In the brilliant piece by Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal, Swift suggested that the state should provide care up to the age of one for infants of the poor. At that time, properly aged and fattened, they would be turned into food to feed the elite at a premium price for such delicacy and satisfy the needs of the starving population.

In case you were asleep during the lecture on the book, it is satire about the terrible conditions in Ireland. As a side note, if you were never required to read it in school, they did you a disservice, and you should demand your money back.

But even a brilliant writer like Swift could not create a more deadly scenario for children than what is happening in the State of Florida.

Just when you think no one is capable of Trumping Trump, Governor Ron DeSantis and his Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, descend to the occasion.

They have eliminated almost every vaccine mandate for children in the State of Florida and, for those that require the state legislature to pretend they are independent, will seek legislative action to remove any remaining mandates.

Here’s one of the best quotes in the history of quotes.

“Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery,” Dr. Joseph Ladapo said. “Who am I to tell you what your child should put in [their] body?” Dr. Joseph Ladapo.

Here’s a thought: you are a doctor. Act like one. A doctor is someone whom people regularly turn to for advice on what to put in their bodies to prevent or cure diseases and maintain good health.  Did you skip that class in medical school?

Dr. Ladapo graduated from Harvard Medical School, not exactly Fred’s College of Medical Knowledge. How do his former professors view him now?

Here’s a thought: you are a doctor. Act like one.

Joe Broadmeadow

Hmm, maybe the Trump administration is onto something with their assault on the university. And not to fall into the trap of stereotypes, but wouldn’t Dr. Ladapo be the poster child for the anti-DEI movement?

Here’s a somewhat comforting excerpt from his Wikipedia listing,

“Ladapo is best known for his opposition to COVID-19 mitigation measures, and promotion of COVID-19 misinformation, for which he has been rebuked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ladapo has promoted unproven treatments, opposed vaccine and mask mandates, questioned the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, and contradicted professional medical organizations.

After immigrating to the United States from Nigeria, Ladapo earned a M.D. and a Ph.D. in health policy from Harvard University. He served as a professor of medicine at New York University before being tenured at the University of California, Los Angeles, prior to his appointment to his current position by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Ladapo has opposed gender-affirming care and counseling for transgender and nonbinary minors.

In September 2025, Ladapo, in his capacity as Florida Surgeon General, likened vaccine mandates to “slavery”, in announcing Florida’s plans to eliminate all vaccine mandates, including those for children attending public school. This announcement was met with grave concern from the American Pediatric Association and the Florida Education Association, among others.”

Measles Smeasles, so what?

In 1919, there were almost 13 deaths from measles per 100,000 population in the United States. However, this rate had dropped to zero by the year 2021. In early 2025, an outbreak of measles in Texas resulted in the death of three children. This was the first measles death in the United States since 2015. Measles is a highly contagious disease, that is especially dangerous  for children. However, vaccines have significantly decreased the rate of cases and deaths in the United States. (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1560955/measles-death-rate-in-the-us-since-1919/)

So now children in Florida will no longer be required to receive vaccinations against chicken pox, hepatitis B, Hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and the pneumococcal vaccine PCV 15/20.

The Florida Legislature will have to remove the mandates for polio, diphtheria, rubeola, rubella, pertussis, mumps, and tetanus. But, as they are not known for the willingness to stand up to DeSantis or other idiocies, they will fold like a cheap suit.

So here are some ideas, 

Invest in mobility devices and wheelchair ramp companies in Florida.

Use Facebook Marketplace to buy lightly used children’s clothing, Florida will be flooded with it. Here’s a sample ad. “For sale, baby shoes, never used.”

Consider buying public school buildings, which will soon be available as the population decreases.

And if you have neighbors with annoying children, consider telling them to move to Florida for the warm weather.

Wanna take bets on the next states to devolve into witch hunts, black magic, and shamanism as state policy? Oh, yeah, and don’t forget thoughts and prayers for the kids in Florida.