This is my first-take hit, having just read your column. It is not a defense of any statement or action of any government agency, just another point of view offered for discussion's sake. As with any discussion of major events, there are multiple points of view and considerations, sometimes in conflict with one another and sometimes not. So, in no particular order;
1) The marshmallow comparison is of no value. Marshmallows are not comparable to anyone's health and the example trivializes the trauma felt by all, in one way or another.
2) No one is suggesting anything go on "in perpetuity" and such characterizations only raise the temperature of an already heated debate. Let there be conversation about all the measures being suggested, but let those conversations happen as calmly as possible (noting the difficulty of that point as the pandemic continues to affect all of us in various ways).
3) Mistakes have been made all around. Even in hindsight, none of us can claim that another course would have served the city, state, region or nation better with absolute certainty. The Monday Morning Quarterback never gets cut. There can be time and value for historical review but developing a game plan for the next game is what's necessary.
4) It seems clear that vaccinations, while not offering 100% protection, have been the best way to mitigate the effects of Covid-19. There are breakthrough cases, but statistically few that lead to hospitalization and fewer that lead to death. Unvaccinated people make up over 97% hospitalizations at this point and in some hospitals the numbers of such cases is so high that ICU beds are simply not available.
5) NOTE: Vaccinations are provided free to anyone who wants them.
6) Much (I think most) of the delay in getting back to normal is the result of perceived personal safety. For example, you can open Broadway and offer tickets for sale, but you cannot make people feel safe about sitting in a packed theater to watch a show -- at least, probably not enough to sustain the production costs. Yes, you can argue that government and media have contributed to the climate of fear, but that is an academic discussion about causation. Fear (and it is not all irrational) is real and each individual measures his/her own level of comfort -- Perceived Personal Safety. Tourists must feel safe traveling and coming to NY, for example, to do so. Just as when tourists stayed away because they feared crime in Times Square, something has to happen to assuage that fear. Unfortunately, as difficult a problem as crime was, it was easier to overcome than a pandemic.
I am not telling anyone to get vaccinated. I do think it is worth noting that the vaccinations are effective and free and that they offer excellent (not perfect) protection for the individual taking the shot(s) and, incidentally, aid others in their Perceived Personal Safety and when enough people feel safer things will move toward normal and our elected followers will follow, endorsing what is already happening.
Again, I'm not telling anyone to get vaccinated. I am suggesting it might help the larger picture and help us return to normal.
This is my first-take hit, having just read your column. It is not a defense of any statement or action of any government agency, just another point of view offered for discussion's sake. As with any discussion of major events, there are multiple points of view and considerations, sometimes in conflict with one another and sometimes not. So, in no particular order;
1) The marshmallow comparison is of no value. Marshmallows are not comparable to anyone's health and the example trivializes the trauma felt by all, in one way or another.
2) No one is suggesting anything go on "in perpetuity" and such characterizations only raise the temperature of an already heated debate. Let there be conversation about all the measures being suggested, but let those conversations happen as calmly as possible (noting the difficulty of that point as the pandemic continues to affect all of us in various ways).
3) Mistakes have been made all around. Even in hindsight, none of us can claim that another course would have served the city, state, region or nation better with absolute certainty. The Monday Morning Quarterback never gets cut. There can be time and value for historical review but developing a game plan for the next game is what's necessary.
4) It seems clear that vaccinations, while not offering 100% protection, have been the best way to mitigate the effects of Covid-19. There are breakthrough cases, but statistically few that lead to hospitalization and fewer that lead to death. Unvaccinated people make up over 97% hospitalizations at this point and in some hospitals the numbers of such cases is so high that ICU beds are simply not available.
5) NOTE: Vaccinations are provided free to anyone who wants them.
6) Much (I think most) of the delay in getting back to normal is the result of perceived personal safety. For example, you can open Broadway and offer tickets for sale, but you cannot make people feel safe about sitting in a packed theater to watch a show -- at least, probably not enough to sustain the production costs. Yes, you can argue that government and media have contributed to the climate of fear, but that is an academic discussion about causation. Fear (and it is not all irrational) is real and each individual measures his/her own level of comfort -- Perceived Personal Safety. Tourists must feel safe traveling and coming to NY, for example, to do so. Just as when tourists stayed away because they feared crime in Times Square, something has to happen to assuage that fear. Unfortunately, as difficult a problem as crime was, it was easier to overcome than a pandemic.
I am not telling anyone to get vaccinated. I do think it is worth noting that the vaccinations are effective and free and that they offer excellent (not perfect) protection for the individual taking the shot(s) and, incidentally, aid others in their Perceived Personal Safety and when enough people feel safer things will move toward normal and our elected followers will follow, endorsing what is already happening.
Again, I'm not telling anyone to get vaccinated. I am suggesting it might help the larger picture and help us return to normal.