The problem of right-wing viewpoints

[LeftishBrit]

I have decided to make this an OP, to avoid seeming to be simply 'deflecting' from a particular post.

I am concerned about the number of far-right viewpoints that get expressed on certain health sites and about the fact that occasionally such sites get quoted without condemnation on DU.

In particular, some anti-vaccine/ anti 'allopathic' medicine sites appear to support right-libertarian viewpoints; are often in favour of Ron Paul (in general, not just his anti-war stance); and are violently opposed to government involvement in health care.

For example, Natural News, which is cited here from time to time:




• On the issue of freedom and liberty, I predict a surge of interest in Libertarian political philosophy from both former Democrats and former Republicans who realize that the path to prosperity and freedom is found in individual liberty and personal responsibility. I see the Tea Party suffering from disillusionment as its own elected members betray its supporters with more taxes and Big Government spending. Expect to see Ron Paul and Rand Paul do extraordinarily well in the coming years (as long as they stay on principle), and watch for a groundswell of popular support for the once-again-new idea of sensibly limited government.

• Watch for a rise in the Tenth Amendment movement in America as an increasing number of Americans fight back against what they see as a dangerous expansion of the power of the federal government. With the TSA in your pants and the FDA in your greenhouse, there's no telling what part of your life Big Brother wants to control next. America was founded on the idea of limited government, and I believe we'll see a powerful, passionate movement that seeks to bring the federal government back down to its Constitutionally-mandated size (which is a fraction of its current size and scope). The Tenth Amendment, by the way, specifically reserves all rights not specifically granted to the federal government to be held by the States or the People. The Constitution, for the record, never granted the federal government the right to run a health care system, nor to give away the power to coin money to a private banking cartel, nor to inspect your backyard food production operation that you use to produce jams and jellies for the local farmers' market.

(Note in particular: 'The Constitution *never granted the federal government the right to run a health care system*')




There are of course also right-wingers who express pro-vaccine viewpoints (e.g. British journalist Cristina Odone). Some of these seem to associate 'natural' health with 'hippies' and 'tree-huggers'. I consider such sites very objectionable and would never quote them.

While I dislike right-wing writers and sources in general, I am *particularly* concerned on a health forum about sources that oppose government provision of health care.

To clarify: I am not proposing that one should check the voting record of a medical scientist, or neutral news reporter; but am concerned about uncritical quoting of opinion pieces by professional right-wingers: journalists, politicians or other campaigners who want the government to stay out of healthcare.

Of course it's up to the mods, but I would propose that at least people should explicitly make some disclaimer such as 'X is utterly wrong about public healthcare, but may be right on this specific issue'. Otherwise it can look like an endorsement of right-libertarian attitudes to healthcare; and there are few things more wicked and dangerous than these (an average terrorist could only dream of killing as many people as are regularly killed by lack of public provision of healthcare!)

[HuckleB]

1. Kick.

[iverglas]

2. excellent

and a little background/reminder:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detailed.html

Do not quote or link to "conspiracy theory" websites, except in our September 11 forum, which is the only forum on Democratic Underground where we permit members to debate highly speculative conspiracy theories. A reasonable person should be able to identify a conspiracy theory website without much difficulty.

Members are permitted to link to highly partisan conservative websites, provided that they are doing so in the proper context.

The anti-vax noodles certainly qualify as conspiracy theorists, to my mind. And the loonytarian element is unquestionably right-wing (which is distinct from "conservative" in non-U.S. minds).

[RagAss]

3. I predict....

We will be in flying cars by 2012 !