First, this completely derails from the actual thesis of the article, which was quite narrow:
Mark Kelly was wrong on the history — Washington used variolation, not the modern vaccine.
Flu vaccines have limited impact on military readiness for healthy young troops.
Making the flu vaccine optional for healthy service members is reasonable.
Second, on the historical point: Variolation (using actual smallpox material) had a fatality rate of roughly 1–3%. Jenner's cowpox vaccine was dramatically safer and effective. This wasn’t theory — it was measured, real-world outcomes. Smallpox was eventually eradicated precisely because of widespread vaccination. Cowpox works through cross-immunity (it’s related enough to smallpox to trigger protection). The idea that it was “the wrong virus” misunderstands how immunity functions. Flu strain mismatch is a known limitation due to rapid mutation, but that doesn’t disprove germ theory any more than a bad weather forecast disproves meteorology.
Third, I have no interest in debating germ theory, terrain theory, homeopathy, or broad vaccination philosophy. That wasn’t the point of the article.
The article was narrowly focused on military readiness for healthy young troops — not the broader impact of flu on dependents, civilian staff, or the general population. That was deliberate.
On the historical point: There is a meaningful distinction between variolation and vaccination, which was called out in the article. Variolation used actual smallpox material and carried a 1–3% fatality rate. Jenner's vaccine was dramatically safer while still effective. This wasn’t theory — it was measured outcomes that eventually led to smallpox eradication.
Anecdotes about office staff or individual soldiers don’t change the core point about healthy, fit service members. I’m not interested in turning this into a broad debate about general flu policy.
Mark Kelly is a political hack. Maybe (probably) worse than that, a full blown libtard. A country only produces assholes like him once a generation, thank God.
the thing is, what he is saying is a big lie using small truths. And it is sorta sounds reasonable to average Joe UNTIL you get into the reality. And Kelly knows that. This is a huge strategy of leftwing types.
Another case of a fellow-traveler hypnotized by the socialist rhetoric and believing himself immune to the eventual results. He doesn't realize that people like him are the first purged. I simply don't understand how someone supposedly well educated and "successful" can be deluded by the false promises of the left. I guess it takes all kinds.
First, this completely derails from the actual thesis of the article, which was quite narrow:
Mark Kelly was wrong on the history — Washington used variolation, not the modern vaccine.
Flu vaccines have limited impact on military readiness for healthy young troops.
Making the flu vaccine optional for healthy service members is reasonable.
Second, on the historical point: Variolation (using actual smallpox material) had a fatality rate of roughly 1–3%. Jenner's cowpox vaccine was dramatically safer and effective. This wasn’t theory — it was measured, real-world outcomes. Smallpox was eventually eradicated precisely because of widespread vaccination. Cowpox works through cross-immunity (it’s related enough to smallpox to trigger protection). The idea that it was “the wrong virus” misunderstands how immunity functions. Flu strain mismatch is a known limitation due to rapid mutation, but that doesn’t disprove germ theory any more than a bad weather forecast disproves meteorology.
Third, I have no interest in debating germ theory, terrain theory, homeopathy, or broad vaccination philosophy. That wasn’t the point of the article.
The article was narrowly focused on military readiness for healthy young troops — not the broader impact of flu on dependents, civilian staff, or the general population. That was deliberate.
On the historical point: There is a meaningful distinction between variolation and vaccination, which was called out in the article. Variolation used actual smallpox material and carried a 1–3% fatality rate. Jenner's vaccine was dramatically safer while still effective. This wasn’t theory — it was measured outcomes that eventually led to smallpox eradication.
Anecdotes about office staff or individual soldiers don’t change the core point about healthy, fit service members. I’m not interested in turning this into a broad debate about general flu policy.
Mark Kelly is a political hack. Maybe (probably) worse than that, a full blown libtard. A country only produces assholes like him once a generation, thank God.
the thing is, what he is saying is a big lie using small truths. And it is sorta sounds reasonable to average Joe UNTIL you get into the reality. And Kelly knows that. This is a huge strategy of leftwing types.
Another case of a fellow-traveler hypnotized by the socialist rhetoric and believing himself immune to the eventual results. He doesn't realize that people like him are the first purged. I simply don't understand how someone supposedly well educated and "successful" can be deluded by the false promises of the left. I guess it takes all kinds.
it may actually be more a case of "once you're on the tiger, you have to ride it"
I can agree with you on that, especially if the "rider" doesn't have the courage to jump off...