This article promotes misinformation. What I've seen on Musk's Twitter is an explosion of misinformation, and considering the lives that will be lost as a result, I sympathize what people are doing to try to tamp it down. Vaccine and mask mandates were politicized, just as is being done here, and the result is a far greater Covid death toll among Republicans who are refusing to comply with mandates than among Democrats are complying. This article is helping raise the Republican death toll, https://politicsofthelastage.blogspot.com/2022/12/update-on-covid19-mask-and-vaccine.html
I understand the sentiment of this piece and the many commenters, and I don't necessarily disagree.
BUT, what I am unsure of is what I would have done had I been "King" in America. Let me explain.
Suppose I was told that this virus was VERY deadly and might kill millions of Americans and billions around the world, unless I did something? I gather the heads of the government that had spent their professional lives dealing with viruses, and they said to me, we really don't know but we think this is what we should do but we are not sure. I agree to a plan, again, not knowing for sure but very concerned of millions dying. We will need the vast majority of Americans to "buy in" or our plan won't work.
Given the risk, I did what was done. Does that make me a bad person? I may be wrong, but I had to make a decision. AND, I could certainly with hindsight be determined wrong. Oh well, that is what faces leaders all the time. This was a HUGE decision.
Had I been more "honest" and said well we are not sure but let's go ahead and possibly wreck our economy, I doubt many people would have complied.
I am not a great writer, but I hope my point is coming across? Simply, we can all be armchair quarterbacks when we want to be.
Exceptionally well written and researched. Thank you for your article. Yes, Twitter had been largely disingenuous in their coverage of Covid. Their disinformation has created irreparable harm among many Americans and its consequences are well documented in your piece. Thank you.
The arrogance, ignorance, cowardice and just plain stupidity of human beings never ceases to amaze me. How does an expert in epidemiology, from a leading medical institution, have his opinion squelched? Sounds like a great idea. We should be able to trust the White House. Isn't the safety of the American people one of the main purposes of government? And they wonder why there's so much division in this country.
We all knew, without the details, what was going on. Twitter, under Elon Musk, is correcting their profligate past. Shamefully, Democrats, Facebook, Google, YouTube, FBI, and others will continue their unacceptable behavior even though they know we know and they too, have read the Twitter files. Reprobate or Satanic are terms that seem appropriate.
Yes, he describes it brilliantly and in detail ... and in a way that helps me identify with (vs judge) those who get swept up in it. At the end of the day we all want similar things -- to thrive in a just society -- but due to the vastly different lenses we perceive with, we have radically different (and unreconcilable) ideas of what that means. If there was a way to work on the unconscious process of perception directly, we might be able to find common ground.
Not surprised, but the reality of what was done is really terrifying. And now that those in control know they can get away with it, I expect it to continue.
Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine have proven prophylactic effects. The vaccine is highly suspect re it's actual preventive effect. 97% has dropped to 94, then 91 then 80s and now below 50% after 10 - 15 wks. Adverse effects to the mRNA vaccines are varied and numerous and are surely questionable for those under 50yrs old re risk/benefit. No one under 20 unless with multiple comorbidities should take the vaccines, in my opinion.
My wife is in her 7th day in the hospital. She has had 4 shots, her latest booster was in early November.
My point is that as long as human beings are involved, you will get best efforts, but you won’t get perfect. Either in the government or in content moderation on social media. Their is a lot of hyper ventilation here, witness the reactions of so many readers. A more balanced and fair presentation would better serve the public interest.
I started this whole comment stream with my statement that I’m torn on the subject. While against censorship, I’m also against forums that help people spew hatred, incite violence, and knowingly mislead. There should be at least checks and balances against that. For four years we’ve had cable TV devolve into platforms of spewing opinion in the guise of news.
Peer reviewed studies published in respected journals are one solid (not fool proof) way to understand. Data is evaluated, written into a paper and then reviewed and challenged by other experts in the field. Now with all the silly “journals” being published to cater to people’s opinions (The Journal of UFO’s, etc.), there are going to be silly peer reviewed articles pushed out there.
I’m not saying ban quacks like Steve Kirsch, but he’s an example of the kind of nonsense I can’t stand, publishing crazy, unsubstantiated bullshit to his gullible subscription-paying, conspiracy-loving followers. They live in their own bubble. Where this gets dangerous is when dark web hate groups feed each other lie after lie and eventually one of the crazies goes out and kills a bunch of people. Alex Jones is obviously another odious wackjob I’d like hung by his balls.
Anyway, facts count. Bullshit needs to be called out.
Just read the comments and you will see how dangerous this reporting is to our society and to public health. What you fail to say is that well intended people both in the government and at Twitter were trying to do their very best, using their best judgement, to protect the public health. It is so easy in hindsight to be critical. Perhaps some stories were wrongly suppressed in the process, but these were human beings who care about society trying to do their very best. Perfect is the enemy of the good. Sensationalizing this stirs up lots of craziness, just read the comments. It inflames the haters, anti government sentiments (as a lawyer, I can state that there is nothing unconstitutional here), and anti vax sentiments. On the last point, one result is the reemergence of dangerous childhood diseases, threading all our children. Please be more thoughtful and balanced.
This article promotes misinformation. What I've seen on Musk's Twitter is an explosion of misinformation, and considering the lives that will be lost as a result, I sympathize what people are doing to try to tamp it down. Vaccine and mask mandates were politicized, just as is being done here, and the result is a far greater Covid death toll among Republicans who are refusing to comply with mandates than among Democrats are complying. This article is helping raise the Republican death toll, https://politicsofthelastage.blogspot.com/2022/12/update-on-covid19-mask-and-vaccine.html
I understand the sentiment of this piece and the many commenters, and I don't necessarily disagree.
BUT, what I am unsure of is what I would have done had I been "King" in America. Let me explain.
Suppose I was told that this virus was VERY deadly and might kill millions of Americans and billions around the world, unless I did something? I gather the heads of the government that had spent their professional lives dealing with viruses, and they said to me, we really don't know but we think this is what we should do but we are not sure. I agree to a plan, again, not knowing for sure but very concerned of millions dying. We will need the vast majority of Americans to "buy in" or our plan won't work.
Given the risk, I did what was done. Does that make me a bad person? I may be wrong, but I had to make a decision. AND, I could certainly with hindsight be determined wrong. Oh well, that is what faces leaders all the time. This was a HUGE decision.
Had I been more "honest" and said well we are not sure but let's go ahead and possibly wreck our economy, I doubt many people would have complied.
I am not a great writer, but I hope my point is coming across? Simply, we can all be armchair quarterbacks when we want to be.
I missed this one, David. Great piece! And please keep going on show's like Clay and Buck. Truth has no enemy except the Establishment.
Exceptionally well written and researched. Thank you for your article. Yes, Twitter had been largely disingenuous in their coverage of Covid. Their disinformation has created irreparable harm among many Americans and its consequences are well documented in your piece. Thank you.
How Twitter Rigged the Covid Debate.....In Concert With YouTube, Google, Facebook, and All of the MSM. FIFY
The arrogance, ignorance, cowardice and just plain stupidity of human beings never ceases to amaze me. How does an expert in epidemiology, from a leading medical institution, have his opinion squelched? Sounds like a great idea. We should be able to trust the White House. Isn't the safety of the American people one of the main purposes of government? And they wonder why there's so much division in this country.
Thank you for clear and balanced reporting.
We all knew, without the details, what was going on. Twitter, under Elon Musk, is correcting their profligate past. Shamefully, Democrats, Facebook, Google, YouTube, FBI, and others will continue their unacceptable behavior even though they know we know and they too, have read the Twitter files. Reprobate or Satanic are terms that seem appropriate.
Yes, he describes it brilliantly and in detail ... and in a way that helps me identify with (vs judge) those who get swept up in it. At the end of the day we all want similar things -- to thrive in a just society -- but due to the vastly different lenses we perceive with, we have radically different (and unreconcilable) ideas of what that means. If there was a way to work on the unconscious process of perception directly, we might be able to find common ground.
Government is the problem in 90% of these stories just like it is in 90% of the world's problems.
Not surprised, but the reality of what was done is really terrifying. And now that those in control know they can get away with it, I expect it to continue.
Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine have proven prophylactic effects. The vaccine is highly suspect re it's actual preventive effect. 97% has dropped to 94, then 91 then 80s and now below 50% after 10 - 15 wks. Adverse effects to the mRNA vaccines are varied and numerous and are surely questionable for those under 50yrs old re risk/benefit. No one under 20 unless with multiple comorbidities should take the vaccines, in my opinion.
My wife is in her 7th day in the hospital. She has had 4 shots, her latest booster was in early November.
My point is that as long as human beings are involved, you will get best efforts, but you won’t get perfect. Either in the government or in content moderation on social media. Their is a lot of hyper ventilation here, witness the reactions of so many readers. A more balanced and fair presentation would better serve the public interest.
Why peer review? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/281528
I started this whole comment stream with my statement that I’m torn on the subject. While against censorship, I’m also against forums that help people spew hatred, incite violence, and knowingly mislead. There should be at least checks and balances against that. For four years we’ve had cable TV devolve into platforms of spewing opinion in the guise of news.
Peer reviewed studies published in respected journals are one solid (not fool proof) way to understand. Data is evaluated, written into a paper and then reviewed and challenged by other experts in the field. Now with all the silly “journals” being published to cater to people’s opinions (The Journal of UFO’s, etc.), there are going to be silly peer reviewed articles pushed out there.
I’m not saying ban quacks like Steve Kirsch, but he’s an example of the kind of nonsense I can’t stand, publishing crazy, unsubstantiated bullshit to his gullible subscription-paying, conspiracy-loving followers. They live in their own bubble. Where this gets dangerous is when dark web hate groups feed each other lie after lie and eventually one of the crazies goes out and kills a bunch of people. Alex Jones is obviously another odious wackjob I’d like hung by his balls.
Anyway, facts count. Bullshit needs to be called out.
Agree. 100%!
Just read the comments and you will see how dangerous this reporting is to our society and to public health. What you fail to say is that well intended people both in the government and at Twitter were trying to do their very best, using their best judgement, to protect the public health. It is so easy in hindsight to be critical. Perhaps some stories were wrongly suppressed in the process, but these were human beings who care about society trying to do their very best. Perfect is the enemy of the good. Sensationalizing this stirs up lots of craziness, just read the comments. It inflames the haters, anti government sentiments (as a lawyer, I can state that there is nothing unconstitutional here), and anti vax sentiments. On the last point, one result is the reemergence of dangerous childhood diseases, threading all our children. Please be more thoughtful and balanced.
Wrong, troll. The Twitter files show a deep pattern of corrupt psychopaths abusing power, something not unusual in history.
So thankful for this!!