# Thermisol, Autism, and Homeland Security **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 16, 2002, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermisol-autism-and-homeland-security/136955 "2002-11-16T00:05:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tejota](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Tejota](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tejota)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermisol-autism-and-homeland-security/136955/41 "2002-11-19T23:07:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shodan \* > \*\*What would a fast-food restaurant have to fear from some idiot suing because she spilled coffee on herself? Isn’t it pretty obvious that that would be irrational nonsense, too? > > Regards, > Shodan \*\* Sorry, can’t let this go. Your ignorance is showing a bit too clearly o this one. The prosecution in this case showed quite clearly that McDonalds _knowingly_ and _Deliberately_ served coffee that was dangeriously hot. Do your homework. This case was decided correctly. It was demonstrated in court that McDonalds **knew** that they were harming people, they just didn’t care. [url=http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm]cite\*\* Not to destroy your whole argument, but since McDonalds knew that the were hurting people, and didn’t stop. Doesn’t that destroy your whole argument? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tejota](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Tejota](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tejota)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermisol-autism-and-homeland-security/136955/42 "2002-11-19T23:14:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scylla \* > \*\*Re: The Op. > The rider is in there to protect the company’s that are going to produce the vaccines we need against biological weapons. \*\* Nonsense. There is a rider that is for that purpose. But there’s _a different rider_ that is the subject of this thread. This other sider specifically gives Eli Lilly immunity for prior bad acts relating to these childhood vaccines. Now it’s quite possible that these vaccines are unrelated to Autism. But under no circumstances should they be given immunity before facts are known. It seems to me to be pretty unlikely that they would lobby for immunity if they didn’t expect ot need it, which means that there are facts that they are aware of that tend to implicate them. ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermisol-autism-and-homeland-security/136955/43 "2002-11-20T02:58:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tejota \* > \*\*Now it’s quite possible that these vaccines are unrelated to Autism. But under no circumstances should they be given immunity before facts are known. It seems to me to be pretty unlikely that they would lobby for immunity if they didn’t expect ot need it, which means that there are facts that they are aware of that tend to implicate them. \*\* Is it true that the bill gives them immunity? I heard Senator Frist say on TV that the bill did NOT give them immunity. Rather, it specifies that the claims would have to go to a certain panel before any suit could be filed. However, I thought he was clear that lawsuits would not be barred. BTW since a vaccine maker gives immunity, should they not also get immunity? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermisol-autism-and-homeland-security/136955/44 "2002-11-21T03:11:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tejota \* > \*\*Nonsense. There is a rider that is for that purpose. But there’s _a different rider_ that is the subject of this thread. This other sider specifically gives Eli Lilly immunity for prior bad acts relating to these childhood vaccines. > \*\* Well, it’s not immunity. It’s a measure of protection. Anyway I was not aware that there were two seperate riders. I thought there was just one. You have cleared that up for me, and now I understand the controversy surrounding this. ---
**Author:** ![Tejota](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Tejota](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tejota)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermisol-autism-and-homeland-security/136955/45 "2002-11-21T04:29:58Z")
On it’s face the rider only requires that the first claim go to a special panel. But in practice, it’s immunity, because the rules of the panel provide for a 3 year statute of limitations. Needless to say, if there is a connection, it was more than 3 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermisol-autism-and-homeland-security/136955/46 "2002-11-21T04:57:39Z")
I’m no C-span wonk, but isn’t the practice of attaching riders to big bills and budgets fairly standard operating procedure in the down and dirty of getting your pet issue passed/funded in our hallowed halls? I thought that was why Presidents have always wanted “line item vetos.” Am I wrong about this? It seems like criticism of that practice is a seperate issue than whether or not the rider is a good idea or not. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermisol-autism-and-homeland-security/136955/47 "2002-11-21T06:25:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shodan \* > \*\*What would a fast-food restaurant have to fear from some idiot suing because she spilled coffee on herself? \*\* Haven’t we talked about this already? As my attorney reminded me recently, not only did that woman suffer unusually severe burns, there was a competition going in the town in which it happened concerning who could serve the hottest coffee, and the McD’s was some ridiculous temperature. Just an FYI [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermisol-autism-and-homeland-security/136955.md?page=2)