Source: Counterpunch
As we’ve watched autism grow to epidemic levels in the U.S., we have been given one hard-to-swallow explanation after another. For instance, we have been continuously told that there is no real increase in the number of kids who are autistic, it just seems that way. What’s really going on is “better diagnosing” by doctors. And while we rarely hear the term “controversy” connected to a disease or disorder, more and more the words “autism controversy” appear in the press. Why this endless debate over autism?

The argument swirls around what causes autism. Officials who still haven’t figured out if there are actually more kids with autism or if they’re just counting better, are sure of one thing: Vaccines, especially ones with mercury, have nothing to do with the disorder. No matter how many times parents describe their child’s regression after vaccinations, it’s only a coincidence. No matter how many children are found to be carrying high levels of mercury in their bodies, it has nothing to do with the vaccines they received that contained mercury. The latest news that autism has been shown to be connected to genetic mutations stops short of admitting that there are environmental triggers to these mutations and that one of the triggers might be the use of a known neurotoxin in vaccines.

Stories about the autism controversy endlessly repeat the reassuring phrase, “Studies show no link.” Recent news reports about autism give us statements like, “A link between autism and vaccines has never been proven,” “Several well-designed studies indicate that childhood vaccines are not associated with autism,” and “Large studies have not shown an association between vaccines and autism.” It sounds like all the research clearly shows there is no scientific evidence that the mercury used in vaccines has harmed anyone.

No one seems at all disturbed that officials can’t show us the results of the rigorous testing that was done on thimerosal before it was ever allowed in our children’s vaccines. The only test on thimerosal was done by the manufacturer, Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Co., back in 1930. Eli Lilly tried it on 22 adult patients who were already dying of meningitis and by the end of the experiment, all the participants were dead. Eli Lilly said it was safe and the medical community just accepted it. After the creation of the FDA, its use was simply continued. [more]