https://thehill.com/homenews/news/529841-fauci-addresses-black-americans-vaccine-concerns-this-was-developed-by-an?amp

Dude, this shit is exhausting. Fauci could've been promoting a lockdown instead of promoting a narrative about how this public health crisis can only be solved through personal responsibility. Now we're pivoting to the idea that black people are irrational, and nevermind that a quarter million people were just killed as a matter of convenience and how that might affect your trust in the government.

Anyway, my mom is mad at me for saying I hope Fauci gets COVID. How could I say that about this man who has no influence but is somehow still on CNN every fucking day?

  • LoMeinTenants [any]
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    4 years ago

    Because -- if we can ditch political correctness for a minute -- Black Americans skew low in science literacy and trust in the establishment (and therefore volunteering to take the vaccine -- despite being among the highest populations per capita to contract Covid-19) means they need a little assuaging to feel more comfortable taking it. This is good, despite the hardon for hate everyone has here.

    • maverick [they/them]
      ·
      4 years ago

      Black people also have a history of being used as test subjects for medical experiments in the US. Not saying that's probably going on here but it's not unreasonable for black people to be wary of a new vaccine that has barely been tested and is being actively emphasised to black people.

    • anthm17 [he/him]
      ·
      4 years ago

      Black Americans skew low in science literacy and trust in the establishment

      Might have something to do with the government doing inhuman experiments on them.

    • Rod_Blagojevic [none/use name]
      hexagon
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      edit-2
      4 years ago

      So I might have my head a little up my ass is what you're saying. I agree. But as a counterpoint, it seems to me that the option to vaccinate is not going to be well recieved despite it being the most profitable option for private industry.

      We might ultimately just need the lockdown Fauci should've been trying to normalize all along. Also, this might not breakdown along our normal culture war fault lines where we just dump on rural, working class white people. We're gonna blame working class black people too. Meanwhile we'll still have the pandemic that could've been ended a year ago and it doesn't seem to me that condescending to/educating black people (whatever it may be) is gonna save this dead end option.

      • LoMeinTenants [any]
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        4 years ago

        At the end of the day, it's a war against disinformation, and even these patronizing gestures should be welcome if they contribute to alleviating some of the stress of this pandemic.

        • Rod_Blagojevic [none/use name]
          hexagon
          ·
          4 years ago

          I suppose. But I feel like Fauci himself built the foundation for all of the disinformation by spending almost a year now talking about everything but the need for a lockdown. He created a robust debate about whether or not we should wear masks, which wouldn't end the pandemic anyway, when he could've promoted (instead of obscuring) an actual solution.

          • LoMeinTenants [any]
            ·
            4 years ago

            I mean, if you're putting the responsibility on Fauci to have mobilized the nation and government into action, it's not gonna turn out well. His biggest cock-up was the mask thing at the beginning, but otherwise, the reality is if he stepped down or was bullied out of his position, it would have been a Trump stooge FAR worse than Fauci. In that respect, I can't bring myself to wish harm on him.

            • Rod_Blagojevic [none/use name]
              hexagon
              ·
              4 years ago

              I'm in the world of hypotheticals now, but I don't think a Trump buffoon worse than Fauci would have the credibility to influence discourse at all. For whatever reason people are still looking to Fauci and it seems to me like he's lying to them.

                • Rod_Blagojevic [none/use name]
                  hexagon
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                  4 years ago

                  That we don't need a lockdown and that masks used imperfectly along with a vaccine many people won't take will be sufficient.

                  • LoMeinTenants [any]
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                    4 years ago

                    Ah shit, you weren't kidding

                    Fauci said the US has 'no appetite' for lockdowns but mask wearing and distancing could be enough, the day after a Biden advisor called for a weeks-long lockdown

                    We live in hellworld.

                    • Rod_Blagojevic [none/use name]
                      hexagon
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                      edit-2
                      4 years ago

                      I didn't even see that. I thought he was problematic in a more subtle way. Maybe I hope he gets Ebola instead.

                      Edit: Lol

          • Rod_Blagojevic [none/use name]
            hexagon
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            edit-2
            4 years ago

            I get that masks help, but they definitely oversold them as our only possible response while we wait for a vaccine. I would call that disinformation.