Suffer The Little Children, At Kennedy's Whim By Joe Conason

[justaprogressive]

In one of many egocentric abuses of his newfound power, Kennedy has directed his department's resources away from vital research on cancer and Alzheimer's, among other major diseases, initiating instead a massive effort to discover an environmental cause of autism — which reflects his own obsession more than sound science.

But leaving aside the gross mismanagement of HHS, the National institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the many other agencies whose capacity for good he is rapidly destroying, Kennedy went out of his way on Wednesday to stigmatize the autistic children he is supposed to be helping.

As for Kennedy himself, there will be much more to say about his grimly incompetent and ruinous stewardship of the public health institutions that his family — and especially his late uncle Sen. Edward Kennedy — helped build into exemplars of American greatness.

For the moment, let's note that contrary to his suggestion, millions of autistic human beings around the world and in America go to work every day. They contribute to society by creating value in myriad ways, the least of which is their payment of taxes. They go on dates, fall in love, nurture families, and some of them not only can hit a baseball but are top athletes, including an Olympic snowboarder and a Division 1 basketball player. (I happen to know an autistic young woman who was the star of her Little League softball team.)

https://www.creators.com/read/joe-conason/04/25/suffer-the-little-children-at-kennedys-whim