt)
1 tsp. sea or kosher salt
1 tbsp. baking powder
1.25 cups almond milk
1 tbsp. raw honey
1 egg (or 1 tbsp. ground flax seed and 3 tbsp. water)
3 tbsp. extra-virgin unrefined coconut oil
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions: Mix dry ingredients together; set aside. Heat almond milk until warm, around 100 degrees. Add to the milk honey, coconut oil, and vanilla. Beat egg (if using) in another bowl (otherwise add water and ground flax to milk mixture). Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the wet, stirring until just combined. If desired, add 1 cup fresh blueberries or other fruit. Heat pan until warm on medium heat. Spray with olive oil cooking spray or melt a bit of coconut oil in the pan. Cook pancakes until golden brown on each side. Serve warm, plain or with a bit of raw honey or real maple syrup.

A few notes on ingredients -- I used whole wheat flour this time, but spelt is healthier and I've had good success with it in other recipes. I would use it in the future if I had it. If the pancakes aren't sweet enough, feel free to add more raw honey (or agave nectar, which is actually what I used this time). I did mine with egg but I think the flax seed would be even better and definitely healthier (but my daughter needs the protein). Nutiva makes a nice coconut oil; we've enjoyed using it in baking lately, and you can sub it for butter anywhere, even on bread (though I think we're going to go with unsweetened preserves for that purpose...which, by the way, you could also spread on your pancakes for a sweet treat).

With this, we served Bekah's favorite smoothie:
1 cup orange juice (or pineapple, or a combination of both)
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 banana
3 - 4 frozen peach slices
3 - 4 strawberries

Blend all until smooth. It makes 12 oz. or so. I sometimes add 1 tbsp. of flax oil, and if I have any powdered probiotics, I add those too. It's very versatile, sometimes we leave out the strawberries and sometimes we add some blueberries. We didn't need blueberries today because they were in the pancakes.

Enjoy your breakfast!

Diaper Pattern!

My diaper pattern is done, and available to try! If you are interested in trying it, you can join the yahoo group I run, Learn to Sew Cloth Diapers. Available now are x-small, small, medium, and medium-long.

I am very excited about this! Feedback so far has been positive and I am planning to sell this someday, once it has been tested thoroughly.

Now, back to sewing. I have many diapers to make myself, as I found out a few weeks ago I am expecting another baby. :) Baby #2 is due 7-26-09. I am sewing 24 x-small pockets (plus 1 doz. NB prefolds), 3 small pockets (I already have 21 from Bekah), and 18 medium pockets (I have 6 med. pockets and 18 med. fitted pockets, and DH does NOT like having to use a cover).

Anyway -- sewing for real this time!

Cheap Home Cleaner and Deodorizer

For those of you who are trying to cut costs and go green, I have a simple recipe for you that will smell great and work wonders in your home. Here it is:

*1 small box baking soda
*6 - 8 drops essential oil(s)

You can combine scents of essential oils, using a total of 6 - 8 drops. I used rose and lavender. Stir it up, making sure to mash the little bits where you dropped the oils, to get it all through the baking soda. If you don't think the scent is strong enough, you can add a couple more drops. I did the first time and it was a little too strong.

I store this inside an "all purpose shaker" I've had in my kitchen for years and never used. Any kind of shaker can is a good place. Failing that, store it in a plastic container with a lid.

What are the uses for this? Lots!

*Sprinkle on metal bathroom fixtures and rub to shine it and make it smell nice at the same time
*Sprinkle in the wetbag to contain cloth diaper odors
*Place in a decorative container with holes to use as deodorizer and "potpourri" for a bathroom
*Use in the diaper laundry to help diapers get cleaner and smell nice

Pretty much anywhere you'd use baking soda, you could use this! If you vary the EOs, you could do even more with it. Put a few drops of lemon EO in it and use it to deodorize the fridge. Use some eucalyptus and put it in a sick person's room to aid breathing (of course, you could just put the eucalyptus in a humidifier, too). Whatever you can dream, you can do!

And -- the best part -- this is super cheap, customizable, and totally chemical-free!

Let me know what you think if you try it!

Apple Pie Filling

The problem with most desserts is that they're full of sugar. If they're not, they use chemical sweeteners. Neither is good! So, I came up with a new option to make a fairly healthy and tasty dessert. This apple pie filling is yummy, but has NO sugar or chemical sweeteners!

Ingredients:
4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced thinly
1 tbsp. agave nectar
1 - 2 tbsp. lemon juice (1/2 lemon)
1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a saucepan and cover it. Simmer on low heat for about an hour, until apples are soft. Stir occasionally. If you wish, add a bit of whole wheat flour or cornstarch towards the end of cooking (mix with cold water first) to thicken the juice surrounding the apples. Use for apple crisp or pie or simply eat as is!

I did try to make this into crisp, and I used whole wheat flour, agave nectar, and cinnamon for the topping. It didn't quite work. I needed a tiny bit of brown sugar and butter to make it good. But if you start with the whole wheat flour and agave nectar, you won't need as much butter or brown sugar and it would still be healthy. :)

Cloth Diaper Pictures in Action!

I promised they would come, and now that I finally got my camera at the same time as I happened to be changing my baby's clothes, I got some pictures! I have some pretty funny shots actually.
This is Rebekah (6 months; 26.5" and 14 lbs. 10 oz. as of yesterday's check up!) modeling a size small. The rise is just below the belly button and fits well across the hips.

Rebekah's sitting up here to see a different view of it. The cloth tabs stretch with her.


Here's a back view. The diaper is a little off center and isn't quite covering her on one side. And that's because....
She was trying to do THIS the whole time! lol. She did not want to be on her tummy. Of course, as soon as I dressed her and tried to get pictures of her on her back, she tried to roll back onto her tummy. She wants what she wants! (I was getting pictures of her dressed because she is wearing 12-month shirt and 18-month pants today and they are NOT big...well, the pants are too big in the waist but they aren't too long. Sigh.)

If you have any questions please let me know!

Feeding Mommies: Organizing Meals

One of my awful habits is skipping meals. Whenever I am busy, I tend not to take the time to eat anything. Whatever I can grab is usually okay (as we don't keep junk food in the house), but not great. This is a huge no-no, especially when you are breastfeeding (which I am). The good news is at 6 months postpartum I am 10 lbs. below pre-pregnancy weight; the bad news is this is affecting my mood, energy level, and more. So what's a busy mom to do?

I've found a solution! It comes from my need to be turbo-organized. I know that if there is something healthy that is easy to grab, I'll get it and eat it. I also know that if I decide in advance exactly what I'm going to have, I'll have it. So there is an easy solution....

When I was still in college and working, I always packed my lunches. I would spend Sunday making some yummy, homemade soup or pasta, salads, fruit, bread, and some kind of drink (often tea). These turned into very well-balanced meals filled with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables (I usually managed all 9 recommended servings in a day). Once I started staying at home with my daughter, though, I stopped doing this. Why bother when I was home to cook something everyday?

Please! What kind of woman with little kids has any time or energy to cook anything during the week? I sure don't. So, back to the way I used to cook for myself when I worked. I do it all on Sundays, while the little one sits and eats crackers and bangs on her highchair tray, or while she's sleeping. (Which I should just do during the week...but somehow don't.) This weekend I prepared salads (4 servings of vegetables in each), 100% juice in bottles, tea, and chocolate milk. This covers maybe 25% of my daily required calories, has plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and vitamins, not too much fat (though fat isn't so bad for a breastfeeding mom). To this I can add any of the following items that I have on hand to "make" last minute:

*Tuna fish sandwichs on whole wheat buns (fresh baked over the weekend)
*Chicken or cheese quesadillas
*Lasagna (meat or vegetable; homemade and frozen)
*Spaghetti or cheese/spinach tortellini
*Chicken chili
*Ham and swiss cheese on whole wheat
*Omelets
*Whole wheat waffles (homemade and frozen, toasted to eat)
*Turkey burgers
*Meatloaf (ground turkey)
*Chicken noodle soup (lots of veggies)

There are more choices but I can't think of them. I do prepare and freeze MANY meals that only need thrown in the oven before I eat them. It is very convenient! But I need those staples ready NOW so that I don't have an excuse to eat nothing because I don't have even 5 minutes to let the baby play in her exersaucer while I grab lunch. Oh well -- I'm working on it!

I recommend this system to busy moms. Prepare your meals (and your kids' meals) in advance. For you it may mean cutting up fresh fruit and vegetables for snacks, putting crackers in small baggies, or whatever else you like to have. But have something healthy and easy to grab because you WILL snack on whatever you've prepared. If it's healthy then you're that much further ahead in a day. And now it's late, and the baby's new wake up time is between 5:30 and 6 so I should not be awake right now....