Jeff Orr, MBA, MSL, August 28, 2023
When you read a blog or an article, or watch the latest podcast discussing the latest trend or issue facing us, do you ask the critical question, “Where are they getting this information?” Do you ever wonder if they are basing their conclusions on anything real? The “research” they claim to be quoting, have they actually read it? Have you?
Maybe I’m just being too skeptical or mistrusting, but there is so much flat-out lying being presented to all of us as “trusted science” that seems to go against common sense that I am left to ask the question, where is this coming from? What’s the agenda?
Here’s my agenda. Develop your critical thinking skills.
No matter what is being said, even if you agree with it, you should always be asking critical thinking questions. And we, as presenters of information, should be referencing our resources so you can look it up yourself. There have been more than a few times I have looked up the research report someone was quoting, only to discover their conclusions from that paper are incorrect. I’m guessing the writer is assuming that most people won’t take the time to look at their references and read it themselves. I have to admit, reading research reports is not the most exciting thing to do at times. But if we are going to pass on the great information we just read, we should at least be assured that the information is correct.
So here’s my go-against-the-grain comment on the current trend of government overreach.
There is a lot of talk in many media outlets that we are going to need to mask up for the Fall of 2023. After all, there are so many studies they claim to show that masks are effective at preventing transmission of COVID-19, aren’t there? CNN says so. So does NY Times. And the CDC. They have our best interest in mind I’m sure. This has been the standard thinking for decades, right?
Wrong. According to Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology, Volume 8, January-December 2021, “Efficacy of Generalized Face Masking Mandates,” prior to the COVID pandemic of 2020, the prevailing science and conclusions from multiple controlled studies was that face masks do little to prevent the transmission or spread of respiratory viruses. This is not just one paper saying this. The author cites over 60 studies that say the same thing.
So what are all these “studies” cited by media groups that are being used to force otherwise healthy individuals to conform to a government overreach? As noted in the aforementioned study, many of the studies cited are not using controlled research groups, are not peer reviewed, and are overstating their data.
The critical question we should be asking is, “Why did the “science” suddenly change to an opposite conclusion when we have decades of evidence to the contrary?” Good question. Do we have new evidence? It’s not like face mask technology has changed over the last 50+ years. Consult your favorite conspiracy theorist for insight on that one. If you don’t want to go down that road you could just go with this adage: Follow the money.
There are a number of reasons why masks are wholly ineffective for preventing COVID-19 spread, one of which is that the typical face mask pore size is between 0.3 to 10 micrometers while the average size of COVID-19 viruses are 50 to 140 nanometers. For reference, a nanometer is 1/1000 smaller than 1 micrometer. To put this in perspective, trying to filter out COVID-19 virus particles with a face mask is like trying to catch mosquitoes with a tennis racquet.
Your best bet is to boost your immune system naturally and follow what Mom used to say. If you feel sick, stay home. Wash your hands and cover your mouth when you cough.
Common sense stuff.
So really, why is this important? Why not just comply?
Because we still live in a free country. It is still, We the People. Not We the government. Not We the CDC.
To all the leaders in business, I ask, why did you abdicate your leadership to a group of non-elected officials (CDC) who know nothing of your business, your staff and employees, your processes and safety procedures, and more importantly, your values and corporate culture? Why did you let them shut you down? Isolate you? Crush your constitutional rights to building a free life for you, your family, and your employees?
I would encourage you to not let them do it again.
Resist.
Do not comply.
Their “science” does not negate previous studies. Ask critical questions.
Here’s the reference for the information above:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/23333928211058023