The simple answer is a resounding no! In a public health emergency like the Covid pandemic, no one besides qualified government health professionals from the federal government should dictate public health policy. (And they shouldn’t receive death threats like Dr. Fauci while doing it.) Most doctors aren’t even qualified either because they’re not epidemiologists. (Are you reading this, Rand Paul, Dr. Oz, and other bloviating and posturing AMA quacks?)
Chicago teachers are finally back on the job (maybe), but members of their teachers’ union voted to close Chicago schools. Huh? How is it that a damn union has the power to close schools? Union members aren’t qualified government health professionals. Unions in general now are only there to protect mediocrity, barely wispy reminders of those that once stood up to exploitative and abusive corporations. Teachers’ unions are no exception. And their members’ jobs are to teach, not set health policy. If they don’t want to teach while following the health protocols determined by more competent people who follow the science, they should resign. Period.
Parents in Chicago were justifiably irate. Consider this: Citizens of Chicago, and in most towns and cities of the US, pay hefty local taxes so that their children can receive an education. If health officials have determined it’s safe for the children to be in school, why does a union, or any other group, have a right to close down the schools? The teachers would be getting paid to do absolutely nothing!
I would have had no problem if some teacher in Chicago hadn’t felt safe and had decided not to work, but he shouldn’t get paid in that case. And he can’t use the argument that he’s looking out for the kids. He’s not a health professional and isn’t qualified to determine if kids are safe! And maybe he thinks he’s not safe because he’s not vaccinated and boosted? Too bad. There’s a solution for that.
Am I the only one wondering if people are doing this—a lot more people than just teachers—so they can get a free ride? These actions would then be insults to all those responsible people in public service who follow health protocols and just do their jobs.
Let me finish with a word about a stupid alternative to vaccination teachers and other workers have proposed: “Frequently tested” should never be an alternative! There are jobs—teaching is one of them—where “fully vaccinated and boosted” should always be a minimal requirement. If you want an essential job like that and want to get paid to do it, you should meet that requirement. Anything else is insanity!
Teachers, please leave the insane bloviating to the Marjorie Taylor Greenes and Rand Pauls of the country. We already have enough morons who follow that “f&^%ing moron”! Teachers and teachers’ unions shouldn’t be leading the marching morons or their children over the precipice. That’s being completely irresponsible, and they should be better than that.