Politics vs. 'Science:' What's Behind Democrats' Sudden Shift on School Mask Mandates?
Guy Benson
Posted: Feb 09, 2022 10:45 AM
It was almost as if a memorandum went out. In rapid succession on Monday, Democratic leaders from a group of blue states on both coasts -- New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, California, Oregon -- announced end dates for statewide mask mandates. Each new policy was slightly different, with varying expiration dates and minor details (California, for example, is wavering on what to do about school masks) -- but the upshot was the same: It's time for a restoration of normalcy, and 'the science' now permits it. It's true that the less virulent but highly contagious Omicron wave that blasted through much of the population in December and January is rapidly subsiding, with case counts plunging, but that doesn't explain the shift in forced masking of children.
As we've documented repeatedly, the data has shown for well over a year that mask mandates in schools have no scientifically-established upside on stopping transmission among students (who are already at exceptionally low risk of experiencing severe or lethal COVID), but such requirements do present verifiable harms to kids' development, learning progress and mental health. That science has not changed. To pretend otherwise is to invent a new standard to align with an emerging political reality. Polling has shown that a majority, or even a supermajority, of Americans want to get more or less back to normal while learning to live with this endemic virus. A series of high-profile photo-ops featuring pro-mask-mandate Democratic politicians violating their preferred rules (or even their own rules) have received a great deal of attention. Public sentiment is changing, and various displays from hypocritical officials have fostered growing resentment against the ruling party. Something had to change. And the sudden flurry press releases and news conferences announcing said change have unfolded so abruptly that even journalists from left-leaning outfits can't help but notice the apparent coordination:
https://twitter.com/_ericting/status/1490862351502884865more
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2022/02/09/whats-behind-democrats-sudden-change-on-school-masking-n2602993
