These Doctors' Groups Are Cheering On the Anti-Vax Truckers

[Jilly_in_VA]

The city of Ottawa is under siege for the third week in a row, as anti-vaccine protesters continue to paralyze the downtown business district. Last week, I wrote about how white nationalist organizers in Southern California are planning similar protests in the United States, and how their followers appear to be mostly parents. There were moms offering to bring Girl Scout cookies to sustain convoy members—some joked about putting fliers advertising the convoys into their kids’ school valentines.

In response to my piece, some readers expressed disbelief. How could so many parents get mixed up with an extremist movement? Others characterized group members as “soccer moms” who were bored, or dumb, or maybe both. But the online spread of misinformation in parent communities isn’t born of boredom or stupidity. I’ve written before about how moms turn to online groups for support and identity:

Many mothers, and perhaps especially the ones who spend a lot of time in Facebook groups, can feel vulnerable, lonely, and overwhelmed. They may have scant family leave and little help at home. Sometimes, their real concerns about their own health and their babies’ wellbeing have been dismissed by doctors.

For years, purveyors of misinformation about alternative health have exploited these forums to promote theories and practices that aren’t backed by science and can be dangerous.

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/02/ottawa-convoy-protest-promoters-elite-medical-credentials-financial-incentives-astroturf-libertarian/

[Pinback]

1. Very interesting article

I wasn't aware of the American Institute for Economic Resources -- so many libertarian think tanks, it's hard to keep up with them all!

From the MJ article:

“The libertarian think tanks involved in this are not pro-worker—they’re trying to remove worker protections,” says Mallory Harris, a Stanford PhD student who is studying how elite groups of contrarian physicians and scientists have spread disinformation during the pandemic. “But they can’t actually say that, so they have to find ways to make it seem like this is a working-class thing. And that’s where truckers come in.”

Thanks for sharing this piece. Most interesting. Now I see why Rand Paul is such a fanboy for the anti-vax truckers.

[AntivaxHunters]

2. These are 2 of the worst groups

and they're responsible for likely 10s of thousands needless countless deaths.

Currently there is a campaign underway by NLFD (No License For Disinformation) doctor's to have these people's medical licenses taken away. They're directly responsible why this country leads the world in deaths from Covid and sadly their supporters (or rather "followers" like a cult which they just about are minus the religious aspects) cross party lines. Of course there's Libertarians, Republicans, independent conservatives. However there's also Democrats, Socialists, and independent progressives who support these grifters.

If you happen to be on Twitter, the hashtag that's loaded with info is #DisinformationDoctors and be prepared to be horrified.

Here is NLFD linktree where people can report doctor's who are peddling Covid misinformation, lies, and Covid disinformation.



And just one last thing, these doctor's kill via spreading Covid lies. Don't take any of this as not being serious because it very much is. A big part of the problem is that social media like Twitter, TikTok, facebook, and Instagram are NOT doing enough to combat the problem. Our group has reported well over 100 accounts alone in a single day on Twitter yet more often that not, nothing is ever done about it. This MUST change.

Link to tweet

?s=20&t=fEONwo2XyTcmD1yNpivDDQ

[Jilly_in_VA]

3. Thanks for that

I am on Twitter, and being a retired RN I'm in contact with a bunch of other RNs on there, retired and not, who are indignant as hell at these people. I'll pass that along.

[AntivaxHunters]

4. Glad to help :)