The fact that epidemiologists now have to include a factor in their models for "how much the politicians in power will try to discredit us and thus how mistrustful the public will be about our warnings" is like...fucking surreal
A ton of you are being all "ohohoho i am so cynical and intelligent" about this but I need you to take a step back and look at how this is being handled and really think hard about it. This is not your run of the mill mishandling of a crisis. What I am talking about here where the levels repubs are going to to discredit experts in ways THEY didnt even anticipate to the point where it has to be considered when modeling how many people will die -- yes, it is a logical progression of e.g. how they handle global warming etc. But no it is not, like, something we should just be like "well thats normal" about. Its not. Its not normal.
Like yes yes politicians are evil or whatever but if you look at the way past US presidential administrations have dealt with the recommendations of epidemiologists it is... Worlds away. Like. Just absolutely this is not precedented! Yes scientists have long been ignored by politicians but this is... not ignoring. This is... Not....like. I dont know how to explain to u that this is not normal. Its not normal! It is bizarro world stuff!
This article has some really interesting stuff about past biodefense advocates and plans and how completely bananas what is happening now is compared to like. Any... Any other thing
Like ppl who wrote biodefense plans for the GWB administration are going "???" about what is happening now. Its bananas. Guys. Its completely insane
The fact that the president feels comfortable admitting that he gutted biodefense because ~he is a businessman~ and thinks treating the government of a nation like a corporation e.g. prioritizing maximizing profits... Is bananas. The culture in our country is bananas. This is all completely bananas