As Democratic politicians in Congress such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continue their push for a nationwide mask mandate, contradictory data raises doubts that the policy has anything to do with lowering the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Masking has become more than a public health approach in America. For those on the political left, it is almost a symbol of virtuous compliance. The scientific community, on the other hand, cautions that masking alone isn’t the miracle cure lawmakers like Pelosi seem to believe that it is.
First of all, let’s do away with the narrative that the United States is the only place on Earth that is struggling with the pandemic. This is simply not true. Mexico, for example is being clobbered — even as upwards of 84 percent of the country’s residents say they wear masks every time they leave their homes. Hong Kong, where residents masked up very early, is seeing another resurgence of the virus and is entering a second economic lockdown as a result.
So, here’s the question: what does masking actually do?
We’re not going to suggest that masking is in and of itself a bad thing. For vulnerable members of communities — such as the elderly or people with pre-existing respiratory conditions — this can certainly be helpful as a general rule. However, the idea that society is collapsing at the seems entirely because some people aren’t “masking up” is just false.
Here’s Ben Shapiro dispelling some of the most prevailing myths being used to justify a nationwide mask mandate.
