Who doesn’t remember the public reactions some 13 months ago as mask mandates were imposed in response to the then-raging Coronavirus pandemic?
It was a reversal of course. Dr. Anthony Fauci and others demanded, even ridiculed people not to wear masks. Then they changed their minds.
Some of us detected a strong whiff of politics while we did what we were told. You had to, or you were denied entrance into grocery stores, doctors offices, and more. Never mind “the science” that suggested, or was at least contradictory, that masks really weren’t that effective (you know, what government officials were saying in March 2020). The public shaming became intense. No matter - most of us now have our personal collection of masks (I own at least six) and wanted to do our part to help “stop the spread.”
Well, more than a year later, we’re told the masks can come off in most places (not airplanes, health care settings, or public transit) if you’re fully vaccinated (14 or more days after getting all your jabs). Fortunately, some 40% of the population is now fully vaccinated, and the virus is clearly on the decline. I’m thrilled. We’re getting back to normal.
But guess what? The mask has now become a partisan virtue signal. Kind of a MAGA hat for The Left. Wear a mask to show that you’re not a conservative, or a Republican. Sciency!
And at least two governors, New Jersey’s Phil Murphy and Hawaii’s David Ige, both Democrats, are rejecting the CDC’s new guidance. Following the science, much?
That’s . . . weird. Perhaps at least it will encourage conservatives and Republicans who are not vaccinated to get vaccinated so they’re not associated with the virtue-signaling left. Herd immunity is one thing; herd mentality is quite another.
A favorite blog site, the Federalist, has a terrific post this morning that says it better than me.