To COVID (about a fifth of Americans say they won't be vaccinated) and to the flu (vaccination rates for that are down by about a third this season), we can in this difficult period add yet another scourge: Information Disorder (no vaccination available).
It is another pandemic, and it has been building for years. Conspiracy theories, misinformation, disinformation, simple old-fashioned, persistent ignorance — they are rampant in the United States today. It is what the Aspen Institute, in a sobering new study, calls "a crisis of trust and truth."
kAm%96 :?DE:EFE6[ H9:49 C6=62D65 :ED fg\A286 C6A@CE E@ WE@@X =:EE=6 72?72C6 E96 @E96C 52J[ >2J ?@E 36 E96 :562= 8C@FA 7@C 2? F?56CE2<:?8 =:<6 E9:D[ H9:49 :ED6=7 :D 2 DJ>AE@> @7 E96 AC@3=6>] %96 8C@FA :D F?>:DE2<23=J 6=:E:DE[ H9:49 :D E@ D2J E92E :ED =6256CD 2C6 =@2565 H:E9 25G2?465 568C66D[ 2 762EFC6 E92E :? D@>6 AC64:?4ED @7 E96 4@F?ECJ :D :ED6=7 5:DBF2=:7J:?8] ~?6 @7 E96 4@>>:DD:@?6CD @7 E9:D DEF5J :D !C:?46 w2CCJ[ H9@D6 25G:46 2?5 ;F58>6?E 2C6 ?@E F?:G6CD2==J EC62DFC65] qFE AFE 2== E92E 2D:56] %9:D :D D6C:@FD H@C< 23@FE 2 D6C:@FD AC@3=6>[ 2?5 :E 56D6CG6D D6C:@FD 2EE6?E:@?] %CFDE 2?5 ECFE9 2C6 E96 7F?52>6?E2= 3F:=5:?8 3=@4<D @7 4:G:= D@4:6EJ]k^Am
kAm%9:D 8C@FA 92D 2 A2DD6= @7 C64@>>6?52E:@?D[ >@DE @7 H9:49 2C6 =:<6=J E@ 36 :8?@C65[ 2?5 D@>6 @7 H9:49 2C6 D@ C62D@?23=6 E92E E96J 567:?:E6=J H:== 36 :8?@C65[ E9@F89 7:CDE E96J H:== 36 4C:E:4:K65 @C C:5:4F=65] %92E C67=64ED E96 E6>A6C @7 E96 E:>6D[ 2?5 :? 724E :E D6CG6D E@ F?56C=:?6 9@H D6C:@FD E9:D AC@3=6> :D] qFE :7 C64@8?:E:@? @7 2 AC@3=6> :D E96 7:CDE DE6A E@H2C5 255C6DD:?8 :E[ H6 2C6 7@CEF?2E6i %96 8C@FAVD 2?2=JD:D @7 E96 4C:D:D H2CC2?ED @FC 2EE6?E:@?[ 6G6? 2D E96 9@=:52JD 2AAC@249[ 6G6? 2D @FC A@=:E:42= 4@?G6CD2E:@? 4@?E:?F6D E@ 4@2CD6?[ 6G6? :7 @FEC:89E F?ECFE9D 4@?E:?F6 E@ AC@=:76C2E6] $@ 96C6 :D 2? 2??@E2E65 =@@< 2E D@>6 @7 E92E 2?2=JD:Dik^Am
kAm%96 AC@3=6> 6IE6?5D H6== 36J@?5 DE2E6\DA@?D@C65 5:D:?7@C>2E:@?[ @C 962=E9 D42>D AC@>@E:?8 >:C24=6 4FC6Dj :E :D C@@E65 :? 3C@256C 492==6?86D 724:?8 E96 ?2E:@? — 7C@> :?4C62D:?8 :?4@>6 :?6BF2=:EJ[ E@ 564C62D:?8 =6G6=D @7 AF3=:4 ECFDE :? :?DE:EFE:@?D[ E@ E96 4@?DE2?E 49FC?:?8 4J4=6 @7 ?6HD 2?5 :?7@C>2E:@?[ E@ E96 DA=:?E6C:?8 @7 >65:2 HC:E =2C86[ E@ E96 6IA=@D:@? @7 D@4:2= >65:2] r@>3:?65[ E96D6 6?@C>@FD 492?86D 2C6 76CE:=6 8C@F?5 7@C E96 D665D @7 :?7@C>2E:@? 5:D@C56C]k^Am
kAm%9:D @?6 3C:67 DE2E6>6?E @? E96 6:89E9 A286 @7 E96 C6A@CE =2JD 32C6 E96 6IE6?E @7 E96 4C:D:D] ~7 4@FCD6[ E96 =67E DEC6DD6D :?4@>6 :?6BF2=:EJ[ E96 C:89E :D D<6AE:42= @7 6DE23=:D965 :?DE:EFE:@?D[ E96 ?6HD >65:2 AC@5F46 2? 6?5=6DD W2?5 D@>6E:>6D >:?5=6DDX DEC62> @7 :?7@C>2E:@?[ >6>36CD @7 E96 AF3=:4 G66C E@H2C5 >65:2 D@FC46D E92E D2=G6 E96:C H@F?5D[ 2?5 D@4:2= >65:2 :D :?6D42A23=6] p?J @?6 @7 E9@D6 :DDF6D H@F=5 36 2 7@C>:523=6 492==6?86 7@C 2 ?2E:@? 2E A6246] %96 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 E96> 2== :D 52F?E:?8[ 2?5 8:G6? E96 4F=EFC6 H2C E92E :D C28:?8 :? @FC DEC66ED[ D49@@=D 2?5 :?DE:EFE:@?D[ H6 2C8F23=J 2C6 ?@E 2E A6246]k^Am
kAmx?7@C>2E:@? 5:D@C56C :D 2 H9@=6\@7\D@4:6EJ AC@3=6> E92E 42? 92G6 =:76\@C\562E9 4@?D6BF6?46D] xE H:== C6BF:C6 FC86?E 2?5 >62?:?87F= :?E6CG6?E:@?D[ C6D@FC46D[ =682= 2?5 A@=:4J 492?86D[ 2?5 E96 4@>>:E>6?ED @7 6G6CJ A2CE @7 D@4:6EJ E@ C6G6CD6 E96D6 5:DEFC3:?8 EC6?5D]k^Am
kAm%96 8C@FA :D 2D<:?8 D@4:2= >65:2 @FE=6ED E@ AF3=:D9 E96 D@FC46 @7 D@>6 @7 E96:C A@DED 2?5 E@ 5:D4=@D6 E96 D@FC46 @7 D@>6 @7 E96:C 25D 2?5 A2:5 A@DED] xE 25G@42E6D 2 Q4@>AC696?D:G6 DEC2E68:4 2AAC@249 E@ 4@F?E6C:?8 5:D:?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 E96 DAC625 @7 >:D:?7@C>2E:@?]Q xE 42==D 7@C E96 4C62E:@? @7 2? :?56A6?56?E @C82?:K2E:@? E@ 56G6=@A 4@F?E6C>62DFC6D E@ >:D:?7@C>2E:@?] xE C64@>>6?5D :?4C62D65 5:G6CD:EJ :? D@4:2= >65:2 A=2E7@C>D 2?5 >2:?DEC62> >65:2]k^Am
kAmx?7@C>2E:@? 5:D@C56C :D 2 AC@3=6> E92E 42??@E 36 4@>A=6E6=J D@=G65] xED 6C25:42E:@? :D ?@E E96 6?5 8@2=] x?DE625[ E96 r@>>:DD:@?VD 8@2= :D E@ >:E:82E6 >:D:?7@C>2E:@?VD H@CDE 92C>D H:E9 AC:@C:E:K2E:@? 7@C E96 >@DE GF=?6C23=6 D68>6?ED @7 @FC D@4:6EJ]k^Am
kAmp>6C:42?D E9:?< @7 E96>D6=G6D 2D AC@3=6>\D@=G6CD] (6 D2H E96 E9C62E @7 EJC2??J :? (@C=5 (2C xx[ 2?5 H6 56DEC@J65 :E] (6 D2H E96 492==6?86 @7 2 H@C=5 HC64<65 3J 4@?7=:4E 27E6C E96 H2C[ 2?5 H6 962=65 :E] (6 D6E @FCD6=G6D E96 8@2= @7 C6249:?8 E96 >@@?[ 2?5 H6 8@E E96C6] (6 4@?7C@?E65 :?E6C?2E:@?2= 4@>>F?:D>[ 2?5 H6 AC6G2:=65]k^Am
kAm(6 =:<6 E@ E2<6 @? 2 E2D< 2?5 4@>A=6E6 :E] (6 H@?VE 36 23=6 E@ 5@ E92E H:E9 :?7@C>2E:@? 5:D@C56Cj 3J :ED G6CJ 567:?:E:@?[ :E 6=F56D 7:?2= 4@?BF6DE] %96? 282:?[ H6 5:5?VE D@=G6 5:D62D6[ C24:D> @C A@G6CEJ[ 6:E96C] %96 <6J 4@>6D :? @?6 @7 E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E 2?5 >@DE :8?@C65 A2DD286D :? y@9? u] z6??65JVD :?2F8FC2= 255C6DD WQ{6E FD 368:?QX 2?5 :? {J?5@? q] y@9?D@?VD DA6649 7:G6 52JD 27E6C E96 z6??65J 2DD2DD:?2E:@? WQ{6E FD 4@?E:?F6QX]k^Am
kAmx? 2 7C66 D@4:6EJ[ 2 46CE2:? 2>@F?E @7 >:D:?7@C>2E:@? H:== 2=H2JD 6I:DEj @FC E2D< :D ?@E E@ 6C25:42E6 6G6CJ 92=7\ECFE9 @C H:==7F= >:DC6AC6D6?E2E:@? @7 E96 724ED — 2 E2D< E92E :D ?@E @?=J :>A@DD:3=6 3FE 6G6? F?56D:C23=6 :? 2 7C66 D@4:6EJ]k^Am
kAm(6 ?665 E@ 24<?@H=6586 E92E 325 :562D 2C6 E96 AC:46 H6 A2J 7@C 2 7C66 D@4:6EJ 2?5 6>3C246 H92E sH:89E t:D6?9@H6C D2:5[ :? 6IE6>A@C2?6@FD C6>2C<D[ 2E E96 s2CE>@FE9 r@==686 4@>>6?46>6?E :? `hdbi Qs@?VE ;@:? E96 3@@<\3FC?6CD] s@?VE E9:?< J@FVC6 8@:?8 E@ 4@?462= 72F=ED 3J 4@?462=:?8 6G:56?46 E92E E96J 6G6C 6I:DE65] s@?VE 36 27C2:5 E@ 8@ :? J@FC =:3C2CJ 2?5 C625 6G6CJ 3@@<]Qk^Am
kAmt4@?@>:4[ D@4:2= 2?5 C24:2= 5:DA2C:E:6D 92G6 4C62E65 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E C:A6 7@C E2C86E65 5:D:?7@C>2E:@? E92E 42? 42FD6 D:8?:7:42?E 92C> E@ 4@>>F?:E:6D @7 4@=@C ]]] 5:D:?7@C>2E:@? 42>A2:8?D 92G6 366? E2C86E65 E@ @?6 4@>>F?:EJ H:E9 E96 :?E6?E:@? @7 AC@>@E:?8 72=D6 36=:67D 23@FE 2?@E96C[ :?4=F5:?8 q=24<^p7C:42? p>6C:42?[ pD:2? p>6C:42?[ |FD=:> 2?5 C6=:8:@FD >:?@C:E:6D[ {vq%"xpZ[ 2?5 x?5:86?@FD ?2E:@?D 2?5 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am
kAm%96 36DE 4@>>6?E2CJ @? E9:D E96>6 4@>6D 7C@> E96 =:76 @7 |2CE:? {FE96C z:?8 yC] 2?5 7C@> EH@ D6?E6?46D :? !C6D:56?E z6??65JVD `heb 4:G:=\C:89ED DA6649] Q(6 2C6 4@?7C@?E65 AC:>2C:=J H:E9 2 >@C2= :DDF6] xE :D 2D @=5 2D E96 D4C:AEFC6D 2?5 :D 2D 4=62C 2D E96 p>6C:42? r@?DE:EFE:@?]Qk^Am
kAm%96 ECFE9 :D E96 36DE G6CD:@? @7 H92E H6 <?@H :? E92E >@>6?E H:E9 E96 6G:56?46 2G2:=23=6[ 2?5 ]]] @G6C E:>6 H6 H:== F?5@F3E65=J =62C? >@C6 2?5 >2J ?665 E@ C64@?4:=6 H92E H6 <?@H]k^Am
kAm%9:D :D E96 4@C6 AC:?4:A=6 @7 E96 ;@FC?2=:D> AC24E:465 :? E96D6 A286D 2?5 :? E96 @FE=6ED @7 E96 >2:?DEC62> >65:2] pE E96 46?E6C @7 E9:D :D E96 ?@E:@? E92E ?@ :562 @C C6A@CE 36 5:DD6>:?2E65 E92E :D <?@H:?8=J 72=D6] $@>6 @7 E9@D6 C6A@CED >2J EFC? @FE E@ 36 HC@?8] %92E :D H92E E96 r@CC64E:@?D 4@=F>? :D 7@C] {@?8 >2J :E 36 AF3=:D965]k^Am
kAmk6>ms2G:5 |] $9C:3>2? :D E96 7@C>6C 6I64FE:G6 65:E@C @7 E96 !:EED3FC89 !@DE\v2K6EE6] w6 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>Qm5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>k^2m[ @C 7@==@H 9:> @? %H:EE6C 2E $9C:3>2?!v] %96 !F=:EK6C !C:K6\H:??:?8 ;@FC?2=:DE 92D 2 G242E:@? 9@>6 :? z62CD2C86]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.