February 16, 2022
Location in Exile: Rivertown Event Center, Hastings
“Today, I want to update you on the next stage of this momentous medical initiative. It’s called Operation Warp Speed. That means big and it means fast, a massive scientific, industrial and logistical endeavor unlike anything our country has seen since the Manhattan Project.”
—President Donald J. Trump, May 15, 2020
“CAPTAIN I'M GIVING HER ALL SHE'S GOT!” How perfect. The generation that did not win World War II and did not put a man on the moon, but instead cultivates utopian fantasies of its own goodness and power, convinced itself that, with enough fiat money lavished on Big Pharma, it could dispense with the multi-year trial process normally conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of vaccines, and achieve what previous decades of research had failed to achieve. Operation Warp Speed is the ultimate expression of Boomer Hubris. FedGov spent over $12 billion in pursuit of this miracle, including $2 billion to Pfizer and $4 billion to Moderna.
Almost two years later, we see that life has not returned to normal despite high levels of vaccination. Rather, the debates over the efficacy and safety of the vaccines continue in conjunction with unprecedented interference with personal liberty, commerce, and education, and unprecedented censorship of divergent discourse. Moreover, unprecedented restrictions on treatment options have also been imposed to allow for experimental use authorization of the vaccines on nearly all of the population, regardless of risk factors. The harm that has ensued from empowering the totalitarians in our “Government Party” may be irreversible.
ON THE OTHER HAND, Operation Warp Speed cannot be considered a failure. The vaccines work – if by “work” you mean “reduce the likelihood of hospitalization and death,” even though they can neither prevent the illness in the vaccinated nor prevent transmission of the virus by the vaccinated. They are admittedly weak vaccines – but have they not saved millions of lives of the most vulnerable, for whom the difference between a mild and severe case is a matter of life and death? Every victory has its costs. World War II was costly – was it a victory at all for our Polish and Czechoslovakian allies, not to mention the rest of the Eastern Bloc? A black hole is not only an all-consuming destroyer, but with skillful piloting, can slingshot a spacecraft in a new direction. Let’s slingshot around this black hole, and boldly go where no person has gone before!
THE CHAIRMAN, a noted Klingon warrior, has demanded trial by combat in response to this insult to the nobles:
RESOLVED: Operation Warp Speed has left us in a black hole.
The Debate will be held on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at the Rivertown Event Center, 2103 Vermilion Street, Hastings, MN 55033. Those heading south on Hwy. 61 should turn left onto 21st Street after the stoplight for CR46/47, then right into the parking lot behind O'Reilly Auto Parts, then proceed slowly until you see a two-story white stucco building with "Lodge Parking" signs.
The Chancellor and Chairman encourage participants to arrive prior to 7 o’clock p.m. to socialize and to bring comestibles or beverages they wish to share. Though this location does not serve alcohol, people of legal age may bring alcoholic beverages for consumption in moderation. The trial will begin at precisely half past seven.
There is no dress code, but gentlemen who wish to speak must wear a tie, and ladies are asked to uphold a similar standard. For gentlemen arriving sans tie yet wishing to discourse on the resolution, the Purveyor of Ties will have on hand several from his remarkable collection. Questions regarding debate caucus procedures or about the John Adams Society itself may be directed to the Chairman at (651) 398-9316 or the Secretary at (612) 703-6021.
http://www.johnadamssociety.org
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