Thread by @sunnshiiny

In no way do I believe Dr. Hinshaw wrote this op-ed.

It’s full of political talking points repeated by conservative partisan hacks.

By placing responsibility for this decision on Dr. Hinshaw’s shoulders, UCP is attempting to escape culpability for impending catastrophe.

https://twitter.com/adammacvicar/status/1422973750367203330

I’m not an epidemiologist. Nor am I a doctor. But plenty of these professionals have chimed in on this specific decision. From across Canada and the US. Not one has provided confirmation that this is an appropriate measure to take. Not one.

But this is the same policy being implemented across the US by Republican governors. A wave of delta variant is ravaging the US. Hospitalizing children under 12 and numerous people who are not fully vaccinated.

The exact same language and rationale is being used by those governors for the decision to ban masks in schools and public spaces. Almost word for word.

We can witness the capitulation to this policy by Republican governors and Canadian conservative premiers in unison.

There is no way this is supported by medical research or science.

News outlets across North America are reporting another surge in covid infections in multiple jurisdictions where the unvaccinated are contracting delta variant and dying. Many of them children under 12.

We can speculate the objectives, but the outcomes are clear. People are dying and getting sick in large numbers, especially in jurisdictions where fully vaccinated are low.

That includes Alberta.

The official number of fully vaccinated in Alberta is less than 60%. Several adults, more children between 12-17 and every child under 12 make up the people who are entirely without protection from delta variant. Yet Alberta government continues to assert the number is higher.

That should be the first clue that egregious fabrication of facts is occurring.

The question remains why. Why are far right governments removing protections from the vulnerable?

There is a reason about which we can only speculate.

But the common characteristic of all of these leaders is reliance on the Dominionist Christian community as a political support base.

That isn’t being reported by news outlets. In fact, I’ve struggled to find ANY who have identified this commonality among leaders in question.

In the past, this wouldn’t be an issue. But that past no longer exists and pretending that it does leaves every person at a disadvantage and incapable of making an informed choice about how to address this situation.

Two narratives exist concurrently.

One reality is based on actual scientific evidence and trust in democratic institutions.

The other is a fabricated reality based on anti science and mistrust of institutions. It includes faith in religious dogma and obedience to god, the church and divinely “chosen” leaders.

People are being given a choice which reality they prefer.

But there is only ONE true reality. And that reality involves a deadly covid variant that is being unleashed on a public only partially protected by vaccines. Many will contract delta & die, or develop lifelong illness.

That’s reality.

The manufactured fake reality being constructed by people with malicious intent is part of the “Big Lie” that Trump used to govern as President and to create the circumstances for the organized attempted coup d’état on January 6, 2021.

So why does that impact Canada, since Canadians are not required to be deeply enmeshed in a fake reality so Republicans can again attempt a coup?

Canadian Q’Anon believers, Dominionist Christians and white supremacist groups are deeply intertwined with US counterparts.

Controlling the constructed milieux which Trump/GOP base supporters exist within includes maintaining a consistent narrative and reducing cognitive dissonance.

If Canadian evangelicals & Q’Anon believers have a reality distinct from American counterparts, that creates problems.

Many may have not noticed, but Canadian Dominionist Christians have been vocally asserting themselves since January 6, 2021. It wasn’t just Grace Life church that refused to follow covid restrictions. Several churches across the nation refused.

John Carpay was representing them ALL in targeted court cases in several Canadian provinces that challenged government authority to temporarily remove rights and freedoms. BC, AB, SK, MB, ON and some churches in Atlantic provinces had ALL brought civil rights claims to court.

Most cases are before the courts right now. Being decided by judges who are weighing the validity of individual rights and freedoms over public health.

Similar cases are being decided across many democratic nations which implemented public health policies that removed rights.

In the US and Europe cases have been won by litigants who successfully argued individual freedom was more important than collective public health protection.

Global resistance to public health measures has exacerbated covid morbidity and mortality rates. Unnecessarily. This is not a problem limited to North America.

ALL Dominionist Christian and Q’Anon groups are intertwined. Not just US and Canada.

European, African, South and Central American, Australia, New Zealand, and Asian states all have challenges to covid measures. Most of them conducted by anti masker/anti vaccine activists and Dominionist Christians. It’s a global phenomenon.

To maintain control of so many people, those in control of this effort must maintain narrative consistency. Or risk losing control of those who have been enveloped in a cult following.

And that explains the alternate reality that’s been constructed and rigorously maintained.

The far right is a global cult & political movement. It’s not a valid ideology.

Those who have created & maintain this cult are globally connected. This isn’t some Alberta redneck curiosity to laugh & gawk at. It’s an organized, criminal cabal masquerading as regional govts.

It means the threat to democracy, human lives and climate change continues to be a very real existential threat.

These are typical mid level Dominionist Christian tweets. Not one is rooted in reality. They actually believe god will protect them or “rapture” them.

This is who UCP and most Canadian conservative political parties are: radicalized and extreme Dominionist Christians.

This screenshot is from 20 years ago. This is not a new threat. It’s just in your face now. We can NOT ignore it anymore.

The existential threat is real.

It would be in Albertans best interests to block this policy. It would be better if this illegitimate radical extremist political party were removed from power immediately.

But people are afraid.

They are inundated with daily disinformation & gaslighting.

The incitement to mistrust our leaders and institutions has been conducted for 20 years (or more) by people behind this effort.

Cynicism is the basis of mistrust and fear.

What are we exposed to all day every day?

Exaggerated scandals and incitement to doubt.

Everyday that what both conservatives and far left continue to offer.

The underlying narrative is reinforcing hate for PMJT and liberalism, loss of faith in institutions, confusion about science vs pseudoscience.

Your perception is being manipulated.

The facts are that PHAC and Dr. Tam have advised against removing covid precautions and restrictions too quickly. That advice is based on science, not a desire to restrict freedom.

The LPC federal government has led us successfully through a pandemic.

The truth is it’s the premiers that keep opening too soon and ensuring subsequent waves of infection. Because our constitution separates the power to control health policy from the federal government. All the feds can do is advise, not make policy.

But we still have accusations made daily about the ineptitude of the federal government in regard to covid policy. The feds don’t set covid policy. They advise. Just like Alberta’s CMOH Dr. Hinshaw. She advises, she does not control policy. Tyler Shandro and Jason Kenney do.

So this explanation from “Dr. Hinshaw” is an attempt to escape culpability. No responsible medical doctor would choose to ignore a deadly pandemic because of syphilis.

No responsible public health expert would put healthcare as an institution at risk to ignore a pandemic.

Why De. Hinshaw is behaving this way is inexplicable.

But she is not the person who made the final call to adopt zero intervention during the worst known covid variant’s spread in the community flying blind.

No. Only someone stuck in an alternate reality would believe that.

Reality is rarely pretty. But it’s rarely this ugly as well.

UCP is implementing a policy to kill people. Knowingly, purposely, intentionally and without blinking an eye about the carnage it will cause. Dr. Hinshaw is the scapegoat offered for the public to focus upon.

We are being systematically attacked by a radical extremist bunch of cult leaders. What their objective is remains unclear. But it sure as hell doesn’t involve the security and safety of Albertans. That’s abundantly clear.

Are you going to walk obediently to slaughter like an oblivious ignorant sheep?

Or are you going to do something to stop this unhinged bunch of religious nuts from destroying Alberta, Canada and North America for some unknown objective?

Baa or Nah?

https://twitter.com/sunnshiiny/status/1423164392716136449

@threadreaderapp please compile