Just what you always wanted
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I really hope they can change some minds. But I seriously doubt many Americans are willing to change. Racists seem to remain racists. Conspiracists seem to remain conspiracists. But, eventually science will pop this zit.
Given the war against science led by Republicans, described in another thread, you are over optimistic.
Not sure if you meant me but I do get that a lot. Sometimes I wish I could check out like George Carlin, but still remain relevant by commenting from the sidelines, but, not my style. However, I have no visions of grandeur, of saving the world either. It’s something like, if the world was going to end tomorrow, I would plant a tree. Or, you could say, we are all dinosaurs at this point, eating our mega-fauna and glancing up as a fireball streaks across the sky.
So, it’s not so much worrying about changing minds as finding out what did change those minds in the first place. Without that research, we’re just flailing around.
The woman on episode 1 voted Republican for the first time in her life because she had always been an RFK fan. She asks rhetorically why doctors weren’t talking about healthy lifestyle choices. I would ask her what is she reading? What newsflash did she miss? Obesity and junk food are not exactly some fringe conspiracy.
Regarding the pandemic, there was a lot of shady stuff that experts and policy makers were doing. It all started in NYC.
And then the numerous politicians who got caught not staying at home.
https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article245424160.html
Of course, the whole drama with the vaccines didn’t help either.
It’s totally reasonable for the public to be skeptical of science. No pun intended.
Yes, they rather deal with snake-oil salesmen, who sell horse tranquilizers to combat COVID.
Horse drug in demand a dangerous way to treat COVID-19, experts say
Politicians do not help the cause. They are part of the problem. And you linked a February 2020 article. The shutdown didn’t start until early March.
If you’re referring to me, I’m not optimistic about people. I am simply saying that science always wins over time.
Doubting a scientist is fine but doubting science is futile - even for a scientist. What’s surprising is the number of people who have so little understanding of science that they often believe the most absurd rumors. And some topics are complex - climate change for example. People can make a lot of money by injecting doubt. Global warming is real.
So, is a scientific consensus always correct? No. The consensus that peptic ulcers were caused by spicy foods and lifestyle was wrong. Over time, science “won.”
That one trips people up because they relate it to voting or popularity. It is partially based counting the number of papers but those must be based on data and evidence
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And peer reviewed to ensure that that analyses are correct and data are valid.
The date is beside the point. Reread the first link. I’ll highlight this little fact and you won’t misunderstand:
“Currently, the risk for novel coronavirus in New York City remains low, while our preparedness as a city remains high. There is no reason to avoid public settings, including subways and—most of all—our city’s famous Chinese restaurants and small businesses,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot . “While it is understandable for some New Yorkers to feel concerned about the novel coronavirus situation, we cannot stand for racist and stigmatizing rhetoric, or for myths and half-truths about the virus. The best precaution you can take is to practice what you would during any flu season: Wash your hands, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and please stay home if you’re feeling unwell. The Health Department is committed to separating the facts from fear, and we encourage all New Yorkers to do the same.”
We know what happened next. The science was wrong, which led to the politicians being wrong since most of them were listening to the experts. Add the racially-charged and PC-charged atmosphere, and it was the perfect storm to fuel distrust.
Some did do that, but it doesn’t change the fact that the scientists got a lot wrong from the start.
One of the most common misconceptions about science is that it is some kind stable truth. It is, by definition, constantly changing. It’s especially frustrating that the term “settled science” is equally misunderstood. We can’t win either way when we play with language like that.
It’s so easy to pick out quotes from points in time and ignore the whole story. We’re on this moving train and we have to maintain it while its moving.
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And what exactly did they get wrong during a virulent pandemic that spreads exponentially?
People were dying, is that what science got wrong? Or was it the ignorant fools that did not want to even take the most simple precautions, such as wearing masks so that they would not infect others due to their stupid and criminal negligence?
In France around Christmas, the expert warned the politicians, in January, the Minister of health, who was a doctor, warned the president and the prime minister about the danger, and the state of unreadiness of France.
The epidemic spread, people were dying, the hospitals were overcrowded and breaking. The president and the government stayed in a state of denial. the COVID was less that a flu and harmless.
As French stocks of masks were depleted, the government spokesperson, a minister, came to the TV explaining that masks were useless, dangerous is not used by a knowledgeable person, and difficult to use.
Beginning of March, our president went to the theater, explaining that a curfew was not necessary.
On the 12th of March, they closed the schools and on the 14th of March, the published a decision of confinement for the Monday, 17th of March.
With such an erratic policy, they give a very wide opening to the plot theory lovers.
But, globally, the scientists did not err.
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Exactly. Thank you. It is unlike religion in that sense.
Edit to add: Science cannot always provide answers politicians/ policymakers need in the time that they need them - as the pandemic proved. But science did come up with the vaccine. Politicians push lies about vaccines even as they vaccinate themselves and their children.
Another misconception some people have, that is, that there is or should be some data bank of “science” and politicians just read it and base policy on it. But, politics is what we do when the science isn’t there, when the answers include a probability that some will suffer no matter what we do.
Not understanding how this should work allows the “playing” of politics, the claiming of one suffering being caused by their political opponent while hiding the suffering they cause.
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You refer to sensible, intelligent, rational politicians.
When the people in power have neither of these qualities, the advice people to fight the viruses using chlorine and react with their prejudices, according their private interests and those of their friends.
To be honest with Trump, he funded the researches about Covid vaccine.
naaah… the CDC has been in operation for a long time.
Dr. Joseph W. Mountin
The Communicable Disease Center (CDC) was founded on July 1, 1946 by Dr. Joseph W. Mountin, a visionary public health leader. It was established as part of the Public Health Service to work on malaria, typhus, and other infectious diseases12345
Was the CDC affected by recent cutbacks?
Yes, the CDC has been affected by cutbacks12. The cuts affect nearly 1,300 probationary employees, roughly 10% of the CDC’s workforce1. The decision was communicated verbally to CDC leadership by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)1.
You are right, the US government has funded research for years and years.
But the epidemic came, and specific funds were given. Trump personnaly authorized them.
I hate the man. his management of the epidemic was a disaster, but he had this merit.
Strangely, anti-vaxs MAGA should be unhappy with him for that.
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