As I write this with a fever of 102.3°, battling my second bout with COVID-19, I can’t help but reflect on the alarming complacency that has taken hold of our nation. Despite facing yet another wave of infections, there’s a shocking lack of outrage or demand for accountability. We’ve seemingly become numb to the fact that this virus, which continues to wreak havoc, may very well be the product of failed research funded by our own tax dollars.
Since the pandemic began, COVID-19 has infected millions, claimed many lives, and disrupted economies worldwide. Yet, as the virus continues to mutate and spread, we’ve somehow resigned ourselves to the idea that this is just the new normal. There’s no public outcry, no demand for answers, and certainly no one being held accountable for the origins of this deadly virus.
Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies have seen unprecedented profits. Pfizer, Moderna, and others have collectively made tens of billions of dollars from their vaccines. Pfizer alone recently reported $100 billion in annual revenue, with nearly half coming from its COVID-19 vaccine and antiviral treatment. These companies have also poured hundreds of millions into lobbying efforts, ensuring their interests are well-protected in Washington, where politicians continue to push for vaccinations.
The story darkens when you delve into the origins of COVID-19 and the role of gain-of-function research. In 2014, the United States placed a moratorium on gain-of-function research, which involves making viruses more dangerous or transmissible in the lab to study potential threats. This type of research was deemed too risky due to the potential for accidental release. However, despite these concerns, Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the leading voices during the pandemic, penned an op-ed for The Washington Post in 2011 advocating for the continuation of gain-of-function research. He argued that the potential benefits outweighed the risks, even as critics warned that this could lead to a global catastrophe.
Fast forward to today, and we’re living through the nightmare scenario many feared. While there is still debate over the exact origins of COVID-19, a significant portion of the scientific community believes that a lab leak, where US funded gain-of-function research was being conducted, is the culprit. Yet, despite this, there has been no significant effort to hold anyone accountable or to thoroughly investigate the matter. The silence from those in power is deafening, and the lack of transparency is deeply troubling. Perhaps all that lobby money also buys silence in Washington.
What’s truly perplexing is how, as a society, we raised hell over lockdowns and mask mandates, yet we’ve barely made a peep about the possibility that our government may have played a vital role in the creation of this virus. We protested restrictions on our freedoms, but where is the outrage over the possibility that those same freedoms were compromised by a virus that our own tax dollars might have helped create? It’s as if we’ve chosen to overlook the most critical issue in favor of more immediate, albeit important, concerns.
And while some have turned their backs on the “preventatives,” many others are still lining up to get vaccinated. For Big Pharma, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Unlike any other product, this virus doesn’t need a marketing budget—it spreads on its own, creating a continuous demand for vaccines and treatments. It’s an unrelenting cycle that guarantees ongoing profits for those who stand to benefit, including politicians who keep filling their coffers with Big Pharma lobbyist money.
So, where is our demand for accountability? Despite ample evidence suggesting that gain-of-function research—partially funded by U.S. agencies—may have played a role in the emergence of COVID-19, no one has been held responsible. The fact that such risky research was pursued, even after being outlawed in the U.S., raises serious questions about the oversight and ethical considerations that were, or were not, in place.
Our nation has a long history of holding people accountable when things go wrong, yet in the case of COVID-19, we seem to have collectively decided to look the other way. Instead of demanding answers, we’ve accepted this new reality with a shrug, content to move on as long as our lives can return to some semblance of normalcy. Statements like “Where’s Bob? Oh, he’s out with COVID” should not be made in such a casual manner.
This complacency is dangerous. It sets a precedent that allows those in power to operate without fear of consequences, even when their actions—or inactions—have dire repercussions. If we don’t demand accountability now, what happens when the next crisis hits? Will we simply accept it as inevitable, or will we finally stand up and insist on answers?
The ongoing mutations of the virus serve as a stark reminder that we cannot afford to be passive. Lives are at stake, and so is the integrity of our institutions. We must hold those responsible accountable, ensure transparency, and demand that our leaders prioritize public health over profits. Anything less is a dereliction of our duty as citizens.
It’s time to stop being complacent and start asking the tough questions. Our health, our economy, and our future depend on it.
