Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Matthew Continetti joins the podcast today to discuss the interesting decision of the Biden administration to go apocalyptic about the COVID threat even as vaccinations accelerate—and we discuss the objections by listeners to the idea that they should get vaccinated. And a whole lot more. Give a listen.
Subscribe to The Commentary Magazine Podcast in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.
Listening now, you missed a group that has rejections…
Have family member who doesn’t want the vaccines right now, would be open to getting it after a year or so. So excited to be the second person in line after the first group has had it and over a longer period time. Mid 30s, already had covid (very mild) and currently has antibodies. This person figures there is not any huge risk to the vaccines but, isn’t sure a huge number of people can/have gotten it a second time or if they have it’s been so mild they didn’t even know. S
So the way they look at it way less risk to just skip the vaccines for now, figures they will be required to when it’s out of the emergency authorization and will get at that point. I know JPOD would hate this person… wonder what the rest of the group would rule in this situation.
You said that Biden gave VP Harris a job that is more properly that of the Secretary of State. But I suspect that Antony Blinken is happy for her to take the problem. Finding a solution to Central American illegal migrants that could satisfy the Democrat base, and not be unpopular with the overall electorate, may be impossible.
Two of my kids, aged 33 and 36 have had the vaccine and my youngest, aged 30, wants it as soon as possible. I think the emergency is to get it into as many arms as possible so the virus has no hosts left. My husband and I will be getting our second dose of Moderna in April.
Reinfection has been reported but is extremely rare. 0.65%.
“The first large-scale investigation to tackle that question was published in The Lancet this week, and it found that the vast majority of people who have had COVID-19 are indeed protected from catching it again — for at least six months. However, people ages 65 and older are far more likely than younger individuals to experience repeat infection.
The researchers analyzed data from Denmark’s national COVID-19 testing program, which has offered free PCR testing to roughly 4 million people living in the country. Overall, they found that a very small percentage of the population — 0.65% — experienced reinfection.”
Thank you.
On the subject of vaccines:
Like John Podhoretz, I’ve never been particularly afraid of the vaccine. My stance on masks is I hate them, and with a few exceptions, including work, I don’t enter an area that requires them. For example, all my grocery shopping is done curbside, since all we have in my town are national chains with a mandate. Where possible, I give my business to those without mask mandates over those with with them.
So my vaccine stance comes down to, tell me I’m done with all of it if I take the vaccine, after a reasonable time (probably 2 weeks).
That includes the mask mandate. For me, it especially includes the mask mandate.
Given that the panel is a proponent of vaccine passports, that shouldn’t be a problem.
I’ll add, though, one thing that hasn’t been discussed in this last podcast, and that is if you take the vaccine, you’re protected. So once the vaccine is readily available, why is social distancing still required?
On Kamala Harris’s “nervous giggle” or Joker laugh:
While I doubt that Margaret Thatcher ever had a giggle, she apparently had problems with the way she talked. Perhaps she sounded too harsh (Hilary Clinton’s problem). My point is she got a voice coach and with great discipline she solved that problem.
In Harris’s case, why hasn’t she made the effort to change? It could be a combination of a few things, including that she’s simply not disciplined enough.
But another theory I have is that she knows its irritating, and for her that’s a plus. She’s a tyrant to her staff, so it’s a plus from that viewpoint, and her political enemies find it irritating, so that’s also a plus.
I wonder, when she was young, up and coming, and trying to please powerful people was she more careful about laughing?