Another well written article David. I don't comment much, but I do read and always appreciate your thoughtful articles. To respond to your statement about not knowing anyone who is anti-vax who isn't a Trump supporter, am guessing you probably don't run into too many of the 'New Age' types. (Just using that term as a quick catch-all phrase). There are quite a few in this group (millions?) that are anti-vax and would never dream of voting for Trump. For example, I don't know if Marianne Williamson (Democratic Presidential candidate in 2020) has gotten vaccinated or not, but no doubt there are many folks who supported her that are anti-vax. From what I can tell, the view point seems to be one of wanting to keep things 'natural' in terms of illness and prevention, and vaccines are seen as 'artificial'.
To add one more point, some folks in the 'New Age' category seem to have soured on the progressive agenda, and seem to like the populism that Trump promoted and have become Trump supporters. (Personally, I don't find this particular group to have well thought through ideas or views). At any rate, it's an interesting and unusual confluence of left-wing and right-wing folks who are anti-vax.
Good comment (I don't normally chime in on David's articles, because, well, they're HIS). I do want to note that not having "well thought through" ideas is one thing many ardent Trumpists and non-Trump anti-vaxxers have in common. My $0.02 is that the Trump supporters have a gift of being able to hold two contradictory ideals simultaneously without recognizing the logical contradiction. They'll continue to support Trump, justifying his vaccine support, while still believing that the vaccines are evil.
It’s true that I don’t know many New Agers. About the closest is some Bernie Bros in my extended family. To the best of my knowledge, they are vaccinated.
The first anti-vaxxers that I knew were a Christian family whose husband was my coworker. They opposed vaccines because of the connection to stem cells and abortion. They were also quick to jump on the Trump Train in 2016. I assume they still are supporters.
At some point, person just has to trust someone who knows more than he does. It takes a lot of faith to eat that first raw oyster. My Dad had fresh unshucked oysters shipped to NE Georgia a couple of times every year - a rare extravagance for him. I figured if he would spend money that way, I would give it a try. Glad I did. I'm also glad I got my three Covid shots but I'm disappointed that the breakthrough cases and subsequent quarantines and shutdowns have made the post vaccine world seem to be the same as the pre-vaccine world.
My Dad also introduced me to conflicting opinions. He graduated from high school in 1931 and the Great Depression hit his family hard. He worked in a CCC camp to help feed the family. He thought FDR saved the nation. He eventually became a manager at a Fortune 500 company and grew to hate labor unions and taxes. He still voted democrat.
I agree with Steve that the pandemic is coming to an end. When I look back in history, an awful lot of pandemics lasted about two years (AIDS being an exception). This one may end up being fairly typical.
Curtis, are you my brother? My dad followed the same path. 8 kids in the family during the Depression. Worked in the CCC camps then entered the war in the Pacific. Got out had kids and went to the university on the GI bill. We depart with the shell fish thing. We lived most of our lives in Wa St on Puget Sound and are very allergic to shell fish. heh. I am still fully vaxxed because I'm not stupid.
Sorry about the allergy, glad you're vaxxed. I doubt we are related although I did spend enough time on Puget Sound to have a son born in Seattle. I was stationed at Fort Lawton (now some sort of woke park) with the US Army Air Defense Command. I still miss the Dungeness crab and fresh salmon.
I can tell you by experience that those active on the Interwebs of Life are not that happy about Trump's take. For myself, I think he was persuaded that since the votes are in the burbs. and they pretty much hate his old take on vaxxes, it might be worth a change up on messaging.
No, to answer you question, David, they won't be taking a stroll to the vax clinic. They have clinged to that bough too long.
Another well written article David. I don't comment much, but I do read and always appreciate your thoughtful articles. To respond to your statement about not knowing anyone who is anti-vax who isn't a Trump supporter, am guessing you probably don't run into too many of the 'New Age' types. (Just using that term as a quick catch-all phrase). There are quite a few in this group (millions?) that are anti-vax and would never dream of voting for Trump. For example, I don't know if Marianne Williamson (Democratic Presidential candidate in 2020) has gotten vaccinated or not, but no doubt there are many folks who supported her that are anti-vax. From what I can tell, the view point seems to be one of wanting to keep things 'natural' in terms of illness and prevention, and vaccines are seen as 'artificial'.
To add one more point, some folks in the 'New Age' category seem to have soured on the progressive agenda, and seem to like the populism that Trump promoted and have become Trump supporters. (Personally, I don't find this particular group to have well thought through ideas or views). At any rate, it's an interesting and unusual confluence of left-wing and right-wing folks who are anti-vax.
Good comment (I don't normally chime in on David's articles, because, well, they're HIS). I do want to note that not having "well thought through" ideas is one thing many ardent Trumpists and non-Trump anti-vaxxers have in common. My $0.02 is that the Trump supporters have a gift of being able to hold two contradictory ideals simultaneously without recognizing the logical contradiction. They'll continue to support Trump, justifying his vaccine support, while still believing that the vaccines are evil.
It’s true that I don’t know many New Agers. About the closest is some Bernie Bros in my extended family. To the best of my knowledge, they are vaccinated.
The first anti-vaxxers that I knew were a Christian family whose husband was my coworker. They opposed vaccines because of the connection to stem cells and abortion. They were also quick to jump on the Trump Train in 2016. I assume they still are supporters.
At some point, person just has to trust someone who knows more than he does. It takes a lot of faith to eat that first raw oyster. My Dad had fresh unshucked oysters shipped to NE Georgia a couple of times every year - a rare extravagance for him. I figured if he would spend money that way, I would give it a try. Glad I did. I'm also glad I got my three Covid shots but I'm disappointed that the breakthrough cases and subsequent quarantines and shutdowns have made the post vaccine world seem to be the same as the pre-vaccine world.
My Dad also introduced me to conflicting opinions. He graduated from high school in 1931 and the Great Depression hit his family hard. He worked in a CCC camp to help feed the family. He thought FDR saved the nation. He eventually became a manager at a Fortune 500 company and grew to hate labor unions and taxes. He still voted democrat.
I agree with Steve that the pandemic is coming to an end. When I look back in history, an awful lot of pandemics lasted about two years (AIDS being an exception). This one may end up being fairly typical.
When it officially ends we need a national oohrah and celebration.
Curtis, are you my brother? My dad followed the same path. 8 kids in the family during the Depression. Worked in the CCC camps then entered the war in the Pacific. Got out had kids and went to the university on the GI bill. We depart with the shell fish thing. We lived most of our lives in Wa St on Puget Sound and are very allergic to shell fish. heh. I am still fully vaxxed because I'm not stupid.
Sorry about the allergy, glad you're vaxxed. I doubt we are related although I did spend enough time on Puget Sound to have a son born in Seattle. I was stationed at Fort Lawton (now some sort of woke park) with the US Army Air Defense Command. I still miss the Dungeness crab and fresh salmon.
I used to follow Values Voter, back before Twitter permanently suspended my account. Now I can't follow anybody. :(
President Trump supports the Trump Covid vaccine, makes perfect sense to me and I guess I really wonder why anyone would think differently.
I can tell you by experience that those active on the Interwebs of Life are not that happy about Trump's take. For myself, I think he was persuaded that since the votes are in the burbs. and they pretty much hate his old take on vaxxes, it might be worth a change up on messaging.
No, to answer you question, David, they won't be taking a stroll to the vax clinic. They have clinged to that bough too long.