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Great point about Qanon and facts not being necessary. The fact we keep having the same argument on HN about masks is proof that it doesn’t really matter what F
by jquery 5y ago
Great point about Qanon and facts not being necessary. The fact we keep having the same argument on HN about masks is proof that it doesn’t really matter what Fauci did back then. It’s just weak justification for current bad behavior.
- emodendroket 5y agoIf they were more decisive they could have avoided it becoming a partisan issue in the first place. There was nothing foreordained about it being an issue at all. Even if I’m wrong about that, they did harm to the people who listened to their advice.
- jquery 5y agoThere weren’t enough masks for health care workers at the time and we were facing a possible meltdown of the entire health care industry (and societal meltdown). Advising people not to hoard masks, and instead leave them for health care workers, was probably the right move. Even if our government said “go get masked up” nothing would’ve changed, as proper masks were out of stock for months. I’m not saying the deception was necessary, just illustrating it’s not black and white. It would’ve become a partisan issue regardless with Trump doing his performative masculinity routine and refusing to wear them.
- emodendroket 5y agoBut the deception is specifically what I'm objecting to. Yes, it would have been quite reasonable to say "healthcare workers need the masks -- please leave them for them." By doing a public volte-face, the medical authorities opened the door to questioning of their advice and the "macho posturing" that you're talking about. I'm not convinced that it would have played out the same if they hadn't made such a foolish decision.