Why don't people understand that "Herd immuninity" really means

[Cyrano]

"Thinning the herd."

The world is overpopulated. There are about seven billion of us and we are using up Earth's resources at a tremendous rate. The super rich (and scientists) understand this, but their solutions differ.

The super rich have no problem with slaughtering as much of the herd (human beings) as possible, as quickly as possible. It would make for a smaller, more manageable herd. After all, would you want to own two hundred slaves, or ten thousand? Two hundred are manageable. But, thousands? Too expensive. Too risky. And who knows what so many "THEMS" could do?

"Herd immunity," as inhumane as it is, is the very thing that the "haves" want. Thinning the herd leaves them with much more and the remaining herd with very little.

Disgusting, ain't it? But this is really what "Herd immunity" is all about.

[Newest Reality]

1. Now,

If you put it as "consumer immunity" and then framed it as a potentially huge loss of customers, that might make a difference.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Spot on.

Same or similiar language was used through out History when pandemics hit. Kings and Dictator's used this idea to enhance their power over their subjects.

[Moostache]

3. You just hit on the EXACT reason there is no widespread action on climate change...

The uber-wealthy really do not believe it can impact them. They believe that the effects will ravage the poor and underclasses first and that their wealth and money will save them until the population is low enough for sustainability.

Absent that working, their plan is to move to private islands and ride out their lives in isolation. They are, of course, wrong and they will find his out quite painfully in due time.

[Jirel]

4. Because they don't want to HEAR this ONE FACT.

You don't get immunity to this virus by having it.

Let's repeat for the spreadnecks in the back row -
YOU DON'T GET IMMUNITY TO THIS VIRUS BY HAVING IT.

You get some antibodies, and they might protect you for a month or so, but that's it. They don't want to hear that you can get it again, and again, and again. They want to believe it's like measles or chicken pox. They'd like to have their COVID parties, like antivaxxers have chicken pox parties, get it, survive, and ignore the harm to everyone around them.

In other words, they want to ignore ALL the science about this, and say that ALL the diseases are simple to deal with, and simply ignore the consequences.

[GoCubsGo]

5. They don't understand it, because most Americans are scientifically illiterate.

If they understood science, they'd know what is actually meant by "herd immunity." They wouldn't be fooled by the bullshit being thrust on us now that's being falsely called "Herd immunity."

[C_U_L8R]

6. Kill the poor. The rich take the rest.

This 'cull the herd' lunacy has been whispered back in dark Republican wankrooms for decades.

[Cyrano]

11. This is what today's Republicans are. This is who they are.

Joe can't "reach across the aisle" because Republicans and Dems have become two different species separated by light years.

[Sherman A1]

20. Precisely

That is exactly what they want.

[FoxNewsSucks]

7. I am constantly reminded of the movie "Elysium".

That is their goal. The technology in that movie is more advanced than today, but that existence is the wet dream of the ruling class.

[WyattKansas]

22. I have wanted a 'Med Bed' from that movie since it came out.

Where it corrects and fixes everything wrong with you in a few minutes. My whole life would have been so much easier and better with that.

[Bleacher Creature]

8. That's not quite right. You can get herd immunity in a number of ways.

Vaccinations can result in herd immunity in that if you can vaccinate a large enough population, such that the virus has no place to go.

When people like Trump talk about herd immunity, however, you're right in that mass infection will lead to mass death.

[StClone]

12. Maybe but I'd call that vaccination Immunity

Herd immunity in my mind, and maybe I should look it up, is a specific idea in allowing a pathogen to run its course through a population and the survivors will have "stronger" immunity genetics. Its a combinations let God sort it out and Darwinism.

[PSPS]

13. Herd immunity requires vaccines. Smallpox and measles are examples.

[StClone]

16. Yes it requires vaccines and natural exposure.

Took a look at medical journals-thanks. Trump appears to use it as a pure exposure definition.

[PSPS]

25. "Natural exposure" plays no role in herd immunity

[StClone]

26. That is not what I found

Community immunity: A situation in which a sufficient proportion of a population is immune to an infectious disease (through vaccination and/or prior illness) to make its spread from person to person unlikely. Even individuals not vaccinated (such as newborns and those with chronic illnesses) are offered some protection because the disease has little opportunity to spread within the community. Also known as herd immunity.

[CountAllVotes]

15. There is NO vaccine

It will take at least 5 years for a viable vaccine to be found.

FIVE YEARS, not five months! Those that are saying they'll have a vaccine soon are full of sh*t!

Do not believe it for one second!

The animals they've been testing on have died.

DIED!

[SWBTATTReg]

9. Ask those in Sweden too, how their 'herd immunity' efforts are going. Far more have died from...

their failed attempts to bring on a 'herd mentality' and now they are admitting their mistake. Too late for far too many.

[Pantagruel]

10. The world IS overpopulated.

That's the core problem, nature is fighting back. If it wasn't CV-19 it would be different virus or series of viruses. Nature is seeking balance.
It will probably get worse relatively soon.

[JCMach1]

19. Not really and if we begin with the Malthusian argument

We end up right back to the Eugenicists and the non-ethics of herd immunity.

Current Population is not a plus, but it is also NOT the problem some elements of the RW and LW want you to think

https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2017/12/12/16766872/overpopulation-exaggerated-concern-climate-change-world-population

[LisaL]

14. Covid will likely not result in herd immunity.

I don't think it provides long lasting immunity, which is what you need for herd immunity to develop.

[leftyladyfrommo]

17. Herd Immunity. Sounds like a Far Side cartoon. nt

[Cheezoholic]

18. Ask the indigenous peoples of the Americas...

how well herd immunity worked for them over the last 500 years.

[Silent3]

21. Three problems I see with that

1) While the death toll from rampant COVID would be staggering as raw number, losing, say, 5% of the world's population wouldn't make much of a dent in human impact on the planet.

2) While I haven't seen too many of the very richest of the rich hanging around at super-spreader events, quite a few fairly rich and politically powerful people have been making a concerted effort to join the culled part of the herd, which wouldn't be the behavior you'd expect from a sinister cabal plotting only other people's deaths.

3) Until robots can do a lot more of what only humans can do now, the rich want a big supply of cheap labor to prop up their wealth.

We aren't dealing with James Bond villains here.

[Beatlelvr]

23. What would truly be devastating

Is the unmanageable impact it would have on the health care system. Can you imagine? Aren't many hospitals at or near capacity as it is? And personnel are exhausted? Yeah, great plan dufus.

[JPbelgium]

24. Herd immunity is like playing Russian roulette, just to empty the cylinder...

...and before you know it someone puts another bullet in.