In a moment that entirely encapsulated the essence of everything “2016” and Trump, there was an interview, done by some local paper in the Midwest, speaking to those ever-elusive “Trump Voters” that the NYT and other “elite” media spent so much time attempting to normalize, a middle-aged rural white man said in frustration with liberals, “I am just tired of being told what to do.”

At the time, he was speaking about “political correctness,” which begat “wokeness.” Whether intentionally done or not, his answer captures a deeply held truth. There is a large segment of this country – not a majority, maybe one-third, that is so threatened by modernization, immigration, the disorder of the “natural place” of people (primarily people of color, LGTBQ, other marginalized groups demanding respect), that they are looking for any means possible to slow it all down and not be “told what to do.” Trump was the answer. Trump wouldn’t tell them what to do. They could do whatever they wanted, so long as it was in the natural order of things, make the country great again, like it used to be when things were ordered.

But Trump is gone now, at least from the White House – they hold on to all they cherish by telling themselves it will all work out any day now. But regardless, there is a void to be filled because it was fun when Trump was around. Liberals everywhere lost their damned minds, we were “triggered.” Is that large segment now finding an outlet in refusing to be vaccinated? Is the anti-vax movement their way of grabbing back some of that natural order? What if it all comes down to this:

“Stop telling me what to do! You are forcing me to go get those shots in my arms that everything I read says don’t work? Fck you!”….

And when you lose your damned mind over the insanity of it all, do they feel warm and tingly all over? They “triggered” another lib?

It is a theory that feels all too real once it settles in and it’s terrifying because there’s a logical conclusion and then logical follow-up conclusions. First, it means COVID is here to stay, the new flu, only deadlier and more contagious, and it’ll be 2-5 years before you’re going anywhere unmasked. Second, and this is the worst part, a pattern is setting in just as tightly, one that can outlast COVID. They will do whatever it takes to keep their natural order and not be told what to do. They will find an outlet and right now, they have too many guns, too much pent-up rage, too much self-righteousness, and way too much fear to be talked down.

Real war, tanks and shit, that’s out of the question. Real war between or within a super power is mutually assured destruction without nukes. But the war that will be had will be real. There will be some states that are not democracies. Is Texas a democracy right now? Is Pennsylvania? Look at their state legislatures and the gerrymandering before you answer.

Regardless, the answer to the first question is likely easier. Is the whole vaccine “debate” less about the debate and more about pissing you off because you’re clearly right? Is the risk to them just slight enough that the rush is worth it? Like a drug? Look at our elderly. Near all of them are vaccinated. They couldn’t afford to “make a statement.” What about these folks?

It isn’t that strange a theory:

I think the resolute anti-vaxers want the misery of the pandemic to continue because they at least get to annoy and inconvenience people they don't like for a while longer. Much like the "pandemic addicts", they dread life going back to normal, but for different reasons. https://t.co/7CvkfJHyMY

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) September 6, 2021

I haven’t heard of “pandemic addicts” who don’t want to return to normal. To the extent they exist, they can think whatever they want, at least the ICU will have a bed available.

Stop telling them to get vaccinated. That is exactly what they want. Because, when they say “No,” and start throwing out all this bullshit like Trump, which then infuriates you – that’s the high they’re looking for. They love driving you insane. They have all the power because they’re not going to be told what to do.

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