America is clearly divided. Democrats get vaccinated, Republicans don’t want to. Now, vaccine demands are rising for a virus clinically proven to cause no harm 40% of the time. Two in five people with the Omicron variant of COVID won’t have symptoms. When Democrats hear that, they fear the virus more because lack of symptoms makes it more sneaky. When Republicans hear that, they fear the virus less because lack of symptoms is lack of real threat. The same virus invokes opposite reactions.
Republican states argue to block vaccine mandates over technicalities. Democratic-controlled governments argue “science”—when “40% asymptomatic” means 40% zero risk of harm. Neither side presents the strongest case in their own favor. Republican states should argue lack of symptoms and Democrats should argue that workforce hubs do matter.
Our response to the virus is not the problem; our polarity over any response is devastating. The virus hasn’t torn the country apart; our division has. As the saying goes, it’s all in the mind. The strange part is that a billionaire’s daily 40 minutes of meditation is making headlines in a nation that mostly doesn’t see the contradiction of its own thought life. But, some do, enough to make headlines about mind time worthwhile to the ever changing news industry.
Trump
Think & Grow
News Media, Journalism & Free speech
Why Are So Many Prominent Journalists Abandoning Journalism? // Reason
Soc Media, Cybersecurity & Tech
Jack Dorsey Got Bored of Twitter Too // The Atlantic
Pandemic
Retiring NIH director Francis Collins warns of enormous omicron wave // NPR
Omicron cases double overnight: Variant is now confirmed in 44 states // Daily Mail
NY governor plans to add booster shot to definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ // The Hill
Court rules Biden’s vaccine mandate for large employers can take effect // Guardian