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Unfortunately mask compliance on this side of the pond has largely been a result of government intervention: "As rapidly growing case counts strained health ca

Unfortunately mask compliance on this side of the pond has largely been a result of government intervention: "As rapidly growing case counts strained health care systems across the South and Southwest this summer, more Republican leaders ordered citizens to wear masks to help slow the spread of the virus. In July, President Donald Trump wore a mask in public for the first time and urged Americans to do the same, marking a change in tone from earlier in the pandemic." https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/08/27/more-americans-say-they-are-regularly-wearing-masks-in-stores-and-other-businesses/ https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/08/27/more-americ... "A tidal wave of new mask requirements has been issued in the last few days, amid surging cases in many regions, including more than 75,000 new coronavirus cases across the country on Thursday, the most in a single day. Face coverings will be required at stores like Walmart, Target and CVS, and in a growing number of Republican-led states where governors once resisted such mandates." "More than half the states have issued statewide mask requirements, including Arkansas, where Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, announced a face covering requirement on Thursday, after previously taking a more hands-off approach. Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado, a Democrat, also issued a mask order on Thursday, after questioning whether such a mandate would be enforceable." "But there remains firm resistance in many circles, including from some Republican leaders who view mask requirements as a threat to personal liberty." https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/16/us/coronavirus-masks.html https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/16/us/coronavirus-masks.html Unfortunately (I've been using that word a lot lately), Trump endorsing masks would have conflicted with his somewhat perplexing political strategy of gaslighting his base into thinking the virus wasn't anything to take seriously. 'Speaking on Capitol Hill on 10 March, Mr Trump said: "Just stay calm. It will go away."' 'Nine days later, after the White House declared the pandemic a national emergency, the president told Woodward: "I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down, because I don't want to create a panic."' https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54172311 https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54172311 And, of course, then he got it, and even with the best care in the country, and cutting edge therapies not available to normal people still had a hell of a time. If he had done a photo-op standing in front of a pallet of N95s in NYC during the worst of it there, and pumped federal cash into making sure the country was up to its ass in PPE, this election would have been a cakewalk for him. He would have looked heroic and decisive. But, he didn't. For some reason, he took a different approach. I'm not really sure why, but 2020 is just a year of head-scratchers.

s1artibartfast 6y ago
Are you agreeing or disagreeing with the parent post or my post above. From my perspective, it seems like you come to the same conclusion. While you say that "Unfortunately mask compliance on this side of the pond has largely been a result of government intervention" it is also clear that non-compliance is largely a result of government intervention, eg Trump and others failing to encourage mask use, and both side weaponizing the issue.
- phobosanomaly 6y ago
  Your point is that if the government did not make any mask mandates, people would wear masks because of reverse psychology. So we need to get rid of mask mandates so that people will wear masks? My point is that they tried it without a mandate already. North Dakota, Arizona, Iowa, Arkansas, etc. States without mask mandates saw cases spike, ICUs filled up, health care workers started getting sick, things got scary, and they were forced to implement mask mandates before reaching the point where there was zero available healthcare capacity for non-COVID issues. Why have so many states that initially refused mask mandates had to turn 180 degrees and mandate masks? Because nobody was wearing masks without the mandate. Trump failing to encourage mask use is an active decision not to intervene. You seem to be saying that by failing to invade Canada, we have intervened in Canada. Or maybe I missed your point? That's definitely a possibility.
  - zepto 6y ago
    “Trump failing to encourage mask use is an active decision not to intervene.” I think the disagreement rests on this point. From my point of view Trump has done vastly more than not intervene. The President of the United States has gactively discouraged* mask usage. That is why states have decided they need mandates.
    - phobosanomaly 6y ago
      You know, that's a really good point. I was defining intervention as making policy, but that may be a little outdated.

s1artibartfast 6y ago

Are you agreeing or disagreeing with the parent post or my post above. From my perspective, it seems like you come to the same conclusion. While you say that "Unfortunately mask compliance on this side of the pond has largely been a result of government intervention" it is also clear that non-compliance is largely a result of government intervention, eg Trump and others failing to encourage mask use, and both side weaponizing the issue.

phobosanomaly 6y ago
Your point is that if the government did not make any mask mandates, people would wear masks because of reverse psychology. So we need to get rid of mask mandates so that people will wear masks? My point is that they tried it without a mandate already. North Dakota, Arizona, Iowa, Arkansas, etc. States without mask mandates saw cases spike, ICUs filled up, health care workers started getting sick, things got scary, and they were forced to implement mask mandates before reaching the point where there was zero available healthcare capacity for non-COVID issues. Why have so many states that initially refused mask mandates had to turn 180 degrees and mandate masks? Because nobody was wearing masks without the mandate. Trump failing to encourage mask use is an active decision not to intervene. You seem to be saying that by failing to invade Canada, we have intervened in Canada. Or maybe I missed your point? That's definitely a possibility.
- zepto 6y ago
  “Trump failing to encourage mask use is an active decision not to intervene.” I think the disagreement rests on this point. From my point of view Trump has done vastly more than not intervene. The President of the United States has gactively discouraged* mask usage. That is why states have decided they need mandates.
  - phobosanomaly 6y ago
    You know, that's a really good point. I was defining intervention as making policy, but that may be a little outdated.