In a telling Twitter feed, independent journalist Glenn Greenwald noted how America is now “paying the enduring price” for its “religious-like” pursuit of Covid-19 restrictions.
Greenwald responded to a New York Times article on the impact the pandemic has had on children’s social and emotional skills, as well as academic ability. The newspaper surveyed 362 school counselors across the U.S. to report that students “are behind in abilities to learn, cope and relate.”
“A rational defense of lockdown policies would’ve been: the severe harms they cause are outweighed by the benefits. Instead, it was taboo even to note harms of COVID policies. Any attempt to argue against maximalist restrictions resulted in accusations of COVID denialism,” Greenwald tweeted.
A rational defense of lockdown policies would’ve been: the severe harms they cause are outweighed by the benefits.
Instead, it was taboo even to note harms of COVID policies. Any attempt to argue against maximalist restrictions resulted in accusations of COVID denialism. Thus… https://t.co/nF1TJtiDMg
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 30, 2022
He then linked to an April, 2020, interview he did with two mental health experts — this being in the infancy of the lockdowns, as Greenwald reminded followers of the infamous “two weeks to flatten the curve” vow — explaining that they warned “sustained closures would severely exacerbate already spiraling mental health pathologies.”
In April, 2020 – when quarantines were t be a few months (“flatten the curve”) – I interviewed 2 mental health experts (Andrew Solomon & @johannhari101) who warned: sustained closures would severely exacerbate already spiraling mental health pathologies:https://t.co/YA3gZVXPvH
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 30, 2022
“Obviously, COVID merited reasonable public health limits. But like so much now in our public discourse, COVID restrictions assumed religious-like overtones with no cost-benefit balancing: only maximalist restrictions. We’re paying the enduring price now,” Greenwald followed, adding “Anyone with kids could see the severe harms of sustained school closures, but otherwise, the lockdown harms were mostly class-based. Wealthy people with resources left the city, hired private tutors, etc. All others were locked in small apartments/houses.”
Anyone with kids could see the severe harms of sustained school closures, but otherwise, the lockdown harms were mostly class-based. Wealthy people with resources left the city, hired private tutors, etc. All others were locked in small apartments/houses.
NYT, March, 25, 2020: pic.twitter.com/9ZTfj6D2uT
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 30, 2022
After noting the hypocrisy of the liberal elite when it came to escaping the lockdowns, Greenwald pinpointed the precise moment public health experts lost all credibility — see the Black Lives Matter riots in the summer of 2020.
Case in point:
The threat to Covid control from protesting outside is tiny compared to the threat to Covid control created when governments act in ways that lose community trust. People can protest peacefully AND work together to stop Covid. Violence harms public health.
— Dr. Tom Frieden (@DrTomFrieden) June 2, 2020
“In June, 2020, NYT’s Ben Smith wrote that top media editors were leaving the city, renting large houses in the Hamptons and other places ‘in the country,'” Greenwald tweeted, before concluding, “The moment when the credibility of public health experts collapsed was when they spent 4 months decreeing everyone stay home, shaming all who didn’t ‘grandma killers,’ then suddenly switched, urging all to go to densely packed street protests they liked.”
The moment when the credibility of public health experts collapsed was when they spent 4 months decreeing everyone stay home, shaming all who didn’t “grandma killers,” then suddenly switched, urging all to go to densely packed street protests they liked:https://t.co/D47sl455Dt
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 30, 2022
Here are a few responses to the story from Twitter:
The sad thing about this, is that many people knew what was happening, questioned it and even talked about it with friends/family, but if you ever expressed your opinion online you were instantly vilified and labeled a covid denier.
— ThisisD (@Thisizd) May 30, 2022
It was the most woke, politically correct, class status aware, altitude sensitive virus in world history
— Bjak (@Real_bjak) May 30, 2022
— Pineal Podcast (@Pinealpodcast) May 30, 2022
Places with the most severe restrictions (NY, SF) also had the largest numbers leave, yet they shouted loudest on social media for severe restrictions. Lockdowns for thee, but not for me.
— Political Orphan (@Christinethequ2) May 30, 2022
My grandson lost his senior year in high school. We knew at the time that this was unnecessary. Lockdown proponents don’t have a clue at the anger we feel. https://t.co/889gmIp5iU
— Damian Ranger (@DamianRanger1) May 30, 2022
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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