So called “experts”

Follow the science, look at the data, must be science-based. Listen to the models. We have heard it repeatedly.

We did all that, but the science was wrong, the Chinese lied and still lie, the WHO was negligent and the CDC was inept. The “experts” missed it. We allowed a half million Chinese to fly into America in January. Serious outbreaks happened in parts of the country. Models predicted unacceptable death totals. (They were wrong.) Finally, we shut down a roaring economy, taking prosperity from millions who had worked hard to attain it. Instead of herd immunity we got herd mentality, social distancing, masks and massive debt.

Scientific studies are often infected with biases as Dr. John Ionannidis of Stanford University clearly explained in the Wall Street Journal (April 25): “Early results tend to be inflated. Claims for significance tend to be exaggerated”. They were.

No doubt many of the actions were warranted in high-infection areas, but most of the country did not need these extreme measures.

We have destroyed many local businesses and devastated our health care system while waiting for the “surge.”

We follow edicts issued by a governor who seems to be more concerned with power than science. Did he look at states that kept construction, fishing and golf open to see how that affected the spread? His rules are silly and arbitrary, any “science”? He must consider that all areas of the state are not the same.

Orwell was a genius at satirizing fascism. We have had a glimpse ourselves, but this is no satire. Unlike Winston Smith, I hope our future is not a boot in the face forever.

Jeff Reyburn

Spokane