I thought you understood my point. If not, here is a more detailed explanation: The countries which mandated mask wearing and banned large gatherings, like Japan and New Zealand have kept their infection rates low. Countries which relaxed their initial rules have witnessed virus explosion, exacerbated by the cooler weather and increased people contacts.
One of the best examples is Czech Republic. They were among the first countries closing their borders and mandating the masks, and as a result of these precautions they kept their infection cases very low. By end of the summer, the travel was in full swing in both directions and the stores and restaurants were open and busy. That caused unprecedented explosion in infections. Last week, they were forced to return to their initial virus measures.
Another example is comparison between USA and Canada. In Canada, all levels of government are on the same page, and distributing the same advice, unlike USA where each level of government sends out a different message. In addition, in Canada there were no political rallies or other non-essential super-spreader group events.
If you recall, Trump originally said he would make the rules for the entire country. Governors objected and said they were going to make the rules for their states as the president doesn't have the authority to tell them what to do. They are right. It's called State's Rights. Yet, Trump gets the blame even though he's powerless. We are a federal system and that's just the way it is.
Of course, there's good and bad in that. If a bad decision is made from the top, then the whole country suffers. Now, the residents of the state suffer. More enlightened states do better. Plus we get a sampling of which measures work better because each state is doing it differently. For example, we have only a few states with legal marijuana. Other states are watching carefully how things are working out there before they legalized pot in their states or not and how best to go about it if they do. I believe in Canada pot was legalized across the nation and there are many problems with it. Trying it out in one province first and learning the ropes might have been a better approach.
Regarding rallies, I've never been to one and wouldn't go Covid or not. In America, we like to believe in freedom and personal responsibility. We don't need government holding our hands all the time how guiding us and telling us how to take care of ourselves like many countries feel they need too. That's a slippery slope. Politicians love power and any excuse to seize it at the loss of your liberties. We shouldn't make it easy for them especially when the situation is dire.
Thomas Paine:
“THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated”
