Follow the Science…Or the Money?
It is entirely appropriate for rules and standards to change in the face of a global pandemic. At the very least, it’s because as we learn more about a given disease, and as strains evolve, we need to pivot to address changing fact patterns.
That would make sense. But so many times in the past several months, rules and standards have changed for reasons that really have nothing to do with science or evolution of a disease.
Earlier this year, the White House declared it was safe to show your face in public…literally, without a mask. That had nothing to do with science, but rather with falling poll numbers and resistance from the public.
Sports leagues have had their challenges. The NFL wanted players to get vaccinated, threatening to make life quite difficult on those who did not get the jab. A few star players ran afoul of the rule, but the league was hesitant to punish stars. Now comes a report that more players tested positive for COVID this week in the league than at any other time…and 95 percent of NFL players are vaccinated. The number is even higher for NBA players—97 percent—and NHL players—100 percent. Yet the hockey folks shut everything down for a time, and basketball is postponing games.
College football bowl games are not immune either…a handful are off due to COVID. Teams are even moving from one bowl to another just to fill out the schedule.
Lo and behold, we now have new guidance from the government on what to do if you get sick…in short, a whole lot less. Far less quarantine requirements, far less masking requirements…in short, making sure folks who are sick get back to work in half the time as opposed to the past.
You call that a coincidence if you want…but we all know what the outrage would be if one of the college football semifinal games can’t be played Friday due to COVID…or if more pro football games have to be moved that would have playoff implications.
We’ve heard all along that we had to “follow the science”…but as with all things, including science…“follow the money” is the more accurate guidance.
