The "elephant in the room" as you put it is sensible, forced lockdowns led to good results. Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore all had strict lockdowns, mandatory mas

The "elephant in the room" as you put it is sensible, forced lockdowns led to good results. Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore all had strict lockdowns, mandatory mask wearing laws, mandatory testing, and when available, mandatory vaccinations. This approach to the pandemic allowed them to keep their schools open. The West? The West revealed itself to be in decay and unable to properly respond to the pandemic. By not being able to mandate lockdowns, mask wearing, and vaccinations we had to shut down our schools in order to prevent the spread. Put another way, the West made their children pay for their freedom. To me that's a sign of a civilization in decline. Finally, your assertion at the end is false. Children are not adults and both have different needs, especially social needs. But, you're a coward using a throwaway account so you probably know you're wrong.