2/ Strangely, 1) does not seem to have led policy/opinion makers to shift their bets on other horses or mellow their speech. Actually, pro-vaccination speakers have greatly radicalized this year, now advocating more and more openly shaming and punishment of unvaccinated people.
That looks something like Evaporative Cooling of Group Beliefs if the cult was so powerful it could punish dissenders. And I’m honestly frightened by that.
I agree that this is a Sad own-goal – politicizing the vaccination efforts – but that’s because I’m convinced that the vaccines are pretty effective.
But I don’t think it’s actually ‘strange’ that this happened; Sad, yes, but not strange (or thus unexpected).
I agree that this is a Sad own-goal – politicizing the vaccination efforts – but that’s because I’m convinced that the vaccines are pretty effective.
But I don’t think it’s actually ‘strange’ that this happened; Sad, yes, but not strange (or thus unexpected).