Early on in the pandemic, the data was clear. There was a thousand-fold difference in fatality rates for the elderly versus the young. Yet public policy and public health messaging largely ignored this. In fact, many Americans, when polled, have a highly exaggerated estimation of the risk COVID-19 poses to them. So what explains this disproportionate reaction? One man who’s meditated on this very question for the past several months is Thomas Harrington, a professor of language and culture studies at Trinity College and a contributing writer for the Brownstone Institute. We explore the cultural ills in our society that may explain some of its illogical responses to the pandemic and that created what Harrington calls, “the frightened class.” Subscribe to the American Thought Leaders newsletter so you never miss an episode.