5 ms·
Seems that both sides, lock-down-until-proven-safe and stop-all-restrictions-yesterday, at least in the US are more focused on spin than facts. What we need is
by ptero 6y ago
Seems that both sides, lock-down-until-proven-safe and stop-all-restrictions-yesterday, at least in the US are more focused on spin than facts.
What we need is an open and honest discussion, where conflicting opinions are not ridiculed or shut down but vigorously debated. This would put a premium on clear logic substantiated by numbers and estimates on error bounds. And explanations that an average engineer can follow; not super-complicated things that require a supercomputer to run and a bunch of PhDs to interpret.
In the end it comes down to figuring out what additional risks we, as a society, are willing to accept to stave off specific erosions of personal freedoms and economic impacts. If we do not learn to make this choice consciously it will be made for us by whoever is loudest today (and swapped by whoever is loudest tomorrow).
- germinalphrase 6y agoWe don’t have a (publicly facing) political system that rewards nuance.
- ptero 6y agoI am not even talking about nuance, just some basic engineering clarity; and just between friends, no politicians nearby. I have seen a couple of times that the topic got discussed between otherwise calm, smart people. Both times it very quickly got into name calling, no technical arguments involved.
- mythrwy 6y agoEngineering clarity and politics apparently don't mix. Not a good state to be in. How did democracy ever become "the loudest bullshitter calls the shots"? How sustainable is this?
- germinalphrase 6y agoOf course, I agree with you. I just don’t see how our political/media class can change. The incentives are aligned against your/our view.