As we have been dealing with the COVID-19 Virus for over two years hopefully we are now seeing the beginning of its worldwide decline. The one fact remains clear that in spite of the continued exhortation to “follow the science” many in positions of leadership ignored the science choosing to use politics to govern and justify their actions.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/about-covid-19/basics-covid-19.html
From the very beginning when COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2 and was discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China politicians utilized “science” for political gain. From the onset President Trump was derided by many in the Democratic Party for imposing a travel ban from China. Both science and common sense would dictate that if a contagious disease were discovered the initial action is to isolate it to prevent further contagion. We will never know the impact of this measure, but I suspect his prudent and common-sense actions saved thousands of lives.
Once COVID gained a foothold in the United States we were constantly bombarded by conflicting information by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and our own Anthony Stephen Fauci serving as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Chief Medical Advisor to the President. “Guidance” was often conflicted and changed from day to day e.g., no requirement to wear a mask to the more masks you wear the better! No requirement to social distance as evidenced by Speaker Pelosi parading through the street of Chinatown to strict lockdowns and closure of public facilities to include schools.
It is important to note that individuals such as Dr. Fauci are epidemiologists by trade and are focused only on preventing the spread of disease and not the severe psychological and social impacts brought on lockdowns. They are merely advisors to our leaders and not risk managers considering the impact of a nationwide lockdown on both the economy and psyche of the nation. We have approximately 50,000 traffic deaths a year yet we still allow people to drive motor vehicles because we have determined that in spite of the fact people are killed every day on the highways the risk outweighs the impact of shutting down the nation’s highways.
Once our national lockdown was in full force and our schools closed all in the name of “science” it soon became apparent that our leadership responsible relished the idea of having this power over our everyday lives yet many of them were often caught maskless or violating the mandate social distancing that they imposed on everyday Americans. Good enough for thee but not required by me when in the eyes of the public was a clear indication of the hypocrisy and callousness of those in power.
In addition, vital first responders such as doctors, nurses, and members of our military were summarily dismissed for failing to get vaccinated in spite of the fact many already had natural immunity from previously contracting COVID – incredulous! These were the very people who risked their lives day in and day out to protect and save. Mandatory vaccines and boosters became the order of the day by those in power with little emphasis put on treating COVID once it was contracted. A mere coincidence in exercising power over our individual freedoms, I think not.
As it appears we may be finally turning the corner on COVID it should come as no surprise that a John’s Hopkins Study concluded that “lockdowns have done little to reduce COVID deaths but have had devastating effects on economies and numerous social ills.” The study, titled “A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Lockdowns on COVID-19 Mortality,” said lockdowns in Europe and the U.S. reduced COVID-19 deaths by 0.2 percent. Shelter-in-place orders were also ineffective, reducing COVID-19 mortality by 2.9%. The bottom line – “We find no evidence that lockdowns, school closures, border closures, and limiting gatherings have had a noticeable effect on COVID-19 mortality.”
It is also no surprise that as the midterm elections are fast approaching and the poll numbers of the Biden-Harris Administration continue to plummet many of the draconian measures put in place by those in power have now been rescinded. Following the science? No rather an insatiable appetite to for those to stay in power and to continue to control the lives of everyday Americans.
