Thread by @HollyBlomberg

When governments ignore the pleas of epidemiologists, virologists & decide that the correct approach to the #SARSCoV2 pandemic is “let ‘er rip,” they are consigning huge swaths of society to early death or life long disability. #COVID19

The “let ‘er rip” or “herd immunity” perspective originated from the American Institute for Economic Research sponsored private retreat (October 2020) where three scientists/physicians with Ivy League pedigrees composed the now infamous Great Barrington Declaration

The Great Barrington Declaration called for “herd immunity,” argued against lockdowns, & suggested that young, healthy people have little to worry about.

Politicians & pundits wove a web of misinformation using these ideas that continues to deceive. Why?

One obvious thought: They’re attempting to justify the unjustifiable.

What do you call a movement to cull people who are poor, ill & disabled from society?

In the late 19th century, Francis Galton coined the term eugenics — a system in which “the more suitable races or strains of blood a better chance of prevailing speedily over the less suitable.” britannica.com/science/eugeni…

Since social darwinism was already en vogue at the time, eugenics rapidly gained acceptance in “polite” society

Just look at the horrific US Supreme Court decision in which Chief Justice Holmes justified involuntary sterilization of a “feeble-minded” woman by declaring that “three generations of imbeciles are enough.” 274 U.S. 200 (1927)

Neoliberal “free” market worship brought us back to the point where “survival of the fittest” mentality is openly accepted.

Through the pandemic we come face-to-face with fundamental, indeed existential questions. Just what kind of society have we become? counterpunch.org/2020/03/06/the…