Hey folks, let’s chat about a trend that’s been making the rounds lately. It’s this idea that somehow, the way we’ve handled COVID is a window into some sinister side of climate policy. Now, both public health measures for COVID and climate strategies are about dodging major global threats. And let’s not sugarcoat it, COVID has been brutal, claiming the lives of over a million folks in the U.S. alone. But that doesn’t quite get to the heart of why some people are whispering about conspiracies.
Political Rhetoric Fueling Conspiracies
So, this whole conspiracy angle really came into the spotlight when Vice Presidential candidate Nicole Shanahan took the stage on May 13. The New York Times quoted her saying, “I often said Covid was the truth serum… Because it showed us things that people have been trying to hide from us for a really long time.” She also mentioned feeling “controlled and captured and manipulated and herded,” and made it clear she’s not the only one fed up with it.
Shanahan’s running mate, RJK Jr., isn’t shy about connecting these dark sentiments about public health measures to climate policy. He’s been vocal about his belief that climate and pollution issues are being twisted by the likes of the World Economic Forum and Bill Gates, among other wealthy elites, in the same way COVID was, allegedly to tighten the grip of top-down control over society.
Expanding on Climate Crisis Concerns
In an interview, Kennedy dives deeper, claiming the climate crisis has been hijacked by the same “billionaire boys’ club” that supposedly exploited the COVID crisis. He argues their aim is to create a society divided by power and wealth, with the rich calling the shots and the rest left with little control over their lives. He sees every crisis as a chance for them to impose more control.
And Kennedy isn’t alone in this line of thinking. He points out that many Americans, already weary from COVID, worry that the climate issue is just another scenario where a crisis could be used to enforce authoritarian controls and funnel wealth to those already on top.
The Wider Spread of Distrust
These concerns aren’t exclusive to a couple of political newcomers. Their followers, and a broader audience, might be nodding along. We’ve heard whispers of “climate lockdowns” and grumbles about climate policy threatening basic freedoms. At the root of it all is a deep-seated mistrust of authority, whether it’s the government or scientific experts, and a fear of being manipulated by unseen forces.
This kind of sentiment isn’t new, but it seems COVID has really brought it out into the open. And as Shanahan and Kennedy show us, it’s a short leap for those who buy into COVID conspiracies to transfer that same skepticism to climate change policies.
Understanding the Psychology Behind the Response
Getting a handle on the psychological underpinnings of this destructive reaction to crises could be key to dealing with future emergencies. But let’s be real, that understanding won’t be much consolation to the generations that will bear the brunt of climate change. Nor does it help those who’ve lost loved ones to COVID, partly because some refused to follow basic public health steps.
At the end of the day, these conspiracy theories and the distrust they breed can have real consequences. Whether it’s undermining efforts to fight a pandemic or slowing down crucial climate action, the impact goes beyond just talk. It’s about the world we’re shaping for tomorrow, and how we choose to confront the challenges that come our way.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://pardonresearch.com/?p=17549