Great post BB. I also enjoyed reading the linked articles. That Semmelweiss story is appalling, and the psychology that underlies the stubbornness of people with power is a really interesting and useful thing to know about.
The disaster of COVID was exacerbated by Faucism, but also, in my experience, compounded by a sort of self-interested rationalizing on the part of one category of people who had the responsibility to serve others: teachers, from kindergarten through advanced degree programs. It seemed so crashingly obvious that remote teaching/learning was completely ineffective, but so many teachers denied the obvious because they preferred to stay home. The politically powerful teacher's unions held out as long as they could, but many of my colleagues did also. Once they had a taste of remote teaching, they really resisted giving that privilege up and some even fought my university's requirement that teaching had to be in-person starting in the fall semester of 2021.
Lordy, the rationalizing and gaslighting: "It's not safe; too risky!" "Many students learn better remotely!" "Many students prefer remote learning!" "It's better for the climate because we're not driving!" Sheesh.
I'm still amazed by this. I had thought so much better of them.
Thank you, Michael. Yes, so many people, when given the chance, behaved badly. Which is why it's best not to give them a chance to behave badly. Which is why the powers of government are supposed to be limited.
What a great essay Barry! I have many friends/neighbors who were all in on Fauci (and Andrew Cuomo for awhile). So much to reflect on from your essays.
Great post BB. I also enjoyed reading the linked articles. That Semmelweiss story is appalling, and the psychology that underlies the stubbornness of people with power is a really interesting and useful thing to know about.
The disaster of COVID was exacerbated by Faucism, but also, in my experience, compounded by a sort of self-interested rationalizing on the part of one category of people who had the responsibility to serve others: teachers, from kindergarten through advanced degree programs. It seemed so crashingly obvious that remote teaching/learning was completely ineffective, but so many teachers denied the obvious because they preferred to stay home. The politically powerful teacher's unions held out as long as they could, but many of my colleagues did also. Once they had a taste of remote teaching, they really resisted giving that privilege up and some even fought my university's requirement that teaching had to be in-person starting in the fall semester of 2021.
Lordy, the rationalizing and gaslighting: "It's not safe; too risky!" "Many students learn better remotely!" "Many students prefer remote learning!" "It's better for the climate because we're not driving!" Sheesh.
I'm still amazed by this. I had thought so much better of them.
Thank you, Michael. Yes, so many people, when given the chance, behaved badly. Which is why it's best not to give them a chance to behave badly. Which is why the powers of government are supposed to be limited.
What a great essay Barry! I have many friends/neighbors who were all in on Fauci (and Andrew Cuomo for awhile). So much to reflect on from your essays.
Heather, Thank you for reminding us that there are no solutions until we look upstream.