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.
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.
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)?
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.
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.
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)?