I have a problem with the dismissive and degrading words here for the medical COMMUNITY.
And I have a few corrections:
The masking of two year olds is a recommendation. Not a rule. And it came in March of last year. Have we survived? Yes. So why mock it?
Secondly, the second wave was actually six months ago, not two, and it was bad. It was more than twice as bad actually. A quarter million died. It merely began ending a couple months ago, and mask wearing, distancing, and hygiene was a big part of it. The things with which you’re expressing fatigue.
Fourth, I’m glad the “administrative state” erred on the side of caution with children that can still spread the sickness, whether they had it 9 months ago or not. (No one is known to be immune after having it, and kids are ALWAYS spreaders of sickness... welcome to parenting... just not a deadly one)
You might be getting tired of this. We all are. But there’s too much unqualified, non-medical, dismissive attitude in this country already. The denial crowd doesn’t need an otherwise sensible conservative to give them even more ammunition for their irrational and irresponsible gripes.
Alleging this is a non-stop war without end is simply false, and only serves to breed (more of) an overreaction. When belief and educated fact is already a challenge, why stoke the doubt and amateur feedback loop?
And then this:
“ America has come out of COVID better than the worst case outcome, but we’re now hearing that it can always get worse, which is a poor message.”
My God. Steve, we ARE the “worst case outcome.” And we HAVE NOT “come out of covid,” let alone “better than” anything. It’s just shocking how inaccurate this statement is.
We are still in it, cases are rising again (no thanks to attitudes like this), and we have nearly 600,000 dead in a year, millions hospitalized or bedridden, and tens of millions affected. Hundreds of thousands - like me - are still dealing with the after-effects, even after a life of having never been sick before. This unpredictable disease is getting more well known by the day, and we’re making strides. But acting like it’s over is not just false, but dangerous.
So yeah, find this article to be bothersome. Not because I merely “disagree.” I can do that amicably, and have. But the public health implications of encouraging doubt and denial is literally killing people. I side with doctors, and science. So I find it impossible to not aggressively go after nonsense like this. I’m so tired of people rejecting the very simple solutions that allow us to have a normal life. A mask doesn’t end my freedom. And global pandemics are a real threat. Just fricken do it, people. 🤷🏻♂️
The worst thing a rational conservative should be doing is throwing out broad and vague terms like “medical administrative state” and comparing it to the Vietnam War. Especially when you use it five times without ever specifically defining it.
That’s not thoughtful or responsible in my view. Please don’t encourage doubt.
Let me take on these points one by one. Before I do, let me say this is not personal, and I offer it with great respect.
1. I never addressed my thoughts regarding the MEDICAL COMMUNITY. I am speaking about the "medical administrative state" which consists of health officials, administrators, advisers to political leaders, and researchers. Some of them wear white coats, but most of them wear suits and sit behind desks. They are paid to "err on the side of caution."
2. I think you'll find a wide diversity of opinion in the MEDICAL COMMUNITY about who should be masked, where, and under what circumstances. I also think the data we have very much supports that two year olds don't need masks outside. The fact that state governments, now, are instituting these policies is counter productive to getting people vaccinated and protected.
3. COVID fatigue, yes. And I think too little attention is paid to it, with messages of "more" masking, more social distancing, more Asia-style "sick masks" forever. I suppose if we lived in great cities like Bangkok or Beijing, where air pollution is rampant and living in extremely close quarters is the rule, that might be our culture. But in general, it's not American culture, and forcing it on us is not going to work, long term.
4. Why should the MEDICAL COMMUNITY, expressed by recommendations and advice issues by the medical administrative state, be above review and discussion; why should we be accused of "encouraging doubt" when they are questioned? The military analogy to me is proper...the military doesn't like to be questioned in terms of war, but they overreach and make terrible choices all the time. The FBI, DOJ, and the national security apparatus (including the Intelligence Community) don't like to be questioned on matters they deal with, but they engage in horrific intrusions upon our rights all the time. Doctors, likewise, operate in areas where they don't have perfect knowledge or perfect advice. In great matters like a pandemic, they should not be allowed to wage forever war.
5. I don't believe I am encouraging doubt of dealing with COVID-19. I've taken it seriously, as a writer, a boss, and as a parent, far before many others. I've masked, I've minimized social contact. I still got COVID. I haven't changed my habits, but now that my wife and I are vaccinated, we are working to get back to normal, not to prolong the emergency. I think the message we're hearing from the government is the opposite of going back to normal.
6. I am dealing with "long COVID" after-effects also. But I know I'm not infectious. It's all about the data, and the R-value. When R0 < 1 without strict countermeasures (e.g. restaurants open, schools open, no mask mandate) and vaccinations are proceeding by the millions, it's not the time to preach "COVID forever."
7. Global pandemics will always be a threat. So will suitcase nukes, nutcases with guns, thugs with guns, and random acts of God that can kill you. Risk management and risk tolerance is a personal decision, and is intrinsically tied to personal liberty. When we face a grave threat (like last year, when R0 > 2 with full countermeasures), the curtailment of personal liberty is justified to lower the aggregate risk. But now, that emergency is no longer in effect. The risk is still there, but it's now a personal decision.
8. My military metaphor holds, in that any part of the government or its many orbiting power structures that shout "don't doubt us!" are seeking their own view of the world. I don't doubt that the medical administrative state is genuinely concerned and truthfully working on my behalf to minimize the risk dealing with the pandemic, but like all armies, it's time for the troops to go home and for the war to end. Some will stand watch until the next war, but until then, I can handle my own risk tolerance.
9. There is, in fact a "medical administrative state." Any doctor will tell you they're a pain in the butt to deal with.
You did lead the way Steve. You were one of the most assertive when it came to the seriousness of the pandemic. It's one of the reasons i followed you more closely. I expect to disagree with many of your opinions, this column/topic wasn't one of them.
The medical tyranny was the tipping point. We saw tyranny on January 6. Wearing a mask is so far removed from that equation i don't know how to even respond. It's like arguing apples to elephants.
SGman posted a link, but there are countless articles out there on the masses refusing shots. Scott Gottlieb was a joke, because reaching herd immunity by letting people die was lunacy. Reaching herd immunity via vaccination is our way out, but not if people won't vaccinate. It's that simple.
Consider that some of the reason people won’t vaccinate is due to COVID fatigue and mixed messages from the government. Get vaccinated but stay masked. Get vaccinated and keep social distance. Get vaccinated but here are the horror stories coming out of the media. Get vaccinated but a vaccine might not be enough. Get vaccinated but don’t go back to normal. It’s confusing and fatiguing. We need to have an end where we can say “it’s over.” The medical administrative state—government folks—are not paid to give that answer.
Why should we not be altering what we consider to be "normal" behavior going forward? Some things will return to the old norm (dining inside, for example), but COVID *should* be changing what we consider normal behavior: washing hands more often, making sure to avoid rubbing our eyes/faces, covering our sneezes, and when sick at all - mask up to prevent spread of infection (if experiencing symptoms).
Right now: get vaccinated and stay masked when inside until herd immunity is reached because you may still get infected with a variant, and then asymptomatically spread it around.
I'm looking forward to my wife getting her second shot this Friday, so we can then see our vaccinated friends in mid-May.
Thank you for writing this. It's sad this site would even publish something like that, that not only is full of falsehoods but actually endangers lives. Steve should be looking for a new writing gig after this disgrace.
We should also embrace sickness masks as a cultural norm, such as in East Asia: in the future, if you are sick - mask up and prevent the spread of infection.
I too found this article troubling Ed. You covered it well, but the one that jammed me up the most: "medical tyranny." Are you freaking kidding me Steve? I remember when you used to be honest and objective about how destructive the pandemic was/still is.
The good news is we are on the right path to herd immunity, the bad news is there are too many on the right dismissing both getting their shots and trying to stem the spread. Certainly your opinions are worth sharing, but in the effort to get there, push/pull the dummies who refuse to get their shots because it's untrumpian (even though he got his quietly) or because it angers liberals.
Explain to me why India is consumed with COVID and how that can make a vaccinated nation experience the pandemic all over again? I feel for India, and also for Brazil and Venezuela, where government inaction is responsible for a terrible death toll. I'm talking about America, right now, not Trumpian America, but today. Who is talking about refusing to get your shot? I got mine (J&J). But continuing to preach "emergency" for vaccinated Americans does the opposite of encouraging others to get their shot. I don't know how you don't see that.
Variants develop in India that can evade the antibodies from the vaccination, which then spread around the world and lead to recurring lockdowns (to say nothing of illnesses and deaths).
A non-insignificant portion of the population refuses the vaccine, for a combination of reasons: anti-vax views, misinformation about COVID, and general ire for liberals (yes, someone really wrote up an article in American Greatness stating they're not going to get vaccinated just to piss of liberals).
I can agree on removing mask mandates when outside and distanced from people, while at the same time recognizing that there are still a) too many unvaccinated people, b) no way to know if someone is vaccinated, c) too many that have refused masking even when necessary, and d) time spent indoors unmasked is dangerous until we do reach herd immunity (https://www.businessinsider.com/6-ft-social-distancing-rule-exposure-indoors-2021-4).
The safest thing to do right now is to get together with other vaccinated people, mask up while going indoors around others that you don't know their vaccination status, and recommend those not planning to get vaccinated talk to their doctors about it.
I am not sure how or if I should wade in on this topic. Much apples to elephants conversation. This post seems to have hit a nerve, and I find value in reading all of the comments here. It helps me to look at things differently than what may initially reside in my head. And it sounds like all parties have and continue to take all things COVID seriously and directed towards safety. As individuals and families we try our best to navigate COVID by being informed on the science, economics and social aspects involved. We make decisions that we are comfortable with concerning risk and safety. People come to different conclusions on what is best for them, and are free to do so. Discussion on a medical administrative state and COVID fatigue are valid and I can see differing opinions. I do not see Steve's post as promoting anti-vaccination. It had a libertarian feel. Mask wearing and vaccinations will go forward based on science and how individuals determine risk and safety. Individuals guide their lives and some make poor choices and we have to use what tools and voices we have to carry them. I probably added coconuts to the apples and elephants already served.
Hey Jay, always glad to hear more opinions; no matter how wide the range. You know Steve led the charge on the old Resurgent site regarding the seriousness of Covid 19. I live in an age restricted community where everyone was considered vulnerable. The good news was, most took it seriously. And in fairness isolation for me was way easier than for many. I don't need to be around people to make me feel whole. As a long time retiree, my future wasn't impacted like so many. I was fortunate in many ways.
With that out of the way, my real fear is in part captured in your closing comments. I sense too many will discard any reliance on science and depend on ignorant choices foisted on them by websites who preach nonsense. Just tonight i saw a report where a private school in Miami told teachers if they got vaccinated they could not come back and teach. They claimed those vaccinated became a risk to those not. Really?
Vaccination is our way out. Herd immunity is our way out. Stupidity will prevent us from getting there. No, Steve didn't promote anti vax...i just wish he would have embraced the idea everyone get their shot. He's a voice on the right and there's too many catering to the crap it isn't important.
Ok I’ll say it: Everyone get their shot. And when you do and wait 2 weeks, life can go more normal. And we don’t have to get everyone in the world to get a shot before we get back approaching normal. And if we worry about every variant and the next and the next thing we will have “COVID forever” and never get back to normal. I for one like normal. So everyone get your shot.
I'm curious whether your basis for believing in a "COVID Forever" scenario is coming has more to support it than a Boston Globe headline. We've basically been living in a "Flu Forever" scenario as long as I can remember ("Did you get your flu shot this season?"), and I expect we'll be dealing with COVID in a similar manner moving forward, but I'll be VERY surprised if folks are still masking while healthy as soon as we reach the herd immunity threshold.
Is there something you're seeing on a national level that I'm missing, or is this largely based on the actions of state/local administrators who are actually setting policies that are impacting you personally (such as the nonsense with your kids)?
Our kids being asked to stay home from school can be an emotional trigger point. I have a feeling that is what motivated 98% of this post. It certainly couldn’t have been the gradual easing of restrictions and positive messaging icy coming from the “medical administrative state“ but he still vaguely asserts are suits sitting behind desks.
I think you can see the difference between the “flu forever” scenario (btw, where did the flu go this year?) and COVID forever. We can’t remain in an emergency mode where people don’t get to manage their own risk forever. You can liken COVID to measles I guess. But nobody is checking for measles vaccinations just in case the vaccine didn’t take. It’s not just taking care, it’s panic level.
Well, part of the issue in terms of "managing our own risk" is that large parts of our society have collectively decided that they have zero interest in managing any risk at all (YOLO!), and that puts not only them, but others in harm's way. If this virus was something like HIV, where you had to really work to catch it, as opposed to COVID's aerial transmission, I think you'd have a point. However, that's not the case with this virus, and the measures you're not a fan of are there for the folks that can't/won't vaccinate.
The alternative to society-wide recommendations and mandates are having the government take an even MORE active role in our lives to verify that vaccinated are free to go about as they will, while segregating the un-vaxed population away under even harsher conditions until either they get vaccinated themselves or enough of the population is vaccinated that the un-vaxed can be freed to intermingle once again without being a statistical danger to anyone else. I don't know about you, but I'll take a restaurant that is only open at 50% capacity and recommends masks when folks aren't eating over the restaurant that has the CDC bouncer at the door checking everyone's vax cards.
I'm roughly a month away from being fully vaccinated myself (second dose in 2 weeks, full activation 2 weeks after that). I live and work in the middle of a major metropolitan area (hello from a daily Chicago train rider!), and I expect that I'll still be wearing my mask on the train for a month or two AFTER there's no COVID threat to me.
It's not panic that will keep me masked, rather that it's unlikely we'll have reached full immunity (as a city) during that time. Me wearing a mask - even if it does NOTHING for me personally - models good behavior that I want others to emulate UNTIL a random un-vaxed person isn't a danger to someone else riding the train who couldn't take the vaccine. I'm trying to reinforce the "common/community good" that conservatives seem to be concerned with (often in the abstract, but rarely in practice).
And let's be honest - it will SUCK (personally) that I'll still be masked after I'm safe from the virus on the train and (even worse) in the gym. However, as long as it's for a period where we're still working on reaching collective immunity, I'm happy to bear it for my fellow train riders and gym rats. There's a light at the end of the tunnel, so contrary to some biotech companies looking to extract ongoing rents from COVID, the sooner people do what they need to do (take the damn vaccine), the sooner this will be a story we tell our children.
I don't know if anyone posts this before I get to it, but I just saw revised mask guidance from the CDC:
"Fully vaccinated people can now unmask at small outdoor gatherings, or when dining outside with friends from multiple households. The CDC is telling unvaccinated people that they still need to wear a mask at such gatherings."
"'If you are fully vaccinated and want to attend a small outdoor gathering with people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated, or dine at an outdoor restaurant with friends from multiple households, the science shows if you are vaccinated, you can do so safely unmasked,' CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a virtual White House briefing on Tuesday."[1]
That's a definite quality-of-life improvement over yesterday's guidance, and contradicts the "COVID forever" thesis you're pushing.
I have a problem with the dismissive and degrading words here for the medical COMMUNITY.
And I have a few corrections:
The masking of two year olds is a recommendation. Not a rule. And it came in March of last year. Have we survived? Yes. So why mock it?
Secondly, the second wave was actually six months ago, not two, and it was bad. It was more than twice as bad actually. A quarter million died. It merely began ending a couple months ago, and mask wearing, distancing, and hygiene was a big part of it. The things with which you’re expressing fatigue.
Fourth, I’m glad the “administrative state” erred on the side of caution with children that can still spread the sickness, whether they had it 9 months ago or not. (No one is known to be immune after having it, and kids are ALWAYS spreaders of sickness... welcome to parenting... just not a deadly one)
You might be getting tired of this. We all are. But there’s too much unqualified, non-medical, dismissive attitude in this country already. The denial crowd doesn’t need an otherwise sensible conservative to give them even more ammunition for their irrational and irresponsible gripes.
Alleging this is a non-stop war without end is simply false, and only serves to breed (more of) an overreaction. When belief and educated fact is already a challenge, why stoke the doubt and amateur feedback loop?
And then this:
“ America has come out of COVID better than the worst case outcome, but we’re now hearing that it can always get worse, which is a poor message.”
My God. Steve, we ARE the “worst case outcome.” And we HAVE NOT “come out of covid,” let alone “better than” anything. It’s just shocking how inaccurate this statement is.
We are still in it, cases are rising again (no thanks to attitudes like this), and we have nearly 600,000 dead in a year, millions hospitalized or bedridden, and tens of millions affected. Hundreds of thousands - like me - are still dealing with the after-effects, even after a life of having never been sick before. This unpredictable disease is getting more well known by the day, and we’re making strides. But acting like it’s over is not just false, but dangerous.
So yeah, find this article to be bothersome. Not because I merely “disagree.” I can do that amicably, and have. But the public health implications of encouraging doubt and denial is literally killing people. I side with doctors, and science. So I find it impossible to not aggressively go after nonsense like this. I’m so tired of people rejecting the very simple solutions that allow us to have a normal life. A mask doesn’t end my freedom. And global pandemics are a real threat. Just fricken do it, people. 🤷🏻♂️
The worst thing a rational conservative should be doing is throwing out broad and vague terms like “medical administrative state” and comparing it to the Vietnam War. Especially when you use it five times without ever specifically defining it.
That’s not thoughtful or responsible in my view. Please don’t encourage doubt.
Let me take on these points one by one. Before I do, let me say this is not personal, and I offer it with great respect.
1. I never addressed my thoughts regarding the MEDICAL COMMUNITY. I am speaking about the "medical administrative state" which consists of health officials, administrators, advisers to political leaders, and researchers. Some of them wear white coats, but most of them wear suits and sit behind desks. They are paid to "err on the side of caution."
2. I think you'll find a wide diversity of opinion in the MEDICAL COMMUNITY about who should be masked, where, and under what circumstances. I also think the data we have very much supports that two year olds don't need masks outside. The fact that state governments, now, are instituting these policies is counter productive to getting people vaccinated and protected.
3. COVID fatigue, yes. And I think too little attention is paid to it, with messages of "more" masking, more social distancing, more Asia-style "sick masks" forever. I suppose if we lived in great cities like Bangkok or Beijing, where air pollution is rampant and living in extremely close quarters is the rule, that might be our culture. But in general, it's not American culture, and forcing it on us is not going to work, long term.
4. Why should the MEDICAL COMMUNITY, expressed by recommendations and advice issues by the medical administrative state, be above review and discussion; why should we be accused of "encouraging doubt" when they are questioned? The military analogy to me is proper...the military doesn't like to be questioned in terms of war, but they overreach and make terrible choices all the time. The FBI, DOJ, and the national security apparatus (including the Intelligence Community) don't like to be questioned on matters they deal with, but they engage in horrific intrusions upon our rights all the time. Doctors, likewise, operate in areas where they don't have perfect knowledge or perfect advice. In great matters like a pandemic, they should not be allowed to wage forever war.
5. I don't believe I am encouraging doubt of dealing with COVID-19. I've taken it seriously, as a writer, a boss, and as a parent, far before many others. I've masked, I've minimized social contact. I still got COVID. I haven't changed my habits, but now that my wife and I are vaccinated, we are working to get back to normal, not to prolong the emergency. I think the message we're hearing from the government is the opposite of going back to normal.
6. I am dealing with "long COVID" after-effects also. But I know I'm not infectious. It's all about the data, and the R-value. When R0 < 1 without strict countermeasures (e.g. restaurants open, schools open, no mask mandate) and vaccinations are proceeding by the millions, it's not the time to preach "COVID forever."
7. Global pandemics will always be a threat. So will suitcase nukes, nutcases with guns, thugs with guns, and random acts of God that can kill you. Risk management and risk tolerance is a personal decision, and is intrinsically tied to personal liberty. When we face a grave threat (like last year, when R0 > 2 with full countermeasures), the curtailment of personal liberty is justified to lower the aggregate risk. But now, that emergency is no longer in effect. The risk is still there, but it's now a personal decision.
8. My military metaphor holds, in that any part of the government or its many orbiting power structures that shout "don't doubt us!" are seeking their own view of the world. I don't doubt that the medical administrative state is genuinely concerned and truthfully working on my behalf to minimize the risk dealing with the pandemic, but like all armies, it's time for the troops to go home and for the war to end. Some will stand watch until the next war, but until then, I can handle my own risk tolerance.
9. There is, in fact a "medical administrative state." Any doctor will tell you they're a pain in the butt to deal with.
You did lead the way Steve. You were one of the most assertive when it came to the seriousness of the pandemic. It's one of the reasons i followed you more closely. I expect to disagree with many of your opinions, this column/topic wasn't one of them.
The medical tyranny was the tipping point. We saw tyranny on January 6. Wearing a mask is so far removed from that equation i don't know how to even respond. It's like arguing apples to elephants.
SGman posted a link, but there are countless articles out there on the masses refusing shots. Scott Gottlieb was a joke, because reaching herd immunity by letting people die was lunacy. Reaching herd immunity via vaccination is our way out, but not if people won't vaccinate. It's that simple.
Consider that some of the reason people won’t vaccinate is due to COVID fatigue and mixed messages from the government. Get vaccinated but stay masked. Get vaccinated and keep social distance. Get vaccinated but here are the horror stories coming out of the media. Get vaccinated but a vaccine might not be enough. Get vaccinated but don’t go back to normal. It’s confusing and fatiguing. We need to have an end where we can say “it’s over.” The medical administrative state—government folks—are not paid to give that answer.
Why should we not be altering what we consider to be "normal" behavior going forward? Some things will return to the old norm (dining inside, for example), but COVID *should* be changing what we consider normal behavior: washing hands more often, making sure to avoid rubbing our eyes/faces, covering our sneezes, and when sick at all - mask up to prevent spread of infection (if experiencing symptoms).
Right now: get vaccinated and stay masked when inside until herd immunity is reached because you may still get infected with a variant, and then asymptomatically spread it around.
I'm looking forward to my wife getting her second shot this Friday, so we can then see our vaccinated friends in mid-May.
Thank you for writing this. It's sad this site would even publish something like that, that not only is full of falsehoods but actually endangers lives. Steve should be looking for a new writing gig after this disgrace.
We should also embrace sickness masks as a cultural norm, such as in East Asia: in the future, if you are sick - mask up and prevent the spread of infection.
We are so unused to the idea that it feels foreign and an intrusion. But it’s a reality in most urbanized parts of the world. Americans need to relax.
I too found this article troubling Ed. You covered it well, but the one that jammed me up the most: "medical tyranny." Are you freaking kidding me Steve? I remember when you used to be honest and objective about how destructive the pandemic was/still is.
The good news is we are on the right path to herd immunity, the bad news is there are too many on the right dismissing both getting their shots and trying to stem the spread. Certainly your opinions are worth sharing, but in the effort to get there, push/pull the dummies who refuse to get their shots because it's untrumpian (even though he got his quietly) or because it angers liberals.
Final thought in one simple summation: India.
Explain to me why India is consumed with COVID and how that can make a vaccinated nation experience the pandemic all over again? I feel for India, and also for Brazil and Venezuela, where government inaction is responsible for a terrible death toll. I'm talking about America, right now, not Trumpian America, but today. Who is talking about refusing to get your shot? I got mine (J&J). But continuing to preach "emergency" for vaccinated Americans does the opposite of encouraging others to get their shot. I don't know how you don't see that.
Who’s “preaching emergency?” I haven’t seen that in a year.
Variants develop in India that can evade the antibodies from the vaccination, which then spread around the world and lead to recurring lockdowns (to say nothing of illnesses and deaths).
A non-insignificant portion of the population refuses the vaccine, for a combination of reasons: anti-vax views, misinformation about COVID, and general ire for liberals (yes, someone really wrote up an article in American Greatness stating they're not going to get vaccinated just to piss of liberals).
I can agree on removing mask mandates when outside and distanced from people, while at the same time recognizing that there are still a) too many unvaccinated people, b) no way to know if someone is vaccinated, c) too many that have refused masking even when necessary, and d) time spent indoors unmasked is dangerous until we do reach herd immunity (https://www.businessinsider.com/6-ft-social-distancing-rule-exposure-indoors-2021-4).
The safest thing to do right now is to get together with other vaccinated people, mask up while going indoors around others that you don't know their vaccination status, and recommend those not planning to get vaccinated talk to their doctors about it.
I am not sure how or if I should wade in on this topic. Much apples to elephants conversation. This post seems to have hit a nerve, and I find value in reading all of the comments here. It helps me to look at things differently than what may initially reside in my head. And it sounds like all parties have and continue to take all things COVID seriously and directed towards safety. As individuals and families we try our best to navigate COVID by being informed on the science, economics and social aspects involved. We make decisions that we are comfortable with concerning risk and safety. People come to different conclusions on what is best for them, and are free to do so. Discussion on a medical administrative state and COVID fatigue are valid and I can see differing opinions. I do not see Steve's post as promoting anti-vaccination. It had a libertarian feel. Mask wearing and vaccinations will go forward based on science and how individuals determine risk and safety. Individuals guide their lives and some make poor choices and we have to use what tools and voices we have to carry them. I probably added coconuts to the apples and elephants already served.
Hey Jay, always glad to hear more opinions; no matter how wide the range. You know Steve led the charge on the old Resurgent site regarding the seriousness of Covid 19. I live in an age restricted community where everyone was considered vulnerable. The good news was, most took it seriously. And in fairness isolation for me was way easier than for many. I don't need to be around people to make me feel whole. As a long time retiree, my future wasn't impacted like so many. I was fortunate in many ways.
With that out of the way, my real fear is in part captured in your closing comments. I sense too many will discard any reliance on science and depend on ignorant choices foisted on them by websites who preach nonsense. Just tonight i saw a report where a private school in Miami told teachers if they got vaccinated they could not come back and teach. They claimed those vaccinated became a risk to those not. Really?
Vaccination is our way out. Herd immunity is our way out. Stupidity will prevent us from getting there. No, Steve didn't promote anti vax...i just wish he would have embraced the idea everyone get their shot. He's a voice on the right and there's too many catering to the crap it isn't important.
Ok I’ll say it: Everyone get their shot. And when you do and wait 2 weeks, life can go more normal. And we don’t have to get everyone in the world to get a shot before we get back approaching normal. And if we worry about every variant and the next and the next thing we will have “COVID forever” and never get back to normal. I for one like normal. So everyone get your shot.
I consider it a given that you support vaccination.
Thanks Bill. Stupidity is an a constant that the rest have to carry, but not encourage.
I'm curious whether your basis for believing in a "COVID Forever" scenario is coming has more to support it than a Boston Globe headline. We've basically been living in a "Flu Forever" scenario as long as I can remember ("Did you get your flu shot this season?"), and I expect we'll be dealing with COVID in a similar manner moving forward, but I'll be VERY surprised if folks are still masking while healthy as soon as we reach the herd immunity threshold.
Is there something you're seeing on a national level that I'm missing, or is this largely based on the actions of state/local administrators who are actually setting policies that are impacting you personally (such as the nonsense with your kids)?
Our kids being asked to stay home from school can be an emotional trigger point. I have a feeling that is what motivated 98% of this post. It certainly couldn’t have been the gradual easing of restrictions and positive messaging icy coming from the “medical administrative state“ but he still vaguely asserts are suits sitting behind desks.
I think you can see the difference between the “flu forever” scenario (btw, where did the flu go this year?) and COVID forever. We can’t remain in an emergency mode where people don’t get to manage their own risk forever. You can liken COVID to measles I guess. But nobody is checking for measles vaccinations just in case the vaccine didn’t take. It’s not just taking care, it’s panic level.
Well, part of the issue in terms of "managing our own risk" is that large parts of our society have collectively decided that they have zero interest in managing any risk at all (YOLO!), and that puts not only them, but others in harm's way. If this virus was something like HIV, where you had to really work to catch it, as opposed to COVID's aerial transmission, I think you'd have a point. However, that's not the case with this virus, and the measures you're not a fan of are there for the folks that can't/won't vaccinate.
The alternative to society-wide recommendations and mandates are having the government take an even MORE active role in our lives to verify that vaccinated are free to go about as they will, while segregating the un-vaxed population away under even harsher conditions until either they get vaccinated themselves or enough of the population is vaccinated that the un-vaxed can be freed to intermingle once again without being a statistical danger to anyone else. I don't know about you, but I'll take a restaurant that is only open at 50% capacity and recommends masks when folks aren't eating over the restaurant that has the CDC bouncer at the door checking everyone's vax cards.
I'm roughly a month away from being fully vaccinated myself (second dose in 2 weeks, full activation 2 weeks after that). I live and work in the middle of a major metropolitan area (hello from a daily Chicago train rider!), and I expect that I'll still be wearing my mask on the train for a month or two AFTER there's no COVID threat to me.
It's not panic that will keep me masked, rather that it's unlikely we'll have reached full immunity (as a city) during that time. Me wearing a mask - even if it does NOTHING for me personally - models good behavior that I want others to emulate UNTIL a random un-vaxed person isn't a danger to someone else riding the train who couldn't take the vaccine. I'm trying to reinforce the "common/community good" that conservatives seem to be concerned with (often in the abstract, but rarely in practice).
And let's be honest - it will SUCK (personally) that I'll still be masked after I'm safe from the virus on the train and (even worse) in the gym. However, as long as it's for a period where we're still working on reaching collective immunity, I'm happy to bear it for my fellow train riders and gym rats. There's a light at the end of the tunnel, so contrary to some biotech companies looking to extract ongoing rents from COVID, the sooner people do what they need to do (take the damn vaccine), the sooner this will be a story we tell our children.
I don't know if anyone posts this before I get to it, but I just saw revised mask guidance from the CDC:
"Fully vaccinated people can now unmask at small outdoor gatherings, or when dining outside with friends from multiple households. The CDC is telling unvaccinated people that they still need to wear a mask at such gatherings."
"'If you are fully vaccinated and want to attend a small outdoor gathering with people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated, or dine at an outdoor restaurant with friends from multiple households, the science shows if you are vaccinated, you can do so safely unmasked,' CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a virtual White House briefing on Tuesday."[1]
That's a definite quality-of-life improvement over yesterday's guidance, and contradicts the "COVID forever" thesis you're pushing.
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/27/health/cdc-mask-guidance-fully-vaccinated-bn/index.html