The problem with your correlation is confounding variables. The legalization of weed began in blue states around the same time they decriminalized everything (or at minimum "de-emphasized enforcement") and shifted to catch-and-release for repeat offenders. Someone caught for DUI might get their license suspended, but with no real consequences for committing crimes, they keep doing it. Fatalities go up.
Ideally we'd lock up dangerous criminals while allowing the law-abiding to enjoy recreational substances safely at home.
Agreed minus the "killing millions" part. Maybe that was the plan, but it's a fucking cold virus, so it was bound to rapidly mutate into a benign nothing-burger.
Ironically, the reason it's impossible to effectively vaccinate against any coronavirus is the rapid mutation rate.
A man, posing as a lesbian online, threatened my life, forcing me to get several protective orders. This individual rallied other mindless radicals, who pressed my publisher to cancel all my contracts going forward for a sci fi series I had written for over 35 years.
I didn't notice the author's name before starting the article, but I knew exactly what this was talking about. Wasn't expecting to see Blaine Pardoe posting there!
It's a shame we didn't sufficiently gatekeep BattleTech.
Fair question. I wasn't around in 1917.
You're probably right about OP's intent. I'm just irked by hearing "before the pandemic" in everyday discourse as if a pandemic actually occurred, and don't want to also start hearing "the plague" thrown into the mix.
Yep, one of the most disappointing lessons of 2020. If there's any legitimate expertise remaining in the scientific community, they aren't the ones whose findings will be reported on.
On the plus side, that and all the failed predictions prettymuch guarantees there's no such thing as man-made climate change.
Same, former Dem here. I'll be dead and gone before they get my vote again.
In addition to all the points in the OP, they lost me forever with months of unconstitutional lockdowns, followed by vaccine requirements in violation of the Nuremberg Code, all allegedly to stop a fucking cold virus with a 99.98% survival rate.
Same, former Dem here -- the product of a blue state education.
The turning point for me was the primaries for 2016, when every candidate in the first debate except Jim Webb seemed to be running solely on how oppressive their gun control platform would be. And then Jim Webb dropped out. At that point I realized I was probably more libertarian than liberal, and definitely not a modern Democrat.
Yeah I hate voting blindly along party lines, but it's hard to imagine ever filling in a bubble with (Dem) next to it ever again after living through 2020-2021 in a blue state. Got a nice mix of (Rep) (Lib) (Ind) on my ballot this year.
Better than actually getting the jab, but even submitting a fake card sends the message that it's okay for your employer to coerce medical decisions. And it weakens the position of any other holdouts in the company.
Same level of emotional development.