03-12-2023, 02:35 PM
(03-12-2023, 02:29 PM)Dill Wrote: Not only are there already protocols in place for handling pandemics--including decisions about quarantine--but conditions under
which they may be imposed or rolled back are subject to all manner of checks and monitoring and democratic accountability. Not perfect,
but not "authoritarian" in character.
"Authoritarian" policies are imposed unilaterally by a leader/party with an eye towards enhancing/maintaining power and order without accountability. E.g., when they bypass educators and democratic process to control school curricula, unilaterally excluding knowledge areas which might contest the authoritarians ideological control and hold on power. Putin and Orban have directly forbidden the teaching of many subjects in their countries--like gender/LGBQT studies. Educators have no say.
DeSantis is doing the same in Florida right now, adding critical history to the list of above-mentioned excluded subjects, and that's one reason I want to call him an authoritarian. And I could add examples.
PS If "natural immunity" (of uncertain duration) is better than the vaccine at preventing the spread of COVID, that is still no argument against the vaccine--or would anyone argue that it is better to just get the disease to get immunity against the disease? On the other hand, the refusal of people to get vaccinated keeps the virus spreading and mutating. Authoritarianism figures into vaccine policy when one party's leaders spread disinformation about the topic to enhance its chances for regaining or retaining power. That often requires de-legitimating medical authority in favor of ideological, just as changing the curricula unilaterally requires de-legitimating educational authorities.
Kind of speaks the the issues China is having with covid at present. They had no herd immunity due to extreme lockdown, plus a really ineffective vaccine. Now they have 5 variants running around wreaking havoc and mutating faster than in other large populations.
