South Dakota and Vermont have a lot in common. The two states have similar population sizes. Both states are mostly populated by older, white folks. Both populations have mostly medium income levels. So why the huge disparity in deaths due to COVID-19? Any guesses?
(Hint: this post's category is...?)
To a very large extent, this means there will be fewer RED voters left when the dust settles and the funerals are over-with. And some of the survivors may come to their senses. Yes, I know there were "innocents" affected. The vaccines were available to them too, as was the data that showed us all that they work. No sympathy. None. Vermont had no advantages but their politics.
Frankly, I wish there were a better way to turn red states blue. But hey, if one's ideology is literally bad for one's health, whose fault is that? And if self-inflicted death is what it takes to rid us of bad ideology, se la vie! It is natural selection in action!
If it were just a matter of "stupid is as stupid does", I'd say good riddance to bad rubbish.
Unfortunately, it is not.
There are far too many innocent people who suffer the consequences of their stupidity.
Yeah, all those walking Petri dishes, so worried about the economy, are breeding more transmissible and more virulent variants, some that might even evolve a way around our vaccines. Then where would we be? How good for the economy is that?
Having spent time in both states l can honestly say it is about education and ignorance. It is not complicated.
I suspect that is why people in Vermont elect people like Bernie, because they are not as brainwashed with religion and also are smart enough to understand basic economics and support policies that actually are in their own best interests, instead of voting for the interests of people way richer than them or hoping for a pie in the sky reward after death for being an obedient peasant.
It all comes down to people getting the covid vaccine, both shots.
Exactly! But why aren't they doing it in SD?
@Flyingsaucesir Has to do with antivaxxers and covid disinformation.
@xenoview
Let me rephrase my question: why are these people so susceptible to disinformation, conspiracy theories, lies, and other right-wing propaganda?
@Flyingsaucesir My guess is they are republican and christian. Maybe they watch fixed news.
@xenoview
So religious belief is like training wheels for conspiracy theories.
@Flyingsaucesir I guess that is one way to put it. They believe in a fairytale of a god.
It sometimes seems that extreme Republicanism has become a death wish.
Talk about cutting off the nose to spite the face!
If a ton of Republicans in super low population states die, we could have a bunch of rich democrats from California and New York move in during election years and steal several senators and electoral votes.
We could also make DC and Puerto Rico states, do away with the fillibuster, increase the number of justices on the Supreme Court,...
@Flyingsaucesir Those are things the government would need to do, which, as we all know, will likely be impossible. The flooding of the super small states with excess liberal voters from overwhelmingly democratic states is something the people could do on their own and then Mitch McConnell can go fuck himself right to death.
@JeffMurray
I have considered that, but I don't want to live in Texas, or North Dakota, or Kentucky, or Kansas, or Mississippi, or Arkansas, or Missouri, or...
@Flyingsaucesir I mean, it would be for well off folks that could have a dual residence situation.
Looks good to me.
Oooo, brutal!
Yet people continue to tell us why politics aren't important. "Oh, don't pay attention to them," they say. Argh.
"Have you ever heard of insect politics? Neither have I. Insects... don't have politics. They're very... brutal. No compassion, no compromise. We can't trust the insect. I'd like to become the first... insect politician. Y'see, I'd like to, but... I'm afraid, uh..."
-- from the 1986 movie, The Fly
@Flyingsaucesir Excellent quote.