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Anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers are a completely different group than the individuals behind biosaftey now. These scientists publicly support and rally around vac

Anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers are a completely different group than the individuals behind biosaftey now. These scientists publicly support and rally around vaccines and public safety measures. But what they are against is reckless and unnecessary biodefense research that enhance pathogens and modify animal viruses to be infectious towards humans.

tehjoker 3y ago
I can get behind that, regardless of the origin of COVID-19. However, my concern is that so many of these political campaigns are billionaire / security state funded efforts to rally the public behind a "blame china" message so that way they can continue military aggression in the east designed to prop up American hegemony. There's also a liberal idea in some supporters of "lab leak". They think of how the Bush administration handled Anthrax and falsely accused Iraq of having Smallpox and they think a change of frame will trigger the biosecurity apparatus to protect us from COVID-19. Unfortunately, that was all BS to get the public onboard with the Iraq war and funnel money to defense contractors and their friends. Because the upper class is afraid of freezing the economy with mitigations, these "trigger" words do not hold any weight.
- baja_blast 3y ago
  > However, my concern is that so many of these political campaigns are billionaire / security state funded efforts to rally the public behind a "blame china" message so that way they can continue military aggression in the east designed to prop up American hegemony. Surprisingly that does not seem to be the case. I believe the security state is more interested in avoiding any gain of function restrictions bans from the Obama era coming back. Given all major economies close collaborations with the lab, as well as our own biodefense efforts lots of effort has been to suppress this, not to protect China but for their own interests.

tehjoker 3y ago

I can get behind that, regardless of the origin of COVID-19. However, my concern is that so many of these political campaigns are billionaire / security state funded efforts to rally the public behind a "blame china" message so that way they can continue military aggression in the east designed to prop up American hegemony. There's also a liberal idea in some supporters of "lab leak". They think of how the Bush administration handled Anthrax and falsely accused Iraq of having Smallpox and they think a change of frame will trigger the biosecurity apparatus to protect us from COVID-19. Unfortunately, that was all BS to get the public onboard with the Iraq war and funnel money to defense contractors and their friends. Because the upper class is afraid of freezing the economy with mitigations, these "trigger" words do not hold any weight.

baja_blast 3y ago
> However, my concern is that so many of these political campaigns are billionaire / security state funded efforts to rally the public behind a "blame china" message so that way they can continue military aggression in the east designed to prop up American hegemony. Surprisingly that does not seem to be the case. I believe the security state is more interested in avoiding any gain of function restrictions bans from the Obama era coming back. Given all major economies close collaborations with the lab, as well as our own biodefense efforts lots of effort has been to suppress this, not to protect China but for their own interests.