Thread/
Why do people not trust “experts”, the govt or the media?

Here’s a little bit on what happened around masks.

While some will say the science changed or the information changed, it did not. The politics changed (as admitted in the
thread)…

First, studies back to 2007 recommended mask wearing as protocol for similar respiratory viruses. This was known by “experts”. https://t.co/ANy5bWyhhI; https://t.co/XqlwDQtRrW; https://t.co/Gu8dyfdtTl
Here’s what we were told.
February 2020, people were buying masks on their own. The US Surgeon general said to STOP

https://t.co/odJWDswpEf
February 2020, Wapo- “How to prepare for coronavirus in the U.S. (Spoiler: Not sick? No need to buy any masks.)” (you may need to scroll the thread to see tweet)
https://t.co/XwghxRIuzs
February 2020, CNN “There's been a run of surgical masks in the US because of the coronavirus scare. You don't need them, physicians say.”
https://t.co/Q5xiN6GqMd
CNN again “Masks can't stop the coronavirus in the US, but hysteria has led to bulk-buying and price-gouging” https://t.co/idJNamh6IB
MSNBC: “Frequent hand-washing, not wearing a face mask, is the most important step the public can take to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the WHO says.” https://t.co/boKlc8039T
March- Masks can be hurtful! CNN: “Masks may actually increase your coronavirus risk if worn improperly, surgeon general warns.” https://t.co/4snZOJ8Kn3
WaPo- Epidemiology experts said the most important aspect of preparedness costs nothing at all — calm. (you may need to scroll the thread to see tweet)
https://t.co/gWVGU0mgmf
WaPo - If you’re not already sick and you’re not a health-care worker, you don’t need to wear a mask. And you certainly don’t need to buy every box your local pharmacy has in stock. (you may need to scroll the thread to see tweet)
https://t.co/tiJyPf3HrC
House Rep Eric Swalwell “stop wearing masks #coronavirus” https://t.co/QTAQBsbtvH
End of March- NBC News criticizes the President for being fixated on masks and arguing with experts who said not to wear them…
https://t.co/KpuXtB4jYV
ABC News tweeted, “There is little benefit to wearing a surgical type mask, and may even put you at greater risk for spreading infection, infectious disease doctors told ABC News.” https://t.co/EeCL1OXa9x
The CDC changed their position early April. Outlets say *that* was political. Daily Beast: https://t.co/Hy6RpzzBzU
June & July 2020, Dr. Fauci himself admitted that the public was intentionally misled for months because of a concern of limited resources supplies for medical professionals. https://t.co/EE15EIf4uf; https://t.co/SToGCTEG7X
Fast forward to December, Fauci moves the goalposts on herd immunity: https://t.co/VVnaUdIoN0
The moral of the story is stop holding these people up as heroes, be skeptical, do your own research, and cut people slack for “not following experts” who consistently and intentionally misled them.

The science didn't change. The politics did.

More from Society

This is a piece I've been thinking about for a long time. One of the most dominant policy ideas in Washington is that policy should, always and everywhere, move parents into paid labor. But what if that's wrong?

My reporting here convinced me that there's no large effect in either direction on labor force participation from child allowances. Canada has a bigger one than either Romney or Biden are considering, and more labor force participation among women.

But what if that wasn't true?

Forcing parents into low-wage, often exploitative, jobs by threatening them and their children with poverty may be counted as a success by some policymakers, but it’s a sign of a society that doesn’t value the most essential forms of labor.

The problem is in the very language we use. If I left my job as a New York Times columnist to care for my 2-year-old son, I’d be described as leaving the labor force. But as much as I adore him, there is no doubt I’d be working harder. I wouldn't have stopped working!

I tried to render conservative objections here fairly. I appreciate that @swinshi talked with me, and I'm sorry I couldn't include everything he said. I'll say I believe I used his strongest arguments, not more speculative ones, in the piece.

You May Also Like