[mrjangles]

Actually, it seemed more like it started with a group of self proclaimed 'elites' who had more knowledge than everybody else. This group thought everyone else was stupid, so they started lying to everyone to get them to try and get them to do what they thought was best (because they thought if they told them the truth no one would care enough). This included things like "masks don't work", and "the vaccine will ensure you don't get or spread the virus".

Then when they got caught lying, they doubled down on the lies. Then when people started getting angry, the 'elites' called them murderers (without a shred of evidence) and organized angry mobs to abuse them in the media. Then when people still wouldn't comply they forcibly imprisoned people in their homes for years. Then when people fought back they got the police to violently attack them in the streets.

All this instead of just apologizing for lying and having an honest dialogue about what was and wasn't know.