It’s not a plandemic, but don’t think policy makers on all levels don’t suffer from motivated reasoning.

It’s not a plandemic, but don’t think policy makers on all levels don’t suffer from motivated reasoning. 👾

People often do things both consciously and subconsciously because they think something will benefit themselves or their in group. They will take a look at numbers and data a certain way, through a certain value prism because they perceive a personal or in group benefit.

All the evidence points to Coronavirus being rather bad, killing tens of not hundreds of thousands Americans in a national crisis that is spinning out of control. Not that it was intentionally meant to be this way – killing tens or possibly soon hundreds thousands of Americans – but became that way due to the particularity of the human species, the interaction of the problematic RNA with the culture, norms and mores of our American society.

I am sure most scientists and policymakers are pushing for the best outcome but their choices and biases are not always explicit in what they say. In many cases, these people aren’t even aware of their bias, they’re just pushing for what they believe is right.

Are public health experts and politicians pushing for overly protective measures, not needed in all communities? Yes, probably. Certainly, emphasizing the crisis brings in more money and prestige to public health agencies. Nobody is cutting public health agencies these days. Plus workers at public health agencies genuinely care about people’s health even if their bias is to be overly cautious about disease.

Do politicians love getting all the lime light and showing their raw power? Of course. Daily press briefings make people feel important, stroke egos. Many believe they’re doing a public service but good poll numbers feel good.

Do politicians love picking winners and losers during the shutdown, all while being showered with campaign contributions and wining and dinning with lobbyists? You betcha. It’s expensive to get your campaign message out.

Every industry with money and clout has to be pushing for an exemption so they can open up sooner and resume making profit. Coronavirus gives politicians unique power of business that they’ve not ever had before. That means contributions towards future campaign communication efforts.

Ideologues and partisans are not exempted…

Liberals like Coronavirus as it gives them a chance to highlight the good things that a strong central government can do. It highlights the unemployment system, the welfare benefits, the role of government in supporting and partnering with hospitals. If there ever was a case for universal health care, now is the time. Maybe we can get more renewable energy in a future stimulus package? Or bring back revenue sharing for the wealthy blue states?

Conservatives like Coronavirus too. It’s a case to rail against the government for limiting our civil liberties. It’s a chance to point out the failures of the social safety net and raise awareness of the problems of picking winners and loosers in who can be open. Plus think about the pro-business message of opening up the economy again. Blame the left for mass unemployment say conservatives.

It’s not a conspiracy. But I don’t think there are many honest non-biased brokers. People don’t have to see the personally beneficial outcomes to be motivated by them. Everybody has something to gain or lose from government policies and they’ll be advocating for things that they think are most beneficial for their in group.