Believe what you can see, and not what politicos tell you

0

MINOT, N.D. — Of the many things that afflict our society in these deeply divided times is the decline in empiricism.

From self-serving politicians to political pundits to the keyboard warriors of social media, the average American is swamped in competing narratives on a daily basis. It can be difficult to see through that miasma to the world as it is, and not as some politico would have you believe it is.

Take the debate over vaccines.

Empiricism tells us they are safe and work to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. If you are vaccinated, you’re less likely to get sick, and if you do get sick, you’re less likely to become severely ill and die.

The politicians and the pundits and the Facebook demagogues, citing misleading data and various medical quackery, would have you ignore what is plainly true and eschew vaccination.

Continue reading…