The conversations among the Green Party and other progressive voices have shifted to the level of conspiracy surrounding the COVID-19 response and whether it should be classified as high as the JFK assassination or 9/11. Some progressives believe that this may be the most serious conspiracy in modern history, while others disagree. The "anti-vaxxer" conspiracy theories initially tried to point out that this was a massive form of psychosis that should be stopped immediately, but they were met with pushback from the mainstream media, who provided "fact-checks" and claimed that there was no evidence of a "mass formation psychosis" occurring during the pandemic.

The Fact-Check VERDICT:
Missing context. There is no evidence to suggest a “mass formation psychosis” has occurred during the pandemic, experts told Reuters. The term itself is not recognized among academics, and modern research into crowd psychology has shown that crowds do not behave in mindless or non-individualistic ways.

However, recent events, such as the rise in impulse murder, suggest that an epidemic of fear porn caused by misinformation may be causing a massive psychosis that is leading to these incidents. Psychosis is a mental health condition that impairs an individual's sense of reality and can be associated with hallucinations, delusions, incoherent speech, and agitation. Research is ongoing to investigate the link between COVID-19 and psychosis.

In a current Guardian article, they highlight recent incidents where innocent mistakes have resulted in tragic outcomes - in one case, a 16-year-old boy was shot in the head and critically wounded after knocking on the wrong door to pick up his younger brothers, while in another case, a 20-year-old woman was shot and killed when she and her friends accidentally drove up the wrong driveway and were turning around to leave.

However, at the end of article, the author states, "I can’t imagine the magic cure for an epidemic of impulse murder. It’s too huge, too systemic, too ingrained in the fabric and the moment. It’s as if our population needs therapy or guidance. At the least, we need to learn not to kill strangers who may need our help – but rather to ask if they are lost."

Well, I can "imagine" what's causing these incidents to increase. It's not just racism, too much Fox News, or downplaying it as some type of sudden "murder epidemic." This "epidemic" is actually caused by an "epidemic" of misinformation and fearmongering. The spread of this "epidemic of fearmongering" has led to a widespread psychosis, and the current "epidemic of murders" is the result of it.

Sheep? Those who wear a mask are the complete opposite.
We stand up to authorities who continue to minimise the impact of SARSCoV2 on their citizens.
Wearing a mask is an act of rebellion and a clear sign we do not consent forced mass infection. #CovidIsNotOver #WearAMask

— Dame Sa 🐝 3.5% (@LongCovidHell) April 23, 2023

Despite the overwhelming evidence brought forth by numerous whistleblowers, there are still individuals who believe that they are "enlightened," while those of us who have chosen to stop wearing masks and lift COVID restrictions are now labeled as "sheep" and part of the "anti-woke" movement.

Smh not a mask in sight! The Covid mask mandate ended in WA State. I'm sitting waiting for Chemo to start & no one is wearing masks! Including patients & staff! Guess what! I am still wearing a mask! I just got out of the hospital! Not taking any chances!! #ThanksCancer pic.twitter.com/aehbf4VGNy

— 🌻Jaylee 🇺🇲 🇺🇦🌎🌻🏳️‍🌈 (@Jaylee2076) April 19, 2023

According to them, we are the ones supporting capitalist motives and agreeing with fascist ideals, whereas they are the ones fighting against fascism by continuing to wear masks to protect the people. This kind of reaction is quite concerning and irrational.

According to an article on PsychCentral, COVID psychosis is a mental health condition that may cause symptoms and episodes of psychosis in connection with COVID-19. The article notes that little is known about COVID psychosis, and further research is necessary. Psychosis, which impairs an individual's sense of reality, can be associated with hallucinations, delusions, incoherent speech, and agitation.

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on the mental health of the general population. While the medical community continues to work tirelessly to combat the virus, the psychiatric community is grappling with the immense psychological fallout.

The pandemic has led to a surge in anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders, as well as exacerbating pre-existing psychiatric conditions. The Psychiatric Sequelae of COVID-19 article notes that factors contributing to the psychiatric sequelae of COVID-19 include fear of contracting the virus, social isolation, economic instability, and grief.

Despite ongoing research, we are still not talking about the potential connection between COVID-19 and psychosis. In a Times article, they pointed out an October 2020 study published in the Lancet found that out of 153 COVID-19 patients, 10 experienced new-onset psychotic episodes and seven developed psychiatric disorders such as catatonia and mania.

However, the Brownstone institute recently published an "Open Letter to an Emotionally Abused World" suggesting that the response to COVID-19 has been driven by a propaganda machine, leading to the implementation of policies that were never part of proper pandemic planning. The societal cost of these policies is considered too great, as they have caused a massive psychosis that resembles an abusive relationship. Talking points include:

• "It was almost as if it had been rehearsed, which it actually had..." (referring to pandemic table-top scenarios, including Event 201, that simulated a novel coronavirus outbreak)
• "The propaganda machine was up and running in record time."
• "Lockdown and restricting movement of the healthy population has never been part of pandemic planning."
• "Quarantining the general population was never a part of proper pandemic planning, because the societal cost was known to be too great."

Another Brownstone Institute article highlights the detrimental effects of the ongoing fear related to COVID-19, which has resulted in some individuals experiencing psychotic episodes and engaging in violent acts... Oh really...such as shooting people just because they got lost, went to the wrong house, went in the wrong car?  Soon we will hear about other people getting shot by asking a stranger for directions because they have a low signal, or their GPS is not working on their phone. The constant state of fear induced by the pandemic has caused individuals to exhibit irrational behavior, including cognitive biases, and that is why it was called a state of "mass formation psychosis" in the first place. This has also resulted in people severing relationships, mistreating others, and complying with policies that were not rational or necessary.

It is important to address the issue of increased psychotic episodes and the potential role the official COVID response had in it. These same people tweeting about still wearing mask that think we are sheep for not doing so, will probably also say that the solution to these recent unprovoked murders is due to gun-control. It is misguided to solely blame gun control for such incidents when the root cause has been expressed multiple times by many medical professionals. It is crucial to have policies in place to address mental health and provide protection and prevention from government overreach against civil liberties. It is also important to approach this issue with compassion and understanding, and to work towards creating a society that prioritizes mental health and the well-being for everyone.

The National Green Party Black Caucus emphasized the importance of inclusion in a pandemic world when verifying case numbers were becoming increasingly difficult. Members called for honoring the Consumer Protection Plank which aims to protect consumers from harmful products and practices

There is a need to address the root cause of the problem of increased psychotic episodes and irrational behavior. Policies need to be put in place to prevent such incidents from happening again, and the Consumer Protection Plank of the Green Party's platform is a one of many ways to achieve this for Social Justice.

Philena Farley - Green Party of the United States Black Caucus Co-Chair