[Goose]

There are a couple of factors in play here that we have seen throughout history. When there are events that affect all of society adversely, a certain part of the population responds by going into denial. They simply can't face the fact that society has relatively little control over what is happening to it. Another part of the society looks for simple solutions. Many of the solutions they pick out are absurd, but they stick to them because there is nothing else, as they see it. Yet another part of the society looks for somebody to blame. There is a conspiracy going on that is responsible for the entire situation. This happens time after time thought history. Doesn't make any of this a good idea, but it is what happens.

Fortunately, few (if any) people on this board fall into any of the above categories. We do hear lots of people saying "follow the science", which is fine as far as it goes, but public policy is not science, it is politics. Therein lies the rub. I can make a pretty good argument that the science behind "the hammer and the dance" was correct, but our society simply failed to execute. That isn't sciences fault, but it can sure convince people that following the science is futile given the results. The SIP was supposed to allow us to control the disease. We didn't, for reasons that have nothing (or little at least) to do with science and everything to do with politics/government. Given that, people may fall into one of the three previously mentioned groups or into a state of dissonance, where they kind of accept the science but it doesn't really control their behavior. That is where I am afraid we are now. The vaccine better arrive soon is all I can say.

[Goose]

There are a couple of factors in play here that we have seen throughout history. When there are events that affect all of society adversely, a certain part of the population responds by going into denial. They simply can't face the fact that society has relatively little control over what is happening to it. Another part of the society looks for simple solutions. Many of the solutions they pick out are absurd, but they stick to them because there is nothing else, as they see it. Yet another part of the society looks for somebody to blame. There is a conspiracy going on that is responsible for the entire situation. This happens time after time thought history. Doesn't make any of this a good idea, but it is what happens.

Fortunately, few (if any) people on this board fall into any of the above categories. We do hear lots of people saying "follow the science", which is fine as far as it goes, but public policy is not science, it is politics. Therein lies the rub. I can make a pretty good argument that the science behind "the hammer and the dance" was correct, but our society simply failed to execute. That isn't sciences fault, but it can sure convince people that following the science is futile given the results. The SIP was supposed to allow us to control the disease. We didn't, for reasons that have nothing (or little at least) to do with science and everything to do with politics/government. Given that, people may fall into one of the three previously mentioned groups or into a state of dissonance, where they kind of accept the science but it doesn't really control their behavior. That is where I am afraid we are now. The vaccine better arrive soon is all I can say.