One of life's greatest comforts is knowing you have authority figures out there in the world much more educated and knowledgeable than you about specific subject matters, and that you can trust that they will properly educate you on those subjects and provide you with the proper guidance. 99.9% of the population knows nothing about virology, preventing disease, and how to live life under the dark cloud of a pandemic. So, naturally, we trust that we will be informed by those more informed than us, so we know what to do, how to act, and how to go about daily life.
Many of our nation's top doctors and disease specialists told the American people back in January and February that the coronavirus was not going to be a significant concern in the United States. That turned out to totally false, as in March the entire country was under lockdown. We were then told that wearing masks would not only be ineffective in preventing the spread of the virus, but shamed people who bought them, as they'd be taken away from medical professionals who needed them. Several weeks later, masks became mandatory universally in this country. Gee, who could have seen that coming? Ask China, Japan, and South Korea, countries used to dealing with pandemics what masks do. Many of their citizens wear masks year-round routinely as a part of daily life, not only during pandemics. Apparently this knowledge was so secretive that our nation's top doctors and experts didn't know about this revelation, and I'll venture to hypothesize that this critical error during those early weeks helped assist the spread of COVID-19. All because our disease experts and leaders were either too incompetent, too naive, too ignorant, or too disingenuous to acknowledge the importance of masks.
We've seen news outlets report that it could linger in the air for several hours respiratory droplets were expelled into the air. That turned out to be false, and has since been disputed. We were told it could linger on all surfaces from anywhere from hours to days. This has also since been proven to be incorrect, as latest reports show surface spreading isn't considered high risk. We were told to disinfect all items purchased from supermarkets and now that isn't necessary. Look, I understand. The more this virus is studied, the more they will understand it, and findings will change over time. In that case, it's the responsibility of our experts to stress that these things are only recommendations and it is not in any way proven at that point to be factually true, otherwise you will frighten the public. The country had people locked away in their homes for months afraid to go near anybody, touch anything, order food, etc. You have to think this contributed to suicide rates and mental health issues spiking, as well as businesses suffering because people are afraid to order out because they might have to handle a contaminated pizza box, or re-cooking their food after it was ordered to destroy any potential pathogens. I was one of them. We have a president who is speaking to the people, clearly having no clue about the virus, and how it works; spitballing preposterous ideas on how to prevent the virus. Both because of his own ignorance on the subject, and also I'd assume because he wasn't briefed thoroughly by his experts on the machinations of the virus and how to treat it.
However, maybe the most egregious and disgraceful aspect of all of this has been the social distancing guidelines. Our leaders, experts, and media shamed anyone who thought the guidelines were ridiculous and over the top. Companies removed and pulled down argumentative pieces citing data and rationale as to why this virus may be handled incorrectly and/or overblown. Some from experts themselves, offering a differing opinion from the orthodoxy. Families who were going broke and protested out on the streets to save their businesses so their families wouldn't wind up homeless were being mocked and shamed. People who wanted to go outside or go to a beach for some fresh air were ridiculed. Religious folk who wanted to go to church and pray were being criticized. All trashed by experts and news outlets for being selfish and putting others' lives at risk. Yet, in another breath, fully supported thousands of protestors marching on the streets shoulder to shoulder. An abomination of hypocrisy and inconsistency. There is nothing wrong with protesting. I fully support it and anyone's First Amendment right to express their beliefs in a peaceful nature. And if our nation's talking heads support that too, then great. But you can't tell one group of people they are allowed to gather together outside for one cause and then tell another they can't for theirs. It's despicable, and makes you lose credibility and trust from your citizens.
It has to be an all or none proposition. Either you can gather in public or you can't. Either you can protest in general or you can't. Picking and choosing which is worthy is putting your own personal agenda in play for said causes, and it is not the job of disease experts and the media to do so. Their job is to keep the country and its people safe and report news unbiased, respectively. The First Amendment applies to all Americans, whether you are supporting racial injustices or wanting to feed your family and speak about re-opening business. The virus does not care who you are or what you represent. It will kill or infect you all the same. How are we supposed to trust people who have either lied to us, been wrong, or promoted an agenda one way or another every step of the way?
The dam has already been broken at this point. There is no going back. If a spike of COVID returns in the fall, they can't lock back down again. The country can't sustain it economically or psychologically, and they've already indirectly told the public that the virus' seriousness only applies to certain situations, so as far as the people are going to be concerned, that means it isn't very serious at all. As someone who has taken this virus seriously from the beginning, that's disconcerting, as if another lockdown is truly needed, it is no longer feasible thanks to incompetence from our peers. More than anything I'm now just confused and feel betrayed. Was the lockdown necessary at all? Would it have been better to just allow people to wear masks and social distance from the beginning without locking down and simply quarantining those who are high risk? I don't know the answers to those questions. All I know is that I don't trust the people who are giving us those answers, and I don't know if or when I ever will.
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