Brit Hume: Time to consider possibility that coronavirus lockdown was colossal public policy calamity

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Wednesday, April 22. 2020

Brit Hume: Time to consider possibility that coronavirus lockdown was colossal public policy calamity

In a political year, everything gets politicised. It's good to hear the other side of the discussion: Time to consider possibility that coronavirus lockdown was colossal public policy calamity.

It might very well turn out that way. I tend to feel now that lockdown was extreme, but good hygiene and masks would have been sufficient especially in hot spots.

Posted by The News Junkie in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 17:28 | Comments (23) | Trackbacks (0)

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The "extremist", earth warming, catastrophe looming, dominant force of the Democratic party might very well have seen an opportunity to show people what life "could be" like with less cars and exhaust from manufacturing. If they took this "opportunity" (the virus pandemic) to remind people how nice it could be--it must might well have been the most brilliant political move ever!
We'll see what kind of mess their handmaidens create for a permanent ideal solution after this is over and before the election! I hate co incidences.

#1 faculty wife on 2020-04-22 17:40 (Reply)

Early on they told us the obvious lie that masks would not help the wearer. Clearly the medical community was interested only in protecting itself. Flattening the curve doesn’t reduce the number of cases, nor get us herd immunity, but agains helps the doctors. This is a fine example of progressivism’s rule by experts.

#2 Juan Paxety (Link) on 2020-04-22 17:50 (Reply)

The Soviets called their ruling "experts" Commissars.

#2.1 Richard Torre on 2020-04-22 19:34 (Reply)

Unless you're correctly wearing something substantial like an N95 mask, a mask doesn't help the wearer. A mask reduces the chances that you will infect another person because you're a carrier with mild symptoms.

As with gloves, a lot of the equipment medical professionals wear is done to avoid cross contamination from patient to patient as much as it is to help protect the wearer.

#2.2 Christopher B on 2020-04-23 06:48 (Reply)

Bullshit. If the mask stops the virus flowing out (however effective it may or may not be) it will stop the virus flowing in. And I am talking about wearing the mask properly, not the Sheila Jackson Lee way.

#2.2.1 Juan Paxety (Link) on 2020-04-23 12:21 (Reply)

Everyone who believes casual low-tech masks are effective should wear one, and should decline to go places where others aren't wearing them.

People like doctors who have little choice but to be in sustained close contact with infected people who are coughing and sneezing will opt for hi-tech filtering masks when they're in close contact and probably lo-tech surgical masks, or nothing, when they're not. The low infection rate among medical workers in the last few weeks suggests this is working.

#2.2.1.1 Texan99 on 2020-04-23 12:28 (Reply)

Actually no, it doesn't work that way, though it sounds like it should. Read up on it. Slate Star Codex did an in-depth discussion, including droplet vs aerosol, contact, etc.

#2.2.1.2 Assistant Village Idiot on 2020-04-23 17:36 (Reply)

So now we have the first in a wave of articulate second-guessers. He's a writer of thrillers, so he'll make it thrilling.

I guess the Wuhan housing complex doors being welded shut with tenants still packed inside, or the stacks of body bags in the streets, or the portable crematoriums going 'round the clock so hard that the emissions cloud could be seen from outer space, I guess those were over-reactions too, by the inscrutable Chinese. And the Italians were just being, as always, over-dramatic with their little problem. They're so emotional.

I'm all for effective after-action reviews but I think I'll pass on the alternate universe imaginers. There can be no doubt that the pandemic handling could be improved upon, and also very little doubt that it could have been much worse. And with so many patient data-point questions still out there, many of which seem to conflict, I'll continue to refrain making conclusions for now.

#3 Aggie on 2020-04-22 18:13 (Reply)

Just something to ponder, 21 million cellphone accounts have been canceled in China since the end of 2019 (and 840,000 land lines). Having a cellphone in China is pretty much mandatory since they are used by the government to keep track of you as well as being able to carry out everyday tasks like buying things, traveling and using public transportation.

#3.1 Jim on 2020-04-22 19:46 (Reply)

Brit Hume is considered an august emeritus newsman of classical integrity, but the carefully chosen and rehearsed words: "...possibility that coronavirus lockdown was colossal public policy calamity" in his on-air interview belie his credibility.

I think his identity is a product of the Inside-the-Beltway system, and it wouldn't occur to him not to defend it instinctually. Same with many of the other noteworthy conservative journalists that I follow. I respect them and admire their insight, while noting that they too dislike Trump because he challenges the very roots of their identity.

The consensus is shifting to re-opening the USA intelligently and that's a good thing. Giving air time to Monday Morning Quarterbacking by people with no subject expertise is just Politics-As-Usual and a little disappointing from Brit Hume. One can note that most of his interview was not about what the title implies. Media-As-Usual.

#3.1.1 Aggie on 2020-04-22 20:06 (Reply)

It seems you have arrived at many conclusions...

#3.1.1.1 Bob on 2020-04-22 22:50 (Reply)

" And with so many patient data-point questions still out there, many of which seem to conflict, I'll continue to refrain making conclusions about the pandemic for now." Hope that clarifies for you.

#3.1.1.1.1 Aggie on 2020-04-22 23:43 (Reply)

I traveled to China a few years back. The streets are filled with people begging for money to treat every kind of illness. I questioned our handler why people had to beg for money in the streets for medical care ? Didn't the Communists treat everyone for free in the nation? The answer was negative. She gave generously to the people in the square.

The number of old people in this country greatly outnumber the young by a huge exponential number. I think they denied care to them and likely hastened them to their deaths. They have no regard for human life in that Godless country.

#3.2 Shari Morin on 2020-04-23 16:43 (Reply)

It is time to open up the economy. We simply cannot keep it shut down for months. There is no chance that we can quarantine and the risk just goes away so even if we were to extend that quarantine there will be a second wave when we end it. So end it now. Phase it in using best practices but don't think for a second there won't be a terrible price to pay. It may take a week or so to see a uptick on virus cases and then perhaps a few more days to see the corresponding deaths. It will happen, we need to be ready for that but we cannot stay shutdown forever. In 18 months the final death count will be somewhere between the worst predictions and the least horrible predictions. 250,000 for the U.S. is not an unreasonable estimate but it could be less and it could be a lot more. Brace yourselves.

#4 Anon on 2020-04-22 18:44 (Reply)

Hat tip to Powerline

Lockdowns don't work.

#5 Christopher B on 2020-04-22 19:00 (Reply)

It is time for the governors to get out of the way. The problem is primarily in cities with mass transportation. Subways, trains, buses and taxies pack people into confined spaces where it's easy to pass any communicable disease. Leave it to the mayors and let them take the heat for decision making. They do say that's why they were elected. Don't like the mayors decision then move where politicians reflect your values. Let the nanny mayors oversee the nannied voters. The rest of us can make our own decisions based on our own risk profile. LIBERTY!!!

#6 indyjonesouthere on 2020-04-22 19:32 (Reply)

For an interesting point that contradicts that subways and mass transportation led to large outbreaks, see the map of NYC at the bottom of last/recent post by Manhattan Contranian...

#6.1 Bon on 2020-04-22 22:54 (Reply)

This is what it looks like when our healthcare system is overwhelmed.
https://nypost.com/2020/04/21/ny-issues-do-not-resuscitate-guideline-for-cardiac-patients/

NY City is overwhelmed and now they are willing to let patients die rather than go to the effort to save them.

#7 Anon on 2020-04-22 20:18 (Reply)

The other side of the discussion? Not around here. That it was an overreaction is the usual story at Maggie's these days.

#8 Assistant Village Idiot on 2020-04-22 20:23 (Reply)

Nothing like Hindsight to make people look brilliant...one thing about the guys at the top they have to make decisions based on the knowledge they have at the moment. It's been my experience as a leader that everyone below is sure they could make a better decision...having been one of those people long ago I remember my first day as GM...muahaha. Yea the perspective is a bit different from that perch.

Here are the facts that faced President Trump.
1. This originated in China
2. They lied about it and he knew they were lying
3. They were very panicked about it, panicked enough to crush their economy.
4. First reports were insinuating that it was engineered. Meaning that President Trump could not just stand around and act like this was "Just the Flu" as so many of you internet wags loved to do.

So given all that what Brit is saying is yea sure let's just act like it's just the flu. What a stupid stupid man...as President Trump said so long ago we have been led by stupid stupid people for a long time. I am glad that President Trump took the measures he did.

#9 HughDePayens on 2020-04-22 23:01 (Reply)

Overall U.S. death rate is at a multi-year LOW

QUOTE:

Despite the panic over the Wuhan virus, it now appears that the overall U.S. death rate this winter season is at a multi-year low, no worse than 2014, 2016, and 2019, and far better than 2015, 2017, and 2018 (when we were hit with one of the worst flu seasons in years).

To put it bluntly, our elected leaders in Washington and in statehouses across the country, working in tandem with the incompetent (but well-paid) bureaucrats in Washington and with a overly emotional and partisan press willing to say any lie in order to attack Donald Trump, have caused what might turn out to be another great depression, for absolutely no reason at all.

In the process they have also acted to nullify the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, working as hard as they could to destroy the freest nation in the history of the world, and the most successful because of that freedom.

Are you enraged yet? And are you going to do something about it in November?

https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/essays-and-commentaries/overall-u-s-death-rate-is-at-a-multi-year-low/

#10 feeblemind on 2020-04-22 23:17 (Reply)

An interesting statistic. Because of the shutdown, perhaps? I am sure that those 20,000 plus New Yorkers who died from covid-19 and their families are glad to hear this. Where would we be without some dubious statistical data dredges?

#10.1 Anon on 2020-04-23 10:40 (Reply)

We're ALL GONNA DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

So, what's new?

#11 Sam L. on 2020-04-23 13:14 (Reply)

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Wednesday, April 22. 2020

Brit Hume: Time to consider possibility that coronavirus lockdown was colossal public policy calamity