> The (to use your word) 'crackpots' were proposing alternative solutions like Ivermectin and Chloroquine.
People can "propose" all they want. They were also proposing bleach, vitamin D, UV sunlight, and probably much more. It takes more than a bare proposal--you need to be able to show (with data) that your proposal is better than the current best theory.
In hindsight, the so-called crackpots were not all that invested in any particular alternative. They were invested in a general, vague contrariness: If the mainstream agreed with it, they were against it, for all definitions of "it". If, for instance, Chloroquine actually was found to be effective and Dr. Fauci got on stage and recommended it, the crackpots would have instantly abandoned it and pivoted over to a different proposal. They were more interested in simply being contrary to "the other side".
People can "propose" all they want. They were also proposing bleach, vitamin D, UV sunlight, and probably much more. It takes more than a bare proposal--you need to be able to show (with data) that your proposal is better than the current best theory.
In hindsight, the so-called crackpots were not all that invested in any particular alternative. They were invested in a general, vague contrariness: If the mainstream agreed with it, they were against it, for all definitions of "it". If, for instance, Chloroquine actually was found to be effective and Dr. Fauci got on stage and recommended it, the crackpots would have instantly abandoned it and pivoted over to a different proposal. They were more interested in simply being contrary to "the other side".