I believe it is increasingly easy to understand the PRC because usually one just needs to understand one person – the middle school dropout (MSD, i.e., General Secretary Xi). I would never claim that I can read his mind but I believe many people are way off when it comes to the MSD and so-called West Korea under his rule (he is North Koreanization of the PRC). I tried to convince people that the MSD has a typical Chinese imperial mindset wrapped with communism/Marxism as decoration. Allow me to try again here by using a different approach – through a person of his generation whom I know well. He is about 5 years younger than the MSD.  His schooling was also interrupted by the Cultural Revolution.  Unlike the MSD, he was well educated after the CR – REAL MD, Ph.D., did his postdoc in the West.  I used to have long conversations with him in Beijing before he left China.  He has been back to China.  I am convinced he is typical of a large swath of...

Anti-vax has a long history, plus mRNA being new and EUA, so the vast majority of anti-vaxxers have genuinely health-related concerns that are apolitical.  However, two things make me wonder if the CCP tries to stir things. The CCP undoubtedly tried desperately to beat the US in the vaccine development but was beaten badly by the US via its Operation Warp Speed.  They held virus samples for their own exclusive use for developing their vaccines in early 2020.  It is in its interest to derail the US's vaccination hence continue enjoying watching the US's high fatality rate. I heard the absurd assertion that mRNA vaccines cannot generate immunity because they do not have any viruses. Guess whose vaccines have (inactivated) viruses and are pushed around the world and are causing spikes of infections and COVID deaths ?

 I have been a firm supporter of the Covid vaccine and received my first shot in April 2021.  However, I have been against pushing vaccination, especially, vaccine mandate for the following reason: The freedom to choose not to take the vaccine is fundamental, so it should be protected as other freedoms. If one's freedom harms others significantly, I may consider supporting the restriction of such freedom (e.g., dumping harmful chemicals such mercury into rivers). We have sufficient data to show vaccines have very limited protection against infection though high protection against severe symptoms or death. Covid vaccines make many recipients asymptomatic virus transmitters. It is hard to say whether vaccinated or unvaccinated are responsible for Covid vaccines COVID transmission. The only issue with unvaccinated is that they occupy ICU beds disproportionally in some areas and some vaccinated people with non-COVID needs of ICU are denied access.  There should be ways to gua...

It is unfortunate that many institutions that we used to trust highly have lost their credibility significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.  One consequence is widespread gross misinformation from people taking advantage of the distrust of traditional institutions.  It is increasingly important for everyone to assess the credibility of information critically and independently.   Though I have looked into the current two major types of vaccines - mRNA and deactivated virus, my confidence in the vaccine is largely based on common sense relying on collective wisdom. Let me show one angle of looking at this.   First, the group in our society who know the most about vaccines are physicians.  Are these people who spend 20 years schooling collectively know less about something in their own field than others?  I doubt it because it would be against common sense.  Are US physicians largely crooks who want to harm people?  I doubt it too because...