The context for the DEFUSE program is that SARS-cov-1 was of pretty significant concern that it could mutate into a global pandemic similar to the Cov-2 pandemic that actually happened. The program was funded to investigate, learn and prepare for what were predicted to be some of the more dangerous possible mutations.

The “smoking gun” here is all correlation. Saying “they predicted correctly what was dangerous and were proactively studying it” is not a good argument for causation.

However, the theory that I haven’t seen well debunked/studied is that improper handling/disposal of dead viruses/plasmids/etc. increased the risk of/allowed for recombinants with the endemic Cov strain resulting in those mutations of greatest concern… Have you come across anything on that?

The science behind DNA profiling is grossly overstated. it doesn’t sequence a full genome and is often using partial/degraded samples and relies entirely on statistical differences. In probability games, there’s no such thing as certainty…

In addition since 2010 anyone using “standard molecular biology techniques such as PCR, molecular cloning, and recently developed whole genome amplification (WGA), enable anyone with basic equipment and know-how to produce practically unlimited amounts of in vitro synthesized (artificial) DNA with any desired genetic profile.” and there have been a plethora of new tools/techniques which make doing that even easier…

You can’t treat any existing mental health issues while people are living on the street developing new ones.

Ah yes, because criminals are subhumans who should be exterminated like the cockroaches they are. And if we can’t take the trash out back like we should we can at least make it not our problem and make sure the cockroaches aren’t in our backyard. That’s what you’re saying right?

China is half a world away and isn’t directly involved in my day to day. The harms that China can do to me are significantly less than those American businesses.

It’s not about trust, it’s about accurate threat modeling.

Homicide rate is far less than other countries.

People are jailed and murdered in the US over “speech” all the time.

It seems like your “us is far better” is based purely on vibes… Unless you’ve got some numbers you’d like to share?

I used to have that issue, the secret for me was that I needed to explicitly look for wide shoes (Xw as in 10.5w) my current shoes are going on 2 years now :D

The USA has the highest incarcerated population in the world. Per capita it’s about 2-4x the list of “authoritarian” states that usually get referenced.

Do you want to do a quick compare on the rates of extrajudicial killings as well?

I don’t know what better quantitative measurement for “authoritarian” are than life and liberty. Do you have better ones?