WHENEVER there’s a health crisis, politicians have a tendency to tout simplistic solutions and make knowledge claims to support these solutions, even against the advice of those who know better. (Few if any politicians would claim to be unscientific, but most politicians misuse, and selectively use, science.) For indeed, regardless of its pharmaceutical efficacy, ivermectin has political efficacy for our politicians: It makes them feel like they are doing something – at a fraction of the effort of doing something meaningful. Ivermectin, moreover, allows politicians to distance themselves from institutions the public has come to distrust, painting themselves as smarter, more independent, more sensible. Ivermectin, finally, gives politicians free publicity.

Source: The Star June 11, 2021 15:00 UTC