RFK, Jr. is Half Right

The government shouldn't ban safe, inexpensive alternatives. But neither should it ban "unsafe" ones.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. faced a tough first round of questions from U.S. Senators today who voiced concerns over Kennedy’s views on vaccines and abortion. His opponents claim that he would as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) enact policies based on what they consider fringe views Kennedy holds that many vaccines or other pharmaceutical products are not properly tested, are not as safe or effective as advertised, and are only approved by the FDA (part of HHS) because of its corrupt ties to the pharmaceutical industry. Meanwhile, due to those same corrupt relationships, the FDA often refuses to approve safe, effective, less expensive alternatives.

His supporters claim all of the above would be a feature, not a bug, of his administration of HHS.

Kennedy is certainly half right. The FDA should not be banning safe, effective, inexpensive drugs. But neither should they be banning drugs or vaccines Kennedy or any other bureaucrat thinks is unsafe. People have a right to buy and sell food, drugs, or anything else the government claims to be unsafe just as they have a right to work in an “unsafe” environment.

Individuals with an inalienable right to liberty have a right to make those decisions themselves, either on the advice of a physician, their plumber, or no advice at all. It’s the government’s job to secure that right, not violate it.

Many libertarians, including the leadership of the Libertarian Party, libertarian Republicans like Thomas Massie and Rand Paul, and Paul’s thought leader father Ron Paul, also support Kennedy’s nomination. There is certainly a lot to like about Kennedy’s steadfast opposition to lockdowns, mask mandates, and vaccine mandates during “the pandemic.” This writer had an opportunity to shake his hand and congratulate him on a stirring speech at the Ron Paul Institute’s annual conference in 2021.

Given the unlikelihood the administrative state will be eliminated anytime soon, libertarian support for Kennedy is certainly pragmatic. It is unlikely anything like what happened 2020-22 would happen again under his leadership – something Americans of every political persuasion have good reason to worry about.

However, much like President Trump on foreign policy, Kennedy could only make marginal improvements to the system. There is no chance of fundamental change because, like Trump, Kennedy believes in the federal leviathan. He just thinks the wrong people have been running it.