Conspiracy Theorists who point to Bill Gates as a megalomaniacal Eugenicist often cite his infamous ‘Ted Talk’ where he promotes vaccines as one way to reduce world populations. Apologists for Gates claim that he was quoted out of context and what he actually meant was that with increased vaccination, child life expectancy goes up and with it, reduced birth rates, the logic being that poor people have more children because they expect some to die. This is peculiar logic since Japan has the highest childhood survival despite having the lowest total number of childhood vaccinations (by last count, just 4 VS the US average of 75). So if we are to correlate vaccines with childhood mortality, it seems that less is more, at least in Japan. Furthermore, I cannot fine one instance of Gates personally clarifying his infamous Ted Talk statement despite its ubiquitous use by others in support of labeling him a Eugenicists? Why not simply clarify his statement? Mr. Gates is famous for his careful, even neurotically precise use of language (just look at his videotaped depositions during the antitrust action against Microsoft). He was beyond careful in his use of English in that setting. Thoughts?
Ted Talks and Freudian Slips
Ted Talks and Freudian Slips
Ted Talks and Freudian Slips
Conspiracy Theorists who point to Bill Gates as a megalomaniacal Eugenicist often cite his infamous ‘Ted Talk’ where he promotes vaccines as one way to reduce world populations. Apologists for Gates claim that he was quoted out of context and what he actually meant was that with increased vaccination, child life expectancy goes up and with it, reduced birth rates, the logic being that poor people have more children because they expect some to die. This is peculiar logic since Japan has the highest childhood survival despite having the lowest total number of childhood vaccinations (by last count, just 4 VS the US average of 75). So if we are to correlate vaccines with childhood mortality, it seems that less is more, at least in Japan. Furthermore, I cannot fine one instance of Gates personally clarifying his infamous Ted Talk statement despite its ubiquitous use by others in support of labeling him a Eugenicists? Why not simply clarify his statement? Mr. Gates is famous for his careful, even neurotically precise use of language (just look at his videotaped depositions during the antitrust action against Microsoft). He was beyond careful in his use of English in that setting. Thoughts?