Thread by @ToddZywicki

This should not come as a surprise anymore, but the ability of some people to justify to themselves the moral righteousness of their opinions is still startling. Think about the idea of a moral basis for denying people access to medical services if they don't accept vax.

Think about this case of a woman who says she has NI and recently tested for antibodies (I will assume the facts are accurate for purposes of discussion--the point is general). And was denied a kidney transplant from a willing donor by the medical center. rightandfree.com/news/2021/10/0…

So to make sure we see the implications of this "morality."

if she was an armed robber who shot up a restaurant, killed a dozen people, and was shot escaping, if he was vaccinated he would be entitled to medical treatment ahead of an unvaccinated person.

A drunk driver who killed a family of 5 and was injured would get medical treatment ahead of a person with a legitimate religious exemption from receiving vaccination.

A child molester who happened to be vaccinated and was stabbed by someone in self-defense would be entitled to medical treatment ahead of an unvaccinated person.

A vaccinated, pot-smoking (elevated risk of breakthrough infection), overweight (elevated risk) guy who hasn't exercised in over a decade and eats nothing but red meat and takes no mitigation cautions would be entitled to medical treatment ahead of an otherwise healthy person.

A vaccinated mass-murderer who escapes from prison, kills some prison guards, goes on a crime spree, and then gets in a car accident following a high-speed highway chase is considered more morally worthy of medical treatment than a healthy person who chooses not to get vaxxed.

Really? And the people who believe this stuff actually think of themselves as having morality on their side?

I remember reading about this in another context where reporters were tut-tutting that "people with gunshot wounds" were being turned away for Covid-related treatment. And I thought to myself, "Do they think that 'people with gunshot wounds' just happen to ordinary people?"

Of course not. But it shows the extraordinary ability even intelligent people have to reason self-interest as morally justified. Although maybe I should say "especially" instead of "even" because I suspect moralistic rationalization is positively correlated with intelligence.