Was reading this post and was absolutely terrified. It's gonna be bad.
Take away is that current lock downs are basically useless against the new strain as it has mutated enough to be more transmissible thru/around mask. Vaccines are still likely to work, and its not more deadly (seems like), but just going to blow thru our preventive measures like nothing.
Reposting because the first post didn't get enough traction and I need people to commiserate with me. Pulled out the money shot image, because I know libs don't read .
It was deliberate insofar as the effective methods of handling the virus, e.g. the methods that perhaps China and Vietnam imposed, all undercut their bottom line. Also the virus makes poverty that much more threatening, so the coercion to work in terrible conditions for low wages has become that much tighter around the average person's neck. win-win for the rulers in the short-term, probably bad for them long-term
Point I might be trying to express is it doesn't matter if mass death was the goal or not. The bourgeoisie following their unfettered material interests would have resulted in the same decisions even if they had humane intentions. They may have believed in an optimistic outcome for humanity down in their hearts somewhere, but the fun part is the purity of their souls doesn't matter. They are genocidal tyrants by virtue wielding mass amounts of private capital and the conclusions from that position.
Well put