We live in a conspiracy world

  

What happens when conspiracy theorists control government? 

In the U.S., we’re about to find out.  

The effects may not be felt right away. It will take time for diseases like measles and rubella to gain traction among the young. But it's been reported that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated by Donald Trump for health secretary, has already impacted populations with his anti-vaccine non-profit, the Children’s Health Defense. The island nation of Samoa experienced an outbreak of measles in 2019 that killed 83 people, many of them young children, thanks in part to Kennedy’s propaganda. This man, who called the outbreak “mild”, could soon be in charge of America’s healthcare. 

Kennedy garners support from both Democrats and Republicans. The pandemic made distrust of vaccines worse, but even pre-pandemic, he had a devoted following of young parents who were concerned about their children and rising of rates of autism. In one lone study, since debunked, it was claimed that autism is caused by childhood vaccines. Kennedy has not let go of this theory that has been thoroughly disproven by the scientific community.  

Kennedy has made it his life’s work to oppose modern science with a deep suspicion of anything “unnatural” entering our water and food supply. He claims that contaminants in our environment are causing transgender and gay youth, that pasteurized milk is harmful, that “WiFi  radiation” causes cancer, and that vaccines are creating a host of problems in our kids. 

Interestingly, pharmaceuticals don’t make a lot of money from vaccines and wouldn’t have a problem, financially, if government stopped promoting them. The Department of Health and Human Services plays a significant role in getting non-profits and health agencies to vaccinate children against diseases that could soon be making a comeback. Kennedy has the ability to stop this funding as secretary.

In his new position, Kennedy will have significant influence over the public who may be losing trust in institutions, but still listen to those who talk with authority and certainty. Kennedy claims he will have a solution to Americans’ health problems after two months in his new role. This sounds a lot like Trump and the war in Ukraine, where he once claimed he would end the three-year-old conflict in 24 hours. This offers tremendous appeal to many who naturally desire an end to both war and disease. 

We all want easy answers to life’s complex problems. Conspiracy theorists offer us untested solutions until they're tasked with finding real answers. I wonder how Kennedy will get the scientists who work under him to abandon decades of scientific research that lead to healthier populations. Perhaps he will convince them with one of his poorly sourced op-eds?

Removing science from institutions will take time, but it will create results. Just not the results that will make America healthy again.

Invest in extreme adventures carefully

  

When investing in outdoor adventures, one must consider carefully how committed one is to such activities. A few years ago, I ambitiously stocked up on camping and survival gear, preparing for either the apocalypse or a grand adventure in the north with my family (or maybe both). My plan was to hike and canoe into the great, untamed wilderness north of La Ronge – without washrooms, potable water, and any contact with the outside world. It would be as close to paradise as one could ever imagine... Just us alone in the woods with the mosquitoes, black flies and the bears... 

It’s good to dream. 

To be fair, we’ve camped a little – at designated campsites with washrooms, drinkable water and hot showers. But hey, in case of the apocalypse, we have our own water filtration system.

I feared the same would happen with my plans for winter biking. Before the snow even arrived in November, I decided to take the plunge – to be one of those daredevils who rides on snow and ice. So I invested.... In studded tires, a winter helmet, ski goggles, bike lights, thick gloves, heated gloves (for when the thick gloves fail), wool socks, and... heated socks? So far I’ve held off on those. 

Then came the snowstorm. Do people actually bike in these conditions? I worried for a week about my winter biking prospects. Then came the second snowstorm. I worried some more.

It wasn’t looking good, but all that snow finally packed down and I ventured out. I’m still alive. Two months in, I have yet to have a major spill or freeze my face off. I’ve biked in minus 30 without significant frostbite. I’ve also learned there’s a fine line between freezing and getting to work drenched in sweat. This can make for a long day for my co-workers. Layers are important, but not too many. 

Most of all, I was surprised how well those studded tires grip the road. Packed snow and ice are no match for fortified winter tires that cost me (gulp) $130 each. It’s when the streets turn to mush that winter biking becomes a little more treacherous. Warm weather is now my enemy. Not only does it put me at risk of wiping out, but also overheating – time to shed another layer!

Despite the risk of injury, which I believe is minimal (hey, only one concussion in the last twenty years!), biking to work has had many benefits. It forces me to exercise and reduces my risk of road rage. Don't laugh, but my drive to work is a mere eight minutes; twelve in heavy traffic. Yet strangely, even Regina traffic gets on my nerves. Why are there so many cars in this city?? My bike ride in winter is about 25 minutes, but at least I’m constantly moving.

Now I know what you’re thinking: You winter bikers aren’t helping things, clogging up the roads with your piddly winter pedaling! Trust me, I feel the same way when driving behind a biker going 10 km/h on a busy road. I stay off the main roads and, unlike in Toronto, we still have our designated bike lanes (if you can imagine them beneath the snow). We even have designated bike routes and paths that are cleared somewhat regularly by the city. 

As winter bikers, we’re not asking for any special treatment. We’re just asking for you to pull over a little when you pass us, so there’s no risk of us scratching your vehicle with our handlebars. And, to my dear City of Regina: Could you clear those bike pathways all the way, not just part of the way, so I don’t have to trudge through snowdrifts and, most importantly, can shave another two minutes off my ride?

As you might have guessed, I’ve made my concerns known. As someone who’s so heavily invested, would you expect anything less?