Stockholm Syndrome: a psychological phenomena in which hostages express empathy and begin to hold positive feelings toward their captors, sometimes even to the point of defending them.
I have never been more convinced in the reality of Stockholm Syndrome as I am now, after witnessing in real time people who’ve been taken hostage and abused — financially, psychologically, and otherwise — by their government officials, enthusiastically defend their draconian, anti-scientific policy measures. Unfortunately, gym owners are susceptible to this rebarbative psychology, as well, as they are (once again) forced into closure in multiple states, despite 1) there being strong evidence that lockdowns do not work to manage the negative effects of COVID, 2) no good evidence to suggest gyms are responsible for transmission, and 3) the fact people have an inherent right to provide for themselves (and their families) which cannot be overruled unless those seeking to suppress those rights establish a sufficient (and frankly, enormous) burden of proof.
Amazingly, even after countless small business owners have been beaten into financial destitution (or oblivion), they still have sought to defend the actions of the bureaucratic officials who ruined their life’s dream for no good reason. “We need to stop being so selfish,” I heard one gym owner remark on Facebook as their facility was deemed non-essential for the second time. This is how you know the propaganda has taken hold, and that everyone at The Ministry of Truth is bumping fists.
Of course, the strategy is always the same: Convince people they’re doing something self-sacrificial and virtuous, being martyrs for some ennobling cause.
In reality, however, the situation is more like an abusive husband who, after continually beating his wife, somehow convinces her that if she just did more around the house (or lost weight, etc), none of this would have to occur. At first, the woman is taken aback by her husband’s assault, but not enough to speak out or flee, because of fear or confusion or both. Overtime, she becomes persuaded by her husbands gaslighting that what she’s getting is deserved and for the necessary good of the household. It is a sick and familiar situation, one that everyone recognizes as horrendously evil. But what I described is hardly different than how people are currently being treated by their elected officials, especially in states like California and Minnesota. They abuse their citizens and restrict their freedom as they dine mask-free at the French Laundry.
At this point, if one cannot see through the propaganda supporting these brazenly hypocritical, morally unjustified, and massively overreaching governmental interventions, I don’t know what else to say. Seek psychotherapy, or something? Definitely turn off CNN. As for the rest of us, we have a decision to make: either stand up for those who are unable to defend themselves, or continue idling until these lunatics come for us.
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EP 455: Have COVID Lockdowns Done More Harm Than Good? with Dr. Jay Richards.