Biden’s Lockdown Mistake: A President’s job is to consider the national interest, not to default to experts who often disagree.

Wall Street Journal ^ | August 23, 2020 | WSJ Editorial Board

[AndyJackson]

As a scientist, who happened to spend some time as a nuclear submarine officer, I cringe every time I hear, "follow the science" or "the science is how we return to normal."

Scientists are good at uncovering the facts behind something (if they are not willfully blind). They can discover new things. They can sometimes invent new things, though as Burt Rutan used to say, he gets as many good ideas form the janitor sweeping the floor as from his PhDs.

The problem is that chanign society - innovation - is a multi-pronged thing. It is not just about new information, or new inventions. It is about changing culture and finding out why humans prefer solving a problem this way rather than that way. It's usually a strange choice of menu options that leads to the final solution, something "the science" doesn't tell you how to do.

Trump gets this and thus he has people working on solutions all over the country, public and private, and encourages the further exploration of anything that seems it might work. Scientists don't get that.

In short scientists don't make decisions to help organizations solve problems and move forward.

[Brian Griffin]

Joe, ask qualified medical experts if you have dementia.

Also ask them if you are capable of being President of the United States until 2025.

[AndyJackson]

We advise you to move it to China. You will save oodles of money and the Chinese will welcome you with open arms. They are happy to have your money and your trade secrets.

[Brian Griffin]

“counseled strict lockdowns, but we’ve learned the hard way that shutting down the country can be more costly than the virus.

President Trump listened to his public-health advisers in March and ordered a two-week shutdown that extended to six weeks. The shutdown dragged on”

The shutdowns were loose and prolonged and therefore were problematical.

Paying people to be idle for months is absurd. Forcing businesses to be idle for months is even more absurd.

[hawkaw]

If you look at my posts, I am more pro experts and following the Trump administration’s health protections guidelines (not laws).

Putting that all aside, I am really sorry to hear about all this for your son, your family and you. I hope he makes it with the experiential drugs and treatment and it is impressive he wishes to fight. I understand how you feel about experts, your frustration with it all and your position.

[Fishtalk]

Thanks for such an insightful narrative.

[jdsteel]

There will always be experts that disagree with other experts. This happens in all fields. Medical, Scientific, Military, Economics, etc.

That’s why we have a Chief Executive to make the call as to which way to proceed.

[shelterguy]

Originally Fauci said masks don’t do much good for this.

I learned all about mask use the last few years.

And then he said everyone should wear a mask whenever near anyone. But as soon as he thinks the cameras are gone he takes his off.

That tells me he is more into propaganda and control.

[MAGAthon]

24 Aug: Summit News: Oxford Professor Says People Have Become “Overly Frightened” of Coronavirus
“Get on with your lives!”
by Paul Joseph Watson
Oxford Professor Says People Have Become “Overly Frightened” of Coronavirus
“Get on with your lives!”
Heneghan was responsible for the UK government significantly lowering its official COVID-19 death toll after he revealed that health authorities were counting coronavirus deaths even if someone had subsequently died of other causes.

Urging people to “get on with your lives!” Heneghan said that exaggerated fears over the pandemic had led to “people going about their daily lives misunderstanding and overestimating their risk.”
“We reset how we calculate the death rates. We now need to reset how we communicate the risks of the virus,” said Heneghan.
“I am concerned people have become overly frightened and throughout this pandemic, the fear instilled in people has been a real problem,” he added.

“Many people misunderstand and overestimate their risk of Covid. This uncertainty is leaving them highly anxious and affecting schools, offices and how we go about our daily lives. The government needs to intervene to explain to people their true risks,” concluded Heneghan...
https://summit.news/2020/08/24/oxford-professor-says-people-have-become-overly-frightened-of-coronavirus/

[Flick Lives]

RAH has a bunch of outstanding quotes.

—

Indeed he does. He was a great observer of human behavior.

[shelterguy]

“”””Heneghan was responsible for the UK government significantly lowering its official COVID-19 death toll after he revealed that health authorities were counting coronavirus deaths even if someone had subsequently died of other causes.””””””

Saint Floyd died of the KungFlu.

[thirst4truth]

My second rule of thumb is that I will never need a shutdown order from some government pr!ck who still collects a paycheck while he or she orders taxpaying citizens to close down their businesses.

Agree, nothing has made me more mad than the talking head press and the fed and state workers who have suffered nothing, haven't missed even ONE paycheck. All lecturing us to stay home, wear a mask, don't visit anyone, just watch us while we feed you with misinformation and keep you locked down. Oh and protesting is fine, an exception to our rules.

[Jimmy The Snake]

The one thing that I learned from this Pandemic is that I cannot trust any scientist. I felt this way about climate change, but prior to the pandemic I thought the CDC had a clue, as they are (should be) the infectious disease experts. Maybe that was the CDC’s initial purpose when created as a bio-warfare cold war cloud hung over us. They have lost their way and become another pile of career bureaucrats. I guess my first clue should have been when the CDC starting looking at Gun violence as a health crisis.

[ghost of nixon]

If Biden thinks his talk about obeying them will impress us....well he’s wrong.

this illustrates one of Biden's achilles heels: he's too stupid (or senile) to realize the Dem's are pro-shutdown now only too hurt Trump, not because the shutdown is popular or even the smart postition to take.

[AndyJackson]

The one thing that I learned from this Pandemic is that I cannot trust any scientist.

First no good scientist asks that you trust her because science isn't about trust. It's about conveying observations [data] about a problem and explanations for that data [theories] and how it explains the problem. A theory is only accepted because it is the best explanation for the set of data that exists. It is always one observation away from being refuted.

A good scientist should have the view of wanting to inform you that a. here is my problem b. here is my data c. here is my theory and why believe this theory is better than other theories. And it should be followed with:

d. What are your view of this? Do you have any questions? What more do I need to provide to convince you.

Trust has nothing to do with it. Einstein was actually wrong on some things and was corrected by his peers or in some cases by himself when he figured out he was wrong.

[Elsie]

There will always be experts that disagree with other experts.

That’s why we have a Chief Executive to make the call as to which way to proceed.

---

Psalm 16:7-8
I will praise the LORD who counsels me— even at night my conscience instructs me. I keep the LORD in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

 

Psalm 73:24
You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.

 

Psalm 32:8
[The LORD says,] “I will instruct you. I will teach you the way that you should go. I will advise you as my eyes watch over you.

 

Psalm 119:24-25
Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors. I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.
 

 

Proverbs 11:14 NKJV
Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

 

Proverbs 12:15
A stubborn fool considers his own way the right one, but a person who listens to advice is wise.

 

Proverbs 13:10
Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

 

Proverbs 15:22 NKJV
Without counsel, plans go awry,
But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

 

Proverbs 19:20
Listen to advice and receive discipline, that you may become wise by the end of your life.

 

Proverbs 20:18
Plans are confirmed by getting advice, and with guidance one wages war.

 

Proverbs 24:6
for you should wage war with sound guidance– victory comes with many counselors.

 

 

 

[Elsie]

...my first clue should have been when the CDC starting looking at Gun violence as a health crisis.

We've known for a VERY long time that lead poisoning is really bad for a fella!

[Elsie]

First no good scientist asks that you trust her because science isn't about trust.

Who you gonna believe?

A trustworthy Evolutionist or a rabid 'Christian' preacher?

[AndyJackson]

Neither. A good scientist trusts nothing including his own data.

[Elsie]

Bingo!

BOTH of them rely on BELIEF!!

There is NO ‘proof’ to either.