Don't Gloat

I watch mainly left wing videos on YouTube. There are two main reasons for this bias; 1) I identify as a socialist, which means I'm automatically also an anti-capitalist, and 2) the YouTube algorithms that serve me the content I prefer. I try to negate the effect of the algorithms by consciously clicking and watching right wing content occasionally, but by now I've learned this is a fight I can not win.

The above is just to let everyone know where I stand on the political spectrum, and to let you know where the content of today's post comes from. Something's happening in left wing circles that I'm rather disgusted with; I see more and more left wing commentators and vloggers gloat about the growing number of covid-19 related deaths among their ideological adversaries. When you scroll through recent news, there's no escaping the growing number of headlines saying that anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers are dying of covid-19. That's to be expected. Trump and the GOP lost the general elections, in part, because they spread misinformation about mail-in voting, and now they lose lifes because they spread misinformation and fear about mask-wearing and vaccines. And while I have no problem with gloating about Trump losing the elections because of the lies he himself spread among his base, it's several bridges too far to gloat about people losing their lifes for believing the lies fed to them.

I know that I myself border on making fun at the expense of the political right, so I'm not completely without blame here. But there are limits. When I hear pundits say things like "I don't care anymore what happens to them," or "it's their own damn fault for buying into the lies of their little right wing cult," I feel sad. I mean, these are people, human beings with families and loved ones, dammit. Yes, I cringe as hard as anyone when I see yet another video of freedom-loving conservatives rant about their "God-given" inalienable rights to freedom when they loudly proclaim that a cloth mask blocks their breathing. And yes, it's a stupid argument to make, and it shows a level of selfishness and a lack of consideration for other people's health. I agree with all of that. But to gloat when they fall on the knife given to them by their irresponsible cultural, political and religious leaders... That's just not done, as far as I'm concerned.

It's a reason to feel sorry for them, not to gloat over them "getting what they deserve." You see, these poor people are victims of the rhetoric from their leaders. And these leaders are all vaccinated, mind you. When asked they sometimes admit this, but sometimes they go on the attack, claiming we're not entitled to know if they're vaccinated or not. Even Trump himself said during a rally that he took the vaccine, but he got booed for it; even he can't contain the monster he and his ilk have created. I've said this a couple of times already, but I also don't know how to reach these people, even called them TFG, "Too Far Gone." But let's not celebrate the deaths of these people like it's just the next political victory; it isn't. In my opinion it's just another sign of society in decline, a collective failing to do what's best for us all. So, if you count yourself among the left or center, please don't gloat when you watch the below linked video about an article that reports some horrific statistics about covid-19 deaths in blue states compared to red states.

"In counties where Donald Trump received at least 70 percent of the vote, the virus has killed about 47 out of every 100,000 people since the end of June, according to Charles Gaba, a health care analyst. In counties where Trump won less than 32 percent of the vote, the number is about 10 out of 100,000."

This is only one study by one health care analyst, so it's wise to take this with a small grain of salt. I say only a small grain because this news doe match other statistics and what was to be expected...

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and reading my posts dear reader, I appreciate that a lot :-) If you like my content, please consider leaving a comment, upvote or resteem. I'll be back here tomorrow and sincerely hope you'll join me. Until then, stay safe, stay healthy!