Hi Sharon, I understand what you mean by “infantilizing” the public but I have mixed feelings about whether Fauci’s actions had that result.

As I understand things, the Trump administration received information about Covid in early January and took little to no action. In fact, Trump suggested the idea just letting the virus sweep through the country and ran that idea past Fauci who told Trump that doing so would mean the deaths of a large number of people. I will guess (just a guess) that Fauci was horrified at that idea. Because of his background, Fauci immediately understood the ramifications of the virus coming to the US — both the short-term and the long-term effects.

I can only imagine that Fauci found himself in a very odd and increasingly uncomfortable place. He could see a disaster looming and yet could not get this administration interested in taking any precautionary measures. This situation was a genuine public health emergency that required broad actions and Trump was uninterested. Fauci knew the situation would ultimately involve the entire population and yet could not get the administration on board. I do not envy Fauci at all.

So here we are. This is why I am not sure Fauci infantilized the public. Look at how the public has responded. When Covid came to Seattle and then New York, their governors closed down the states, sent people home and told them to wear masks. They had a terrible time but they did slow down the virus and now are slowly recovering. Currently we have states like Texas, Arizona and Florida whose governors have refused to close the states and mandate masks and their numbers are currently rising and heading straight through the roof. I heard this morning that Houston has run out of ICU beds. I am not convinced that people in those states don’t wear masks because of Dr. Fauci; I think they don’t wear masks because of Trump and his poor leadership. Only today — TODAY — have those governors started to really promote wearing masks.

I see it more as a chicken and egg question: did Fauci infantilize the public? Or did Fauci realize the president and his followers were already infantilized and he had to make it simple because so many of them would not believe the truth even when it’s in front of their eyes. Maybe (just a theory) Fauci, because he had more personal contact with Trump and members of the administration, had an insight into Trump and his supporters that you and I don’t have.

Even in this thread there are people doubting the usefulness of masks when the science overwhelmingly supports the use of masks. And more scientific support emerges everyday in support of masks.

As a nurse who works in a hospital I am grateful that Dr. Fauci was concerned about healthcare workers and I am willing to cut him a break. We directly treat Covid-positive patients and need the masks. In mid-March, our governor (Maryland) sent people home and mandated masks and now we are on the other side of the area surge. My heart is breaking for the staff in the hospitals who are experiencing their surges now. As bad as we had it, and it was really tough for several weeks, they will have it worse because they do not have the support of their governors or the citizens of their states. I think that’s not only incredibly sad but outrageously irresponsible of their governors and, as a result, a horrible number of people will die.

I think it’s a profound tragedy that a public health crisis has become a political issue. The virus does not care about politics or geography. The virus does not care if you believe in it or not; your beliefs will not save you from the virus.

Hi Sharon, I do not disagree with you that he lied. I think he did so because he believed in the greater good. My understanding from your answer is that you believe truth is always the greater good no matter what. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I do not necessarily believe that truth is always the greater good. In this case, I will give him the benefit of the doubt that he believed that he was lying for the greater good. However, this was the infantilizing of the American public. An honest information campaign to get people to wear home-made or general-use masks could well have prevented a lot of the victims. That said, particularly in time of war, truth is almost never the greater good. However, we are not presently at war in the country. At least, not an open shooting war.

Dr. Fauci believed it was important for healthcare workers, especially the ones dealing directly with Covid patients, to have masks and he was concerned if everyone rushed to buy masks that healthcare workers would not have enough. Do you disagree with his concerns?

See comment on infantilization of the American public.

Do you think there would have been enough masks for the healthcare workers? If not what would you have done? Do you think telling the public to use a handkerchief mask would have sufficed for the public? Do you think that if Dr. Fauci had told the public that masks are important but please don’t buy them, please save them for the healthcare workers, instead, wear a handkerchief mask, the general public would have followed his advice?

We’ll never know, will we? We were treated like three-year-olds.

Another question to you is this: do you believe Dr. Fauci had malevolent intentions when he lied? Do you believe he intended to hurt the public? Or to help the healthcare workers?

I honestly don’t know his intentions. I was not privy to discussions or his thinking. He had to know that more people would get infected than was necessary.

A final question for you. Dr. Fauci has admitted he lied and he has stated his reason. Now he states, repeatedly, that it is important to wear masks and nd he models his belief by wearing a mask.

Nobody on broadcast TV should be wearing a mask while pontificating. It makes lipreading impossible. Put it on before and after speaking, but the camera person can be well over 6 feet away with those new-fangled zoom lenses.

Do you believe that if a person lies one time that then means you can never trust that person again no matter what? Even if they admit it and tell you why?

Pretty much. I have to wonder at every other thing we are hearing. Particularly when they have insulted my intelligence by the lie and put me in additional danger by doing so.

It is one thing when you are caught in a lie to admit it. That I respect. I won’t trust you after that, though. However, to go on national TV and tell everyone you lied, whatever your motivation, is simply unnecessary, and in my opinion, simply stupid. He totally blew his credibility by doing that.

That is what I hear you saying but I could be wrong and misinterpreting your statements.

I am pleased that what I said came across so clearly!

Thank you for the discussion. 🙂

Likewise!

Hi Sharon, I do not disagree with you that he lied. I think he did so because he believed in the greater good. My understanding from your answer is that you believe truth is always the greater good no matter what. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Dr. Fauci believed it was important for healthcare workers, especially the ones dealing directly with Covid patients, to have masks and he was concerned if everyone rushed to buy masks that healthcare workers would not have enough. Do you disagree with his concerns? Do you think there would have been enough masks for the healthcare workers? If not what would you have done? Do you think telling the public to use a handkerchief mask would have sufficed for the public? Do you think that if Dr. Fauci had told the public that masks are important but please don’t buy them, please save them for the healthcare workers, instead, wear a handkerchief mask, the general public would have followed his advice?

Another question to you is this: do you believe Dr. Fauci had malevolent intentions when he lied? Do you believe he intended to hurt the public? Or to help the healthcare workers?

A final question for you. Dr. Fauci has admitted he lied and he has stated his reason. Now he states, repeatedly, that it is important to wear masks and nd he models his belief by wearing a mask. Do you believe that if a person lies one time that then means you can never trust that person again no matter what? Even if they admit it and tell you why? That is what I hear you saying but I could be wrong and misinterpreting your statements.

Thank you for the discussion. 🙂

No way would I then bring it up on a television interview. The facts on the ground include that FACT that masks work, and he could certainly have advocated the handkerchief mask under the circumstances. He did, in FACT, LIE to the public. Now, I have zero trust in him or anything he pronounces. Who knows how many people could have not been infected had even rudimentary masks been used?

Yes. He admitted it. His explanation is, basically, that it was for the greater good .

So let’s evaluate what he did using the principles of Crucial Conversations.

These were the facts at the time:
1) there was a shortage of critically needed PPE
2) healthcare workers taking care of patients during a pandemic needed the PPE before the general public because healthcare works are directly in harms way
3) when the PPE became more available they encouraged the general public to wear masks
4) many people in the community volunteered to make masks for both healthcare workers and the general public.

Under those circumstances what decision would YOU have made? And how would you implement that decision?

I look forward to your response.

And in this case, the lack of leadership was Dr. Fauci lying to the American public about the efficacy of face masks in the spring. Which he admitted to on TV.

Hi Tom, here are a few studies that show the usefulness of masks. There is no controversy in science.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31142-9/fulltext#%20

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0843-2

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspa.2020.0376

Hi Tom, I have done my research and you are incorrect. There is a large amount of research showing the usefulness of masks in preventing the spread of the droplets. Just yesterday Dr. Fauci testified that everyone should be wearing a mask. This is a public health issue not a political issue. There is nothing new about knowing that masks help stop transmission — researchers knew that during the 1918-1919 flu pandemic. It’s only controversial because of the dreadful lack of leadership of the highest levels. A true leader unites, not divides.

Hi Robin, there is no controversy when it comes to the use of masks. The research is absolutely clear that wearing a mask helps to decrease the transmission of droplets which holds the Covid virus. This situation is a public health issue. The research is also absolutely clear that being inside a room with lots of people increases your chances of contracting Covid from another person. The science is solid. If some people believe the science is unclear then they have not done the research. The purpose of “no mask, no service” is exactly the same as “no shoes, no shirt, no service.” Both set limits with clear boundaries; both offer choices and consequences and the consequences can be enforced.