Covid caused the damage; trump’s refusal to acknowledge the pandemic exacerbated the problem, as did so many refusing to get vaccinated for political reasons. We don’t know how much worse it could have been without lockdowns. No one will ever know. We also weren’t the only country to feel lockdowns were the right move at the time.
Covid caused the damage; trump’s refusal to acknowledge the pandemic exacerbated the problem, as did so many refusing to get vaccinated for political reasons. We don’t know how much worse it could have been without lockdowns. No one will ever know. We also weren’t the only country to feel lockdowns were the right move at the time.
Hindsight is 20/20. Drink bleach, take ivermectin… lies, lies and more lies. Trump was president during the lockdowns so by your logic he should be held accountable.
Pinning down who’s to blame for the damage caused by pandemic lockdowns is like trying to untangle a knot with no end—there’s no single culprit, just a messy mix of decisions, unknowns, and consequences. The damage—economic collapse, mental health crises, disrupted education, and delayed medical care—stems from a global response to an unprecedented virus, not one person or entity. Let’s break it down.
First, governments and health officials set the stage. In the U.S., the CDC and NIH, led by figures like Anthony Fauci, pushed early lockdown recommendations based on modeling—like the Imperial College London projections (March 2020)—predicting millions of deaths without drastic action. These models assumed worst-case scenarios, and leaders, from Trump federally to governors like Newsom and Cuomo at the state level, acted on them. States had the real power under federalism—California locked down hard, Florida less so—and outcomes varied (e.g., Florida’s age-adjusted death rate was lower than California’s per CDC 2022 data). Globally, the WHO endorsed lockdowns, and countries like Italy and China set precedents others followed. Were they wrong? Hard to say—data from Sweden (light restrictions, similar per-capita deaths to some locked-down nations per Johns Hopkins 2022) suggests lockdowns weren’t the only path, but in 2020, fear of overflowing hospitals drove the call.
Second, Trump and the federal response get scrutiny. He declared a national emergency on March 13, 2020, unlocking funds, but left states to tailor lockdowns—some say he dodged leadership, others argue he respected constitutional limits. Operation Warp Speed was a win, speeding vaccines to market, yet his mixed messaging (downplaying masks, musing about disinfectants) muddied trust. Still, he didn’t mandate lockdowns—governors did. Blaming him alone ignores the decentralized reality and the fact that Biden, taking office in 2021, kept many restrictions going.
Third, state and local leaders owned the execution. New York’s Cuomo mandated nursing home admissions of Covid patients, linked to thousands of deaths (NY AG report, 2021), while Texas’s Abbott lifted restrictions early (March 2021) with no major spike. Lockdown severity didn’t always track with results—compare locked-down Michigan (high unemployment, 11% excess deaths) to looser Georgia (lower economic hit, similar mortality per BLS and CDC 2021). Local choices amplified or mitigated damage.
Then there’s society itself. Public compliance—or lack thereof—shaped the fallout. Some hoarded, others protested, and vaccine hesitancy (across political lines—25% of Black Americans hesitated per Kaiser 2021, not just Trump supporters) stretched the crisis. Businesses shuttered under mandates, but consumer behavior (e.g., avoiding travel) deepened the economic wound.
Finally, the virus was the wildcard. Its unpredictability—silent spread, shifting fatality rates—forced a scramble. Lockdowns bought time, but studies (e.g., NBER 2021) show their economic cost (trillions lost) often outweighed health gains in hindsight, especially for younger populations. We didn’t know enough early on—hindsight shows schools could’ve reopened sooner (AAP 2021 guidance), but fear ruled then.
So, who’s to blame? No one and everyone. Scientists misjudged models, leaders overreacted or undercorrected, and people adapted unevenly. The damage was a collective trade-off—trading lives for livelihoods, often blindly. Pointing at Trump, Fauci, or any governor misses the bigger truth: it was a global panic response to a global threat, and the scars reflect that chaos, not a single scapegoat. Data’s still debated—lockdowns’ efficacy remains murky (Lancet 2022)—so the "who" stays less clear than the "what."
So why did you say the comment below? That is what I was initially responding to. The reason I involved trump is he was the leader of all the issues you listed.
“And of course, no one who perpetrated the lockdowns will ever be charged, or have to compensate us for the lives lost and time stolen.”
Darrell, I see no value in continuing this discussion. You show no genuine curiosity or willingness to engage in good faith. Instead of constructive dialogue, you resort to dogma and personal attacks. Conversations should focus on ideas and solutions, not tearing people down.
Covid caused the damage; trump’s refusal to acknowledge the pandemic exacerbated the problem, as did so many refusing to get vaccinated for political reasons. We don’t know how much worse it could have been without lockdowns. No one will ever know. We also weren’t the only country to feel lockdowns were the right move at the time.
Hindsight is 20/20. Drink bleach, take ivermectin… lies, lies and more lies. Trump was president during the lockdowns so by your logic he should be held accountable.
Pinning down who’s to blame for the damage caused by pandemic lockdowns is like trying to untangle a knot with no end—there’s no single culprit, just a messy mix of decisions, unknowns, and consequences. The damage—economic collapse, mental health crises, disrupted education, and delayed medical care—stems from a global response to an unprecedented virus, not one person or entity. Let’s break it down.
First, governments and health officials set the stage. In the U.S., the CDC and NIH, led by figures like Anthony Fauci, pushed early lockdown recommendations based on modeling—like the Imperial College London projections (March 2020)—predicting millions of deaths without drastic action. These models assumed worst-case scenarios, and leaders, from Trump federally to governors like Newsom and Cuomo at the state level, acted on them. States had the real power under federalism—California locked down hard, Florida less so—and outcomes varied (e.g., Florida’s age-adjusted death rate was lower than California’s per CDC 2022 data). Globally, the WHO endorsed lockdowns, and countries like Italy and China set precedents others followed. Were they wrong? Hard to say—data from Sweden (light restrictions, similar per-capita deaths to some locked-down nations per Johns Hopkins 2022) suggests lockdowns weren’t the only path, but in 2020, fear of overflowing hospitals drove the call.
Second, Trump and the federal response get scrutiny. He declared a national emergency on March 13, 2020, unlocking funds, but left states to tailor lockdowns—some say he dodged leadership, others argue he respected constitutional limits. Operation Warp Speed was a win, speeding vaccines to market, yet his mixed messaging (downplaying masks, musing about disinfectants) muddied trust. Still, he didn’t mandate lockdowns—governors did. Blaming him alone ignores the decentralized reality and the fact that Biden, taking office in 2021, kept many restrictions going.
Third, state and local leaders owned the execution. New York’s Cuomo mandated nursing home admissions of Covid patients, linked to thousands of deaths (NY AG report, 2021), while Texas’s Abbott lifted restrictions early (March 2021) with no major spike. Lockdown severity didn’t always track with results—compare locked-down Michigan (high unemployment, 11% excess deaths) to looser Georgia (lower economic hit, similar mortality per BLS and CDC 2021). Local choices amplified or mitigated damage.
Then there’s society itself. Public compliance—or lack thereof—shaped the fallout. Some hoarded, others protested, and vaccine hesitancy (across political lines—25% of Black Americans hesitated per Kaiser 2021, not just Trump supporters) stretched the crisis. Businesses shuttered under mandates, but consumer behavior (e.g., avoiding travel) deepened the economic wound.
Finally, the virus was the wildcard. Its unpredictability—silent spread, shifting fatality rates—forced a scramble. Lockdowns bought time, but studies (e.g., NBER 2021) show their economic cost (trillions lost) often outweighed health gains in hindsight, especially for younger populations. We didn’t know enough early on—hindsight shows schools could’ve reopened sooner (AAP 2021 guidance), but fear ruled then.
So, who’s to blame? No one and everyone. Scientists misjudged models, leaders overreacted or undercorrected, and people adapted unevenly. The damage was a collective trade-off—trading lives for livelihoods, often blindly. Pointing at Trump, Fauci, or any governor misses the bigger truth: it was a global panic response to a global threat, and the scars reflect that chaos, not a single scapegoat. Data’s still debated—lockdowns’ efficacy remains murky (Lancet 2022)—so the "who" stays less clear than the "what."
💯
So why did you say the comment below? That is what I was initially responding to. The reason I involved trump is he was the leader of all the issues you listed.
“And of course, no one who perpetrated the lockdowns will ever be charged, or have to compensate us for the lives lost and time stolen.”
Once a free thinker,
Now chants the party’s refrain,
Truth bends to their will.
And still, no response to the actual question. You should run for office.
Darrell, I see no value in continuing this discussion. You show no genuine curiosity or willingness to engage in good faith. Instead of constructive dialogue, you resort to dogma and personal attacks. Conversations should focus on ideas and solutions, not tearing people down.
And yet you continue. And never answer the one question you continue to avoid. Don’t make this about me.