zlacker

>>nnx+(OP)
> One problem with the lab leak theory is that it presumes the Chinese are lying or hiding facts, a position incompatible with a joint scientific effort.

LOLOLOLOL Excuse me while I pick myself up off the floor. Doesn’t the default assumption about an authoritarian government have to be that it is lying and hiding facts that would harm it?

>>djroge+ab1
This is not even limited to authoritarian governments.

>>lordna+7j1
I think it mostly is, we're just not always happy about which countries actually are in the "authoritarian" bucket

>>willia+Tk1
most modern governments did similar stuff in the past few decades. I 'm having trouble thinking of one that didn't.

You can call them all authoritarian, but then the word loses all meaning, you would just say "any strong modern government is authoritarian"

>>flaviu+hv1
Switzerland's government isn't authoritarian. The Swiss government is the whole adult population. Every Swiss citizen over 18 can propose and vote on laws. No subset of Swiss people can force other Swiss people to do anything without approval from Swiss voters.