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Why This Anti-Science Fanaticism Is Dangerous for Democracy; The blue versus red vaccine divide is...terrifying from a democratic perspective (barf alert)
New Republic ^ | June 28, 2021 | Michael Tomasky

Posted on 06/28/2021 5:43:15 AM PDT by DoodleBob

...You’re probably thinking at this juncture that the point of this column is to make fun of red states. No. The point of this column is to denounce them. Their willful anti-science ignorance is going to prolong this pandemic by months (at least) and lead to thousands of needless deaths...

Almost worse, though, is how this anti-science fanaticism is perverting the meaning of the concept of freedom. This is dangerous for democracy in ways most people aren’t even thinking about right now.

...

Incredibly, the right has now established the “principle” that people can engage in potentially harmful action without any expectation that there will be consequences. Indeed, with the conviction that consequences are tyranny. Where does this end?

Now, the Delta variant... is “poised to divide the United States again, with highly vaccinated areas continuing toward post-pandemic freedom and poorly vaccinated regions threatened by greater caseloads and hospitalizations.”

One is almost tempted to think well, if they want to kill themselves and each other, that’s their business. But it isn’t that simple. When people really start travelling again, the virus will spread. Are we really going to have to go into a lockdown again because nearly half the country is so consumed by ideology-driven hatred of the other half that they’d literally rather see loved ones die than go get a simple shot?

Freedom in a democratic society depends on limits. My freedom is limited by your freedom, and where they clash, we have to make peace or decide to leave each other alone. That this core democratic principle has been tossed out the window by nearly half the country is mind-boggling. Voter suppression and gerrymandering aren’t the only ways that these people are destroying democracy.

(Excerpt) Read more at newrepublic.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Society
KEYWORDS: covid19; hydroxychloroquine; ivermectin; michaeltomasky; newrepublic; plaquenil; vaccines
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To: DoodleBob

I don’t accept - and WILL NOT TAKE ANY CRAP FROM - someone who runs around screaming “Science!” AND who also believes men can get pregnant!

You cannot be more anti-science and anti-reality than homosexual and transgender activists.

Now add people running around in masks. The other day I saw a young girl (teen) walking around the block in our semi-rural neighborhood, by herself, WEARING A MASK!

Liberals are insane!


21 posted on 06/28/2021 6:21:02 AM PDT by Mr Rogers
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To: Sixgun Symphony
Do you realize that you are a vector for the China virus?

Look at the facts. There is zero evidence that face masks work, in fact there is evidence that it is unhealthy. As per the vaccine, I won't deny anyone from taking it, but the vaccine is experimental. If you believe in forcing people to wear masks and forcing people to take the vaccine, then I would consider you an enemy of freedom and worthy of going to war against. You can jam your vector comment up your ass.

22 posted on 06/28/2021 6:22:07 AM PDT by ConservativeInPA (“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.” ― Thomas Jefferson)
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To: DoodleBob

Actually freedom depends on the discipline and morality of the people.

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
John Adams

Failing that, the country is ungovernable and tyranny inevitable.


23 posted on 06/28/2021 6:22:45 AM PDT by Little Ray (Corporations don't pay taxes. They collect them.)
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To: ConservativeInPA

They want us to take an experimental gene therapy notavax that is 75% effective against a virus we have a 99%+ chance of surviving.
And the notavax itself might actually be harmful.
I am going to wait about two years and see how it turns out.


24 posted on 06/28/2021 6:25:53 AM PDT by Little Ray (Corporations don't pay taxes. They collect them.)
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To: Alas Babylon!
Agreed. The divide, for me, is statists vs individualists....that divide usually breaks blue/red and Dem/Repub and left/right but not always.

Individualists want to be left alone to fulfill their manifest destiny. In many ways the individualists don't really care how their neighbors goes about their quest as long as there isn't a forceful nor fraudulent dispute. It's almost live and let live, though the individualist recognizes - and champions - cultures that facilitate freedom.

The statists want it all for themselves, are the smartest guys in the room, and abhor the individualist..."those grimy, filthy people don't want to give me what I want, and they don't know that it's BEST for them." Not only does the statist go about tearing down the freedoms that facilitate self-determination, but imprisoning (or exterminating...) those that object to what is in "their best interest."

Some statists are of the soft, liberal variety...they want to ban homeschooling to strengthen the public schools and "protect children who'd get a backwards education." They are usually not prone to lying to get things done, and are basically lemmings...ballast.

Then there are the Putins of the world...that snake would fly the rainbow flag over the Kremlin and stream Brokeback Mountain on RT if he thought it would give him more power to crush those who oppose him instead of his current faux "Christianity" gig. He is only concerned about himself and his kleptocracy- he's a lot like the Clintons and the DNC, only shrewder and with a better PR team.

25 posted on 06/28/2021 6:28:10 AM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s^2)
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To: DoodleBob

Well said, FRiend.


26 posted on 06/28/2021 6:48:03 AM PDT by Alas Babylon! ("You, the American people, are my only special interest." --President Donald J. Trump)
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To: DoodleBob

I’ll bet it’s terrifying to you Michael Tomasky, for there is a real potential that red states may be the only ones standing in the end.


27 posted on 06/28/2021 6:52:40 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: DoodleBob

The point of this column is to denounce them. \\\

How commie is that ?

Did that tactic come straight
from your little red book ?,
or did an academic feed it to you ?


28 posted on 06/28/2021 6:54:15 AM PDT by cuz1961 (USCGR Veteran )
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To: DoodleBob

Mr Michael Tomasky is perhaps too stupid to understand that science is all about evidence, not what he wants or the government claims.

The evidence is now available that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are dangerous for young men, and they probably shouldn’t take them at all.


29 posted on 06/28/2021 6:57:05 AM PDT by devere
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To: DoodleBob

And who get to pick the scientists?


30 posted on 06/28/2021 6:59:09 AM PDT by gloryblaze
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To: DoodleBob

The writer is dreaming and probably so nutty, that he. 87.6 % of people over 65 years of age have received at least one shot—probably mostly Republicans. 66% of people over 18 years of age, many of them Democrats.

Some feminists during the ‘90s said that “the personal is political,” and other Democrats continue to follow them to their political doom. People eventually tire of nasty politics and shun those who push it too far.


31 posted on 06/28/2021 7:03:47 AM PDT by familyop
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To: DoodleBob

“ Are we really going to have to go into a lockdown again because nearly half the country is so consumed by ideology-driven hatred of the other half that they’d literally rather see loved ones die than go get a simple shot?”

Ridiculous statement. Ignorant author. Laugh at people like this and shut them down.


32 posted on 06/28/2021 7:03:55 AM PDT by bk1000 (Banned from Breitbart)
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To: DoodleBob

Not only do I agree with everything you said there but let me add a simple point

Science is not engineering


33 posted on 06/28/2021 7:04:59 AM PDT by Truthoverpower (Arizona !!!! Now the TRUMP TRAIN is getting back on TRACK ! TRUTH! FREEDOM ! LIBERTY! )
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To: DoodleBob

Covid vaccines are Not a Blue vs Red issue.

Once again the Left attempts to divide us as they want.

There are plenty of people here on FreeRepublic who’s Conservative credentials are very clear.

Those same people, some are for and some are against the Covid vaccines.

I know Liberals (Blue to their core) that are against Covid vaccines.
They follow all the same information Conservatives do who are anti-Covid vaccines.

It’s not so clear cut as being for or against Covid vaccines doesn’t split down party lines. But the Leftist want you to think so.


34 posted on 06/28/2021 7:10:39 AM PDT by David Chase
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To: DoodleBob
Newtonian physics was wrong.

Newtonian physics is wrong to the extent that it is incomplete. We still teach Newtonian physics because, in many cases, it is sufficiently accurate to describe certain phenomena without the added complications of relativity or quantum mechanics, which are also incomplete.

35 posted on 06/28/2021 7:22:41 AM PDT by kosciusko51
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To: DoodleBob

Who gives AF about the goings-on at a failed leftist rag? “Oh look... a dumb lefty jackass said something dumb.”

Being that you practically live here now, do you ever post anything useful?


36 posted on 06/28/2021 7:23:25 AM PDT by AAABEST (NY/DC/LA media/political/military industrial complex DELENDA EST)
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To: Truthoverpower
Science is not engineering

Will you elaborate?

37 posted on 06/28/2021 7:25:09 AM PDT by kosciusko51
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To: AAABEST

Yes.


38 posted on 06/28/2021 7:26:31 AM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s^2)
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To: DoodleBob

Most staunch Trump supporters that I know have been vaccinated.


39 posted on 06/28/2021 7:29:52 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: DoodleBob
When Michael Tomasky refers to willful anti-science ignorance, how does he explain the Left insisting that XX or XY are something other than that?

When Michael Tomasky refers to willful anti-science ignorance, how does he explain the Left promoting the fraud of Global Warming "Climate Change"?

If course Michael Tomasky ignores real science because he's just a paid propagandist.

40 posted on 06/28/2021 7:35:31 AM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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