Healthcare

A medical mask on the sidewalk

New rounds of COVID restrictions clarify that they’re about control.

By Justin Katz | August 16, 2021 |

Watching gubernatorial candidates Nellie Gorbea and Seth Magaziner (the Rhode Island Secretary of State and General Treasurer, respectively) turn top-down, executive-order-imposed mask mandates for school children into a political talking point is clarifying. They’re going after Governor Dan McKee because he did not mandate by executive order that every child must be masked upon their…

Great Depression bread line

You can have single-payer or freedom, but not both.

By Justin Katz | August 13, 2021 |

Last night, I pondered Luis Daniel Munoz’s argument for a single-payer healthcare system on a recent State of the State episode. He’s a compelling speaker, and it all sounds so reasonable.  Smart, well-meaning people can pick a model and give it a try.  Experts will keep an eye on the program, and if it isn’t…

School girl in medical mask

The Rhode Island Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is irresponsible on mandatory masking.

By Justin Katz | August 12, 2021 |

When it comes to public opinion, it’s tough to know what’s real and what’s a social media echo chamber, but this letter, signed by five pediatricians in the name of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, seems to be stirring up folks who want to force masks onto the faces of…

Are COVID increases evidence of illegal immigration?

By Justin Katz | August 11, 2021 |

We should not scapegoat groups of people or assume we know the explanation for complex trends, but it is impossible for the public to be informed about important topics if nobody is willing to ask uncomfortable questions.

RI COVID cases by age group

False COVID Fear for Children

By Justin Katz | August 10, 2021 |

The responsibility of proof falls on those who wish to restrict our rights and impose harmful solutions like forcing children to wear masks all day in school, and the evidence just isn’t there.

A scared squirrel

Spoiling the Fear-Mongering Fun – COVID Survival Rate Remains Sky High

By Monique Chartier | August 6, 2021 |

Panic! Panic! >cue dramatic music< The Delta variant is here! COVID-19 cases are spiking again! We’re all going to die! … oh, wait, no, we’re not, contrary to the strong impression created by irresponsible “news” outlets. The survival rate for COVID-19 continues as sky high as it was from the beginning. Nor are hospitals being…

Reporters taking notes

The new generation of reporters is turning their craft into a propaganda practice.

By Justin Katz | August 5, 2021 |

An article bylined by Alexandra Leslie and Melanie DaSilva for WPRI is a perfect illustration. The headline is, “McKee signs multiple bills supporting women’s health, equity.”  No ambiguity.  No clarification that this is politicians’ intention.   It’s presented as a simple fact about the press conference. The article summarizes five pieces of legislation without offering a…

News story image of Chatham, MA

Ideology is preventing us from getting the real story on COVID-19 variants and vaccination.

By Justin Katz | August 2, 2021 |

They say of the Soviet Union propaganda outlet, Pravda, that it contained some real news; one just had to know how to parse it and understand where news was being hidden. Such is the case with all of the mainstream news media outlets, these days.  You’ve probably seen the headlines about “74% of infections in Massachusetts…

Dan McKee gets vaccinated

How Science Should Inform Masking and Distancing Decisions

By Justin Katz | July 28, 2021 |

McKee has announced a “recommendation” to mask children in school, but he should remember that science is only a process for limiting (but not eliminating) human error in observations and analysis.

Hospital beds

With 40% of COVID deaths being among diabetics, forcing everybody to do (or not do) things is not justified.

By Justin Katz | July 16, 2021 |

There is a very strong case for diabetics to be vaccinated against COVID-19, as Dennis Thompson reports for HealthDay News: About 40% of deaths from COVID-19 in the United States were among diabetics, a “really quite sobering” statistic that should prompt people with the ailment to get vaccinated, said Dr. Robert Gabbay, chief scientific and medical…