I’ve previously referred to COVID as a “scam.” This sets some people on edge. “Are you denying that the disease even exists? That it kills people? How insane are you?” This is my official response: I guess it depends on exactly how you define the word "scam."
COVID has killed 200 times more people than 9/11 in America; of course it's not a scam. Deaths have been even more % above trend than during the Spanish flu. It's not like police shooting unarmed Black men, which is basically a non-event.
I prefer the presumption of liberty over mere utility calculation. One good benefit is that you can't merely say 'well it seems like mask mandates reduce spread of disease some and the lockdowns are somewhat effective if you look at it this way etc. etc. etc' I think no...if you're going to coerce me you need to demonstrate very clearly that what you're doing is really really working.
We have media that functions best when people are afraid and it gets the most attention with the most fear inducing claims because people are concerned for their own safety. We have government that has to do something even when that "something" doesn't really work. We have COVID turn into a political issue for tribal signaling and by extension signaling moral worth.
So the government says comply or face punishment, the people say comply or face social shame and the media says believe us despite the fact that we're liars.
COVID has killed 200 times more people than 9/11 in America; of course it's not a scam. Deaths have been even more % above trend than during the Spanish flu. It's not like police shooting unarmed Black men, which is basically a non-event.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/04/23/us/covid-19-death-toll.html
I prefer the presumption of liberty over mere utility calculation. One good benefit is that you can't merely say 'well it seems like mask mandates reduce spread of disease some and the lockdowns are somewhat effective if you look at it this way etc. etc. etc' I think no...if you're going to coerce me you need to demonstrate very clearly that what you're doing is really really working.
We have media that functions best when people are afraid and it gets the most attention with the most fear inducing claims because people are concerned for their own safety. We have government that has to do something even when that "something" doesn't really work. We have COVID turn into a political issue for tribal signaling and by extension signaling moral worth.
So the government says comply or face punishment, the people say comply or face social shame and the media says believe us despite the fact that we're liars.