You are right about fear-mongering in general. In a sense, I guess I was using phthalate (the substance in masks) fear to counteract the liberty- reducing fear of Covid. That is what much of debate is these days - one type of fear pitted against another.
And, when one becomes boring, another is ginned-up to take its place.
Border children? Boring.
Mass shooting in Colorado. That’s the ticket!
A well worn pattern.