There is a good article here by Paul Mason which addresses the discussions in this thread. Basically the argument is that both climate change and covid have confronted liberal capitalism with major dilemmas showing the inherent failure of capitalism and individualism in a highly interdependent society. Governments have to act on behalf of the majority, not for the profit of the minority. If our own local resident covid deniers realize the extent of the cognitive dissonance this is creating, they might pause to think as to where in the political spectrum does their allegiance lie. I like Paul’s analogy to the Virgilian circles of hell because it shows how self appointed pundits are all part of a continuum and the highest circle lend credence to the lowest most ignorant one.