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The covid crisis has driven wedges through both the left and the right.
Covid deniers come from both sides. Deniers may think covid is blown out of all proportion, it is no worse than the flu. They may think the state reaction and lockdowns are worse than the disease itself. A ramping up of the surveillance state. They can believe that herd immunity is the way to go. They may follow some wacky conspiracy theory. It is really the 5G network. It’s a plot devised by China. It’s engineered to get us vaccinated. They will inject a chip to control us.
People with the opposite perspective also come from both sides. They are worried about the disease and support state action to contain it. They are hoping a vaccine will be found. They generally trust the medical science from mainstream sources. They acknowledge the downside of the lockdown — but also see it as necessary in the circumstances. They do not believe the government is doing everything right. But the mistakes are not part of any mysterious agenda.
The covid crisis is the first serious stumble. On a path leading from environmental crisis to an unforeseeable future. At the very least, the end of first world affluence as we have known it — and probably something a lot more drastic.
The denialist side wants to bring on the end times now. Nothing works so let’s not pretend there are any sensible solutions. Everything that mainstream authorities say is a hoax. What we see on the surface of political life is a mask covering evil conspiracies. Shady elites rule and the masses are hoodwinked. Rabid individualism is the sensible response. Accelerate the collapse.
The other side is not unaware of the long-term problems. Their motto is ‘steady as she goes’. Energy descent, not uncontrolled collapse. Try for positive solutions. Trust the science. Appreciate small gains but don’t expect too much from the system. There are elites but they are far from hidden. State action should be judged on its merits, you cannot assume an evil plot.