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(11-16-2020 01:52 PM)AdoptedMonarch Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 12:03 PM)Chillie Willie Wrote:  If our leaders do nothing and the virus overwhelms the population to the point that people are turned away from hospitals, then they will be vilified. If they do too much so that people feel isolated and depressed or resistant, then they will be vilified.

A true dilemma. Here's a few things they could have done to alleviate some of it:

1. Don't lie. This is an across-the-board problem. From the WHO flat out covering up for the Communist Chinese government - - to President Trump claiming that he was on top of the problem, which would be fully under control "by Easter" - - to Joe Biden claiming he was an early proponent of stringent travel bans, despite video evidence of him calling the president xenophobic for doing exactly that - - to Dr. Fauci admitting that he'd lied about the importance of masks to avoid a run on medical supplies. Lying to the American people was not the way to approach this situation. Shame on everyone involved.

2. Don't move the goalposts. Despite media denials (these folks truly are shameless), the initial lockdown was very clearly sold to the American population as "15 days to flatten the curve". That's on the Trump administration. They were either too incompetent to know any better, or they were speaking out of their butts and now are unwilling to admit it. That is also on the Democrats, who decided to play this for political advantage - - without caring a whit for the damage they were doing to our economy, to our students and to our society. But, hey, at least they won the election! Whatever faith the American population may have been willing to put in our leaders, they've squandered it. The most recent thing I've seen is a pronouncement by one of Joe Biden's coronavirus experts telling us that we need to lockdown for "four to six weeks". I don't believe it, and will resist (nonviolently) to the best I am able.

3. Knock off the hypocrisy. Churches are super-spreader events, but monument protests and destruction are just fine. Trump rallies are dangerously irresponsible, but Biden celebrations are a needed release for a hurting nation. Masks must be worn at all times, unless you are Governor Northam hoping for a media picture with a supportive black family on the Virginia Beach boardwalk over the Memorial Day weekend.

For leaders who are concerned about being "vilified", they sure seem to be doing everything in their power to deserve it.