Original post at TexasKaos.com
Considering the kind of crap Texas gets for it's backward education system (it is!), it's archaic and crazy taxing system (it is), it's crazy politicians (John Cornyn), this is a great way to lead the nation in something that could really save lives and change people's attitudes.
So did Perry, who plays often to his anti-abortionist and religiously extreme base, suddenly grow some brains and a heart? Nope. Perry reasons for signing this executive order had nothing to his concern for "the safety and welfare of our children." The reason - the only reason - is that Merck, the maker of the vaccine, gave Perry alot of money and lobbied him hard.
Perry has several ties to Merck and Women in Government. One of the drug company's three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, Perry's former chief of staff. Perry also received $6,000 from Merck's political action committee during his re-election campaign.
Merck better get Perry a job too while they're at it, because once his base realizes they were sold out and Perry, like Tom Delay, has just been using these religious "wackos", Rick may need a new job.
And just in case, you needed a reminder that it wasn't his heart that changed but his bank account, here's a photo of Rick Perry at another signing. It was at a church, where he signed an Anti-abortion bill. It was at the same signing that he told gays to find some other state to live in.
So, it wasn't safety or intelligence that won. It was money. However, at least this time, young women and girls of Texas won't be losing to the political pressure of the religious reicht and the politicians who kiss up to them.
Update: I should've included the fact that parents can opt-out of this vaccine, but I had to run earlier:
Texas allows parents to opt out of inoculations by filing an affidavit objecting to the vaccine on religious or philosophical reasons. Even with such provisions, however, conservative groups say such requirements interfere with parents’ rights to make medical decisions for their children.
Hopefully that will calm the numerous people here who felt like the State was forcing themselves on their child.
That said, I must say I'm surprised by the number of posts against vaccinations. To some degree I understand it (Merck/Perry aren't exactly trustworthy), but I also wonder if there is a level of paranoia out there.
A somewhat understandable paranoia - but nonetheless paranoia. And a willingness to stubbornly fight for your right to say no in the face of medically sound advice.
For a thorough discussion of HPV, look to DarkSyde's classic diary here.
But let me say that I admire the your willness to question everything & think it can be healthy. I myself do not agree with for instance the flu vaccine.
However, that doesn't mean all vaccines are wrong. I think we should look at this more positively in terms of women's health & less suspiciously (esp w/ opt out clause).
Can Merck be trusted? No. Vioxx proved that. Can Perry be? Hell NO!
But not all vaccines are bad & the research does indicate a sound basis for proposing it.
That said, the bottomline is that it shoudl be available should one want to take it - and conservative groups want to take that choice away from you.
This law still gives you that choice - & still have a sound medically approved base.