Exactly. Lockdowns undoubtedly slowed the spread and, as a result, undoubtedly saved some number of lives. The question you brought up is whether or not the cure was worse than the disease. That's the ultimate question and everyone's going to have their opinion based on their individual experience, what information they read or heard and based on their politics.
I look at the cure that was implemented across the country, and I didn't even include the impact to school children and I don't think that cure was justified by the disease. In fact, if we are ever in an situation, with a virus with identical characteristics, I think government at all levels would do things differently. I don't think you would have full lockdowns and closure of businesses. I think you would have distancing requirements, capacity limitations and other modifications to make it as safe as possible. If there was a closure of businesses, I think it might be in specific, populous areas like New York City. I don't think school age children would be forced to wear masks, specifically because of the considerable negative impact on young children as it relates to learning to speech development....to name a few.
I can understand a lot of your points, but the mask thing I just don't agree with. There are some cultures where wearing mask for colds or allergies are completely normal and was normal before COVID. From what I've read the issue with American's was more being told to wear a mask than any actual negatives from the mask. Plus, there was only a need to wear a mask in public settings. I never wore one in the car, in my office, or at home. I wore one when I was going to be in a group of people or in a close area.
mitsloan.mit.edu
Although masks (face coverings) are a prime tool in fighting airborne pathogens, during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States the use of masks encountered resistance based on existing patterns of cultural division. We argue that mask wearing ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
On negatives of wearing a mask:
Challenges and Adverse Effects of Wearing Face Masks in the COVID-19 Era
Honestly your statement is the first I've ever heard of speech development issues, so google:
During a child’s first few years of life, they are rapidly developing communication skills. Whether by smiling, cooing and babbling, pointing and gesturing, or saying their first words, children express themselves from birth. Some families wonder whether continuous use of... Read more >>
www.chconline.org
From the article: While this is a natural concern,
there is no known evidence that use of face masks interferes with speech and language development or social communication. Plus, children can still get plenty of face time at home with mask-free family members.
I also don't see how mask could impact learning. If you want to make an argument regarding learning, then online learning had a lot to be desired.
When my daughter was doing the online learning, we had a conference with one of her teachers to ask for some additional time and resources. The teacher told us that she was happy to see one of her students actually participating. She said that in my daughter's class about 10% of the students were responding and turning in work. Most were just not doing anything.
I know my daughter's anxiety and social skills were impacted by COVID, but we can figure those things out and deal with them. Had she got sick and died, there's no figuring that out.
I still believe that most of the outrage came from the leaders of a certain party who made it about fear and scare tactics to get people outraged. Had we not had those "Leaders" doing that, I doubt we see most of the outrage and I believe we get through it much better than we did.
