And if I want to drive drunk at 150mph through your neighbourhood I should have the opportunity to do so and if you disagree you are obviously an authoritarian out to take my rights away.
Here's the deal, not vaccinating doesn't just put YOUR offspring or yourself in danger, it puts others in danger too. Just like with the above example it's not just about your fucking rights, it's about others rights not to be in danger of catching what your kids spread.
The very young, some immunocompromised and the elderly can't be vaccinated, others can't be vaccinated because of allergies and by you choosing not to vaccinate your kid you are endangering them just like the drunk speeding driver is endangering people.
Your rights end when you endanger others lives, that's not authoritarianism, that is liberalism and it's what this nation is based on.
I agree in theory, but who draws the line and where exactly? When do we line kids up for forced vaccinations vs. banning them from public school vs. banning them from any public spaces where they may come in contact with other kids? "For the greater good" is always a slippery slope and we must only pass zero tolerance laws as a very, very last resort. I'd much rather see this particular issues tackled with education and more parents brought into the fold willingly.
And I don't think forcing home schooling is much of an answer. I'm not in favor of anti-science parents being the single voice of instruction for their children. If we are going to break the cycle of ignorance, more home schooling isn't going to help.
All 50 states currently allow students without vaccines to attend public school on a medical exemption, so a willing doctor is all you need. 47 states allow you a religious exemption, and 17 allow you a philosophical exemption. It's not like we are really making it that hard for students to attend without vaccines. I know shit parents who singed the religious exemption because they were too lazy to take their kids to the doctor.
If I were emperor of the world for life, I would pass mandatory vaccine laws tomorrow. Followed by mandatory sex ed and birth control laws for anyone under about 25. Since I'm not, and I understand every government in the world is flawed, I tend to err on the side of as little government as possible unless absolutely necessary. Trouble is too many well meaning people think you can pass laws and force people to do the right thing, which often ends in less success than they were expecting. Again, education is the way to go on many issues. Willing cooperation trumps force every time.
And, I WASN'T ARGUING AGAINST VACCINES ANYWAY. I was pointing out that "do you believe vaccines should be required for all children" is a loaded question. It does not mean you are anti-vax or don't believe in the benefits of vaccines if you say "no."