I don't think anything justifies shutting down science.
That said, I would love to hear Jay and others like him in a public conversation with colleagues they respect, but who disagree.
I don't recall Dr. Fauci being quite as doctrinaire as you describe, but even if he was, it might speak to the dilemma of being a public health messenger in a polarized political environment.
Unless Fauci was in fact acting in bad faith (which is a hell of an accusation), what other options did he have, practically speaking? If I am the authority figure for the nation in a moment like that, I would think the worst thing I could do is be consistently vague or confusing, especially in an environment rife with people who think I am part of some vast conspiracy.
I don't think anything justifies shutting down science.
That said, I would love to hear Jay and others like him in a public conversation with colleagues they respect, but who disagree.
I don't recall Dr. Fauci being quite as doctrinaire as you describe, but even if he was, it might speak to the dilemma of being a public health messenger in a polarized political environment.
Unless Fauci was in fact acting in bad faith (which is a hell of an accusation), what other options did he have, practically speaking? If I am the authority figure for the nation in a moment like that, I would think the worst thing I could do is be consistently vague or confusing, especially in an environment rife with people who think I am part of some vast conspiracy.