"I didn't get much sleep last night. Just before bed I learned a friend was in the hospital with COVID in critical condition. All of my acquaintances are vaccinated except for two people. He was one of them."...
COVID is real.
People get sick.
People do not get sick.
People make a choice in regard to vaccines.
Focusing on any single incidence in a sea of statistics means nothing, rhetorically, and in spite of the truly sad story that is a lecture in disguise.
You call his information propaganda. No propaganda is good, if that is what it is. However, it is unavoidable in today's free information environment. One man's propaganda is another's truth, which is political for both sides. Ban his "propaganda" today, and yours is banned tomorrow. That's how speech restrictions work.
The government has been ignoring science, throughout this pandemic, and they still do. They cherry pick and misrepresent science. All the while record profits flow to the pharma companies.
There is a higher volume of propaganda coming from the vax-mandate (different from pro vs anti vax) instutions that are better funded than right wing echo chambers (your words, which are a politicization of the issue).
If they were more disciplined in regard to presenting the situation honestly, then more people would trust them and get vaccinated.
Fauci was laundered one million dollars for saying the "right" thing, as a public servant, and he still has his job. Imagine if corrupt entities could just launder payments to in-office politicans and bureacracies under the guise of giving them awards. Bad, right? That's exactly what happened here.
At no point in service or after retirement should public servants be recieving that type of payment. And especially not during a pandemic over which his policy dictates the personal freedom, and possibly the life or death of every American. That he recieved this payment and is still close to being in charge of anything so crucial is proof positive of how corrupt this situation is. That perspective of his corruption having a bearing on his policy decisions, and the resultant mistrust of the populace, lies with Fauci and those who refuse to fire him from his current position.
The Left (this is politicized as you say, yes?) needs to start shouldering the blame for its politicization of COVID from the beginning. Less than a year ago a variety of Left Wing politicians, including the current Vice President, were stating that they wouldn't trust a vaccine that came out under a Trump adminstration. So, please, with your "the right wing is politicizing COVID".
Frankly, many people are likely hesitant to get the vaccine because they've learned not to trust abject liars and obvious COVID exploiting politicians with their health.
Nancy Pelosi makes tens of millions, from insider trading, from her political connections to the Tech Industry. Its this group of politicians that we are supposed to trust, completely, with a recommendation that has sent record profits to pharma companies. Correct? Maybe takking the vaccine is 100% the best thing to do. However, politicans like Fauci, Pelosi, and Harris have undeniably muddled that water for many Americans. Possibly putting their lives at risk in the process.
You lament COVID politicization but I read most politication coming from the Left. The Left sanctioned almost full year of nationwide riots during lockdowns, in an election year, for political reasons. That sent a loud and clear message to every American paying attention that, for the Left, lockdowns were political and not actual. But its the right who has made COVID political?
Personal choice in regard to vaccines is personal, not political, except for the Americans that see a bureaucracy that is completely insane with power and corruption, and therefore not trustworthy enough to speak on any health mandate whatsoever.
Your friend is dying and you sent him a message telling him to reflect? Keeping quiet or being gracious would have been the mentally healthier and human move, for you, with all due respect.
No one drove Hip away because we don't like his opinions. Hip can't abide conflicting opinions and resorts to ad hominems, dehumanization of people who can't or won't get the vaccine, and illiberal recommendations in the name of his zealotry. No one is here driving away anyone who is pro vaccine in a civil manner. Just like we aren't rebutting those positions in an uncivil manner, unless its in response to uncivil behavior. Not agreeing with you is not "driving" anyone away. The fact is that Hip couldn't civilly tolerate anyone disagreeing with him.
Case in point, your response is uncivil. Its not a discussion, in contrast with how you couch it. Its a rant on your friend and people here. You either have an unpopular opinion or present it in a manner that people disagree with. So they rebut it. That makes this an echo chamber? Did you want a discussion or for you to be allowed to dominate like Hip attempts to with his personal attacks? Your post is not persuasion or discussion. Its... I'm unsure what it is. An admionishment that we shouldn't disagree lest we drive you away? Good luck finding a forum that lets you dominate it because you ask it to.
Edited by Ames, 13 August 2021 - 11:45 PM.
