A little less worse
The national news media appears to be re-running the playbook of pretending that words posted on Twitter (or Truth Social) on TFP’s account are a) official acts, b) truthful, c) unlikely to be reversed, ignored, or forgotten the minute TFP is distracted by some new random nonsense on TV, or hears something different from one of his insincerely flattering billionaire or strongman acquaintances.
One assertion of the moment is that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be TFP’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. In this role Kennedy would be in a position to enact human harm at national (even global) scale, by accelerating the increase in deaths from measles—a vaccine-preventable disease—through a decrease in immunizations. (Kennedy’s anti-vaccination rhetoric and advocacy already contributed to a deadly measles outbreak in Samoa.)
(Wall Street Journal, 2015)
I feel that I am on solid ground in labeling Kennedy a menace to society (generally) and to my family (specifically), when he asserts evidence-free beliefs that life-saving vaccines cause autism. Implied in his vision of dismantling vaccine programs is an exterminist ideology that autistic people should not exist.
(Kennedy keeps his beliefs to himself when speaking to the press, but is happy to promote them behind closed doors.)
There are, thankfully, still people and governments and organizations working worldwide to improve public health, to reduce the reach of preventable deadly diseases, to make the world a little better (or a little less worse) every day.
One thing
Tonight I donated to New Incentives, one of GiveWell’s top charities. New Incentives uses cash-based incentives to improve vaccination rates in Nigeria. There are many ways to assess the value of a charity. New Incentives directs their efforts on a mathematical model focused on “most good per dollar.”
You can explore more charities at GiveWell, at Charity Navigator. You can also donate to New Incentives yourself.
And another thing
I spent time tonight playing a videogame online with my son, because time together (even virtually) is good for the both of us.
All of the @#$%ing things
Night 9: Sent money to a friend in need
Night 8: Gave gifts and spoke words of appreciation aloud
Night 7: Contributed to a California-focused nonprofit newsroom
Night 6: Made homemade donuts for my team
Night 5: Opted into a paid Buttondown tier
Night 4: Reviewed my local election results
Night 3: Deactivated my X account
Night 2: Contributed to my local nonprofit newsroom
Night 1: Started by starting
Words, sorts, and thinks by Chris Ereneta, from Oakland, California. Thoughtful feedback and questions are welcomed at that.often@gmail.com