We’re in a strange political limbo: Joe Biden is systematically dealing with the transitional process in a composed manner and with full confidence he will be inaugurated on January 20th. However, in the foreground Donald Trump and his allies continue to protest that the election was stolen and Trump has been demanding the result be overturned. Following the election, surveys have found between 70-80% of Republicans think the election results were effected by fraudulent means, whilst Democrats have faith in the integrity of the election.

At the same time, the US is dealing with an early winter Covid surge. There has been a dramatic increase in hospitalisations across the country, and concerns about how high the death rate will go prior to the effective distribution of a vaccine. As with the results of the election, this critical issue is being made more difficult because of partisan divisions. There are significant differences of opinion on both sides regarding the seriousness of the disease and the need for measures and controls to limit its spread. The problem is that the decision to save lives through lockdowns and controls, whilst trying to support the economy, is a zero sum game. It is an issue that needs compassion and compromise, but instead the debate is increasingly polarised and bitter. The result is a confused picture of the seriousness of the virus where even mask wearing has become politicised.

While we contend with society living in alternative version of reality, people are still losing their livelihoods, people are developing serious mental health problems, and people are continuing to die.

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Show notes and transcription: https://www.defiance.news/podcast/chaos-04-alternate-realities

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Timestamps:
Coming soon…

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