Disinformation

I frequently get up early on Sunday mornings, have breakfast, and get ready for church. My wife takes quite a bit longer to do the same things, so I have time to read the paper before she is ready for the day. When I got to the Opinion Page last week, I skipped over Dana Milbank and Shawn Vestal but noticed a guest editorial by a representative from a Washington State health official. I forget his exact position and agency but he had an impressive sounding title, so I assume he was some sort of expert. The thrust of his essay was the erosion of confidence in our state and national health agencies. He attributed this lack of trust to “disinformation” by those who opposed mask and vaccination mandates. I think his bias caused him to miss the mark.

I understand part of where he is coming from, but not much. There is ample “disinformation” on both sides of the issue. John Stockton was a great basketball player, but he should stay within his field of expertise. His claim of COVID vaccinations killing hundreds of people simply has no bases in fact. I wonder where he got his data. The most vocal protesters, however, base their objections on politics rather than science. A spokesman for the truckers protesting in Canada tried to explain to a news reporter they weren’t trying challenge the effectiveness of the masks or vaccines. They were opposed to the mandates. Spokane City Councilman Jonathan Bingle refused to wear a mask in City Hall and drew the wrath of fellow councilmen. He explained he was actually in favor of the vaccine and had all his shots. Neither was he opposed to wearing masks. He simply believes wearing masks should be a personal choice.

I understand lack of confidence in guidance when the guidance doesn’t make sense. I am not alone in observing those states with mask mandates who contract the virus at about the same rate as states without the mandate. The border between Idaho and Washington is a perfect case study. Masks are required everywhere in Washington by royal decree of the Governor. His decree has the force of law. Thus, when I go to the store on the Washington side, I wear a mask. No one, however, wears a mask in Idaho other than the clerks in Walmart. Yet, the rate of new cases is about the same. The border provides two perfect control groups, so the rates of new cases should be drastically different, but they are not. I would like some scientist to tell me why other than the blanket statement that the problem is that not everyone wears them. Their silence makes me lose confidence in the “experts”.

Silly mask rules also contribute to the lack of credibility. Masks are required in restaurants until customers sit down. How does sitting down protect us from airborne pathogens? No sense. I watched a college wrestling match on TV. The two unmasked combatants went at it tooth and nail for three full periods but had to don masks for the judges’ decision. No sense.

Inflated or erroneous claims by the “experts” seriously erode their credibility. The “sky is falling” predictions back at the beginning were harmful. Remember the caution against the Sturgis Motorcycle rally or the prohibition of neighborhood barbeques? The dire predictions proved false. A few months ago, the President, advised by Dr Fauci, claimed vaccination would make us immune to the spread of the virus. When vaccinated patients began contracting the Omicron variant, definition of vaccine was changed to omit the word “immunity”.

“Disinformation” abounds. But those who are supposed to give us confidence are as guilty as anyone.

Frank Watson is a retired Air Force Colonel and long-time resident of Eastern Washington. He has been a free-lance columnist for over 20 years.