Theydidinclude illicit parties in their predictionsokay, good, so they know theyre dealing with college students.
But they forgot that college kids dont always answer their phones.
(Positive test results were delivered by phone.)
And Jones says intentionally violating quarantine or isolation orders was something we really didnt think was going to happen.
Sounds like they based the safety of students on a model that wasnt accurate.
None for the administrators, as far as I can tell.
Students and student organizations were disciplined.
But whose judgment was the poorest here?
Whose choices mean the most?
But the flip side of that sentiment is that if youdofeel safe, going is fine.
We end up relying on instinct, and instinct is faulty.
Nothing in our lives has prepared us to make the right decisions in a pandemic.
If youre at a petting zoo, you assume each animal is there because its safe to pet.
If a drug is available over the counter, you figure its probably unlikely to kill you.
Somebody responsible, with more information than me, made this decision, we think.
Theyre removing useful guidance and blaming us for any harm that may befall us.
As an individual, my choicesif I make the correct onesmay protect me and my family.
But a leaders choices have the potential to protect or harm thousands.
This is true on every scale.
A coherent federal response might have saved hundreds of thousands of lives by now.
Even within a circle of friends, its one thing to weigh whether to attend a large party.
It is quite another todecide that its fine to throw one.
Theyre removing useful guidance and blaming us for any harm that may befall us.
Governors lifted lockdown ordersunder pressure from business owners and political rivals.
Colleges reopened in person becausethey faced dire financial consequences if students un-enrolled and dorms stood empty.
Sports are happeningbecause sports make money.
And we fall for it.
Their factories and supply chains werent set up to be able to switch from one to the other.
But we complained about imaginary TP hoarders without any evidence that widespread hoarding was going on.
Its not just leaders who are blaming people for bad individual choices: we blame each other.
It would have been a matter of fact that masks are available and useful.
Who signaled that they were safe?
The people who lifted the lockdown on bars.
Leaders blamed them for partying then, too.
Even if that decision is unpopular orgaspwill result in a rich person losing a bit of money.
