Good afternoon all,
Here are a couple of odds and ends from an interesting and contentious week.
One reader took us to task for noting that 70% of Americans were in favor of the $1.3 trillion infrastructure bill.
“You need to report things other than some fictional group of seven out of 10 people being for an infrastructure bill. That newspaper article belongs in the fiction section of the local library,” he wrote.
First of all, we are not a dead tree media outlet. It is true that I neglected to cite a source – here it is.
Contrary to the writer’s opinion (he said he has not talked to anyone in the business community who favors the bill), the legislation is popular, even with some in small businesses.
The writer went on to rail against government spending coming out in recent Covid-19 bills. In this instance, he has a point. We are seeing signs of inflation, although the recent uptick in Covid-19 cases is beginning to have a negative impact on gas prices and travel.
Vaccine madness
Finally, the week produced a surge in goofy posts over not getting the vaccine or even taking a coronavirus test. It came after ChristianaCare made vaccinations mandatory and the State of Delaware went to a vaccinate or get tested strategy while imposing mask-wearing in schools.
A widely held view is that employers do not have a right to demand vaccinations or even testing as a condition of employment.
The personal liberty argument, which goes against the prevailing view that business has a right to set its own rules, generally leads to name-calling from both sides.
Equally suspicious is the claim that vaccination is a personal matter. This defense is used by some who promote dubious claims but have actually been vaccinated. Vaccinations also do not reveal a person’s medical condition.
Along the way, the usual myths about Covid-19 are repeated, with memes and screenshots used to evade any Facebook bots that flag questionable posts.
One myth involves graphene, a material that could provide a breakthrough in battery technology. One tale making its rounds on social media claims that graphene was found in the Pfizer vaccine.
It turns out that the Spanish researcher said he received a vial that contained the material but had no way to trace its origin. The university was quick to disavow the work.
Sadly, this junk will continue to circulate. Too often, those battling back often engage in name-calling rather than doing a little googling and posting more accurate information.
Here’s to a cooler weekend. This newsletter returns on Monday. – Doug Rainey, chief content officer.
