Unfortunately, there is no downside to exaggerating the severity of the COVID-19 epidemic. The people who are screaming “Fire!” in the crowded theater of our society know full well that we will have forgotten their screams when this virus burns itself out.
Similarly, there is no upside benefit to speaking rationally about the risks of contracting the virus or the likelihood of a serious health consequence. Even though the demographics of infection are pretty clear by now, there does not seem to be much appetite for the calls for calm. We can all see that President Trump's message of calmly limiting risk are met with derision by the pea-brained members of the chattering class. Yes, there is a large measure of TDS involved, but it is also the foundational principal of mass-media that panic sells newspapers, so they continue to throw gasoline on the bonfire of our fears and insecurities.
Correct. This is the difference between a MSM bent on protecting a POTUS and a MSM determined to destroy him. When he tried to keep things clam he was savaged for minimizing it. If this was march of 2012 NONE of this would happening and we would have daily praising of our brilliant president keeping a nation calm during a global challenge. Instead we have the best economy in history decimated.