Your counterfactuals are starting too far downstream. Your starting point has ignorant, terrorized parents of various colors and political affiliations.
The best counterfactual starts with national leaders publicizing the lack of problems in France, Switzerland, et al. with having reopened their schools by June of 2020. Contact tracing data showing that little Johnny getting COVID at school and bringing it home to kill grandma was just not happening. And on and on.
These hypothetical, non-existent leaders would have to get their voices heard over the Stalinist news media. Indulge my fantasy and imagine actual public leadership existing in this country.
"Your starting point has ignorant, terrorized parents of various colors and political affiliations."
No. My starting point is overwhelming media demand for closing schools. Reopening the schools was too late. And all the stories you mention were reported.
There is a big difference between stories being reported where I see them and stories being reported in mainstream media sources. Just from talking to people at the time, most people were unaware of them.
Those of us who seek out non-mainstream media sources are often unaware of how ignorant the average person is.
Your counterfactuals are starting too far downstream. Your starting point has ignorant, terrorized parents of various colors and political affiliations.
The best counterfactual starts with national leaders publicizing the lack of problems in France, Switzerland, et al. with having reopened their schools by June of 2020. Contact tracing data showing that little Johnny getting COVID at school and bringing it home to kill grandma was just not happening. And on and on.
These hypothetical, non-existent leaders would have to get their voices heard over the Stalinist news media. Indulge my fantasy and imagine actual public leadership existing in this country.
"Your starting point has ignorant, terrorized parents of various colors and political affiliations."
No. My starting point is overwhelming media demand for closing schools. Reopening the schools was too late. And all the stories you mention were reported.
There is a big difference between stories being reported where I see them and stories being reported in mainstream media sources. Just from talking to people at the time, most people were unaware of them.
Those of us who seek out non-mainstream media sources are often unaware of how ignorant the average person is.
A thoughtful man is a dangerous man. Keep thinking, Ed.
The gears are spinning hard, or trying to!