The Government’s Sheep: The Birth of a Conspiracy

My cousin Victor, 32, and uncle Jose, 40, believe the government is out to get them. They tell anyone who listens that the world is coming to an end and all politicians, especially liberals, are in on it. Their Facebook and Instagram groups repeat these ideas over and over. They insist they are not just conspiracy theories. They also say that the first step to survival is to avoid vaccination. Victor and Jose talked about their beliefs but asked me not to use their real names.

They come from a traditional Dominican background, where many seem naturally superstitious and trusting by nature. Dominicans tend to believe in disinformation without question, especially when the source is a friend of a friend. This dynamic led Victor and Jose into the clutches of QAnon. My family members now believe in alleged Satanic politicians and view COVID-19 as a sickness that can be cured with tea, turmeric and ginger.

Jose shares stories about a COVID-19 vaccine that is not meant to save the masses. There is no doubt in his mind that the vaccine is the government’s attempt at population control. He questions its legitimacy without understanding the funds, time and effort that went into its creation. The CDC says scientists developed COVID-19 vaccines with technology that has been around for decades. They created the vaccine to fight against disease, not to track movement.

In March 2021, Victor argued that vaccines approved for emergency use authorization (EUA) threatened America’s safety. He claimed only to trust approved preventative measures. Yet, after the FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, he began to argue that the FDA is suspicious. He says, “The government can’t even make up its mind on whether we need masks or not. And now people want me to trust in this vaccine they made in a year? I’m not that stupid.”

When I asked what they feared most, Victor and Jose said sterilization and microchips. But the CDC found no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine causes fertility problems. The CDC also assures the public that COVID-19 vaccines do not contain microchips, listing its active and inactive ingredients as public record.

After New York’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate, Jose succumbed to pressures from his employer and his desire to party at New York’s best lounges. He received his first dose of Moderna last week and spends a good deal of time assuring his followers that he is not the government’s “sheep,” despite getting vaccinated. 

Victor is not so easily swayed. He continues to avoid vaccination despite the possibility of losing his job as a correction officer on Rikers Island. He said, “It’s more complicated than the media makes it seem. In the end, the people’s opinion matters too.”