I am writing to express some thoughts about the current state of affairs in our community and our state.
I would like to know where you stand on these issues.
I am a licensed, retired physician boarded in Internal Medicine and Anesthesiology, with 45 years of studying and practicing medicine under my belt.
COVID:
I am appalled by the lack of scientific evidence, and outright ignoring of scientific principles in the response to the pandemic. I believe that the Great Barrington Declaration was the correct response, and I advocated for that approach early on once it was obvious that COVID was of little risk to healthy and younger people. I am dismayed by the use of PCR-RT testing with cycle thresholds of 40+, which greatly exaggerated the number of cases (80+% false positives). I am frustrated and angered by the changes in hospital reporting policies that reported all patients with a positive PCR within 28 days of hospitalization as either a COVID-related hospitalization or death whether those patients had symptoms of COVID or not. These two policies alone spread unnecessary fear and panic among our citizens, and fostered other policies like lockdowns, school closures, etc. which have resulted in untold harms to businesses and children in particular.
For decades the medical literature has confirmed that cloth and simple operating room masks are of little or no benefit in preventing the spread of viral respiratory illness. Properly-fitting, expensive HEPA masks can help prevent the wearer from contracting these diseases, but they have to be changed frequently and handled properly. All the mask mandates have done NOTHING to prevent the spread of COVID. Someone is making billions of dollars selling masks.
I am not an anti vaxxer. I have had all of the recommended vaccines here and for my travels abroad, including yearly influenza vaccination.
I resent the touting of the mRNA and adenovirus Covid vaccines as “safe and effective” despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting those claims. The recommendation of vaccination for all is certainly not motivated by the scientific process. The mandates for vaccination, especially for children (who are at almost zero risk from COVID), border on criminal and are at the very least a hysterical reaction to the Fauci pseudoscience and media hype. The rush to make the vaccines available and the ignoring of VAERS reporting of deaths and serious adverse reactions is beyond my comprehension. Someone is making billions of dollars on vaccinations.
I want a State Senator who recognizes the folly of the response to COVID, and who will fight for a balanced and truly science-based approach to state public health policy.
MEDIA HYPE AND CENSORING OF VOICES IN DISSENT:
The NARRATIVE promoted by the major media and social internet media surrounding COVID and “Progressive” policies like gender identity and Critical Race Theory is antithetical to the US Constitution and our way of life. The censoring of dissenting voices, bullying and unfounded discrediting of those who speak out against this NARRATIVE is a direct affront to all citizens’ right to free speech.
The Truth in News Initiative (joined by all the major news outlets and social media {Reuters, AP, UPI, BBC, ABC, NBC, CNN, Facebook, et al} have publicly stated that they would print nothing that doesn’t promote universal vaccination). This is wrong on every level.
I want a State Senator who will fight to curb the ability of Big Tech and the Media to manipulate what we hear and see. They should be liable for inappropriate censoring, deplatforming, or otherwise restricting the free exchange of ideas. This freedom of speech is paramount to our ability to self-govern.
GENDER IDENTITY FLUIDITY and CRITICAL RACE THEORY
The Progressive plan seems to be to take the nurturing of our children’s social development out of their parents’ hands and put it in the hands of misguided educators who push the “Woke” agenda. I want our children to be free of this drivel while they are too young to be able to process these complex issues. I want our education system to teach our kids HOW to think, not WHAT to think. I want our kids to learn what they need to get and keep the best job they can hold. I want our schools to teach middle and high school teens the fundamental skills of the trades if they aren’t going to get a higher education. Leave the social engineering to the parents.
Our school system has been failing our young people for decades. It’s past time to reverse course and get back to basics. Throwing money at schools isn’t going to change what our kids learn. Accepting money from federal programs and other outside agencies in exchange for teaching a woke curriculum is not the way to improving our schools.
I want a State Senator who will fight to restore traditional values to our schools, and give parents the final say as to what their children are exposed while in school.
Thank you for your prompt replies.
Kent A Robertson, MD
Easton
Easton
James Brady says
You may claim to not be an antivaxer, but your right-wing tirade makes up for it with your wailing that your free speech has been squelched and Anthony Fauci has been a big bully to you.
Your allegations about hospital reporting remain unfounded. Your day so is not enough to go on.
I’m sure you’ll find either one of the Republican candidates for Maryland Senate sufficient for your extremist predilections.