[Genuine Realist]

I understand and in a perfect world, agree with your position, lex.  The problem, of course, is we don't live in a perfect world. The only reason the public health officials are given the latitude to make decisions is because giving them that power inoculates the elected people from making them.  They can just raise their hands and say "we had no choice, because Dr. Cody made the call," and not have to fall on their swords on tough decisions.  

It would be nice if we lived in a world where elected officials weren't profiles in cowardice, and could make tough choices, but this isn't our world in the U.S. in 2020.

I mentioned off-hand that one of the hottest political seats around is police chief in a small town. They are fired constantly.

So, in these days, is health officer. Assuming that decisions made by either chiefs or health officers reflect detached, neutral science is rather naive. They are hopefully science based, but reflect the value judgments of the individual. They are naturally going to be controversial, and sharply disputed by one faction or another of the public.

Just like a football coach, you accept firing as part of the deal.

[Genuine Realist]

I understand and in a perfect world, agree with your position, lex.  The problem, of course, is we don't live in a perfect world. The only reason the public health officials are given the latitude to make decisions is because giving them that power inoculates the elected people from making them.  They can just raise their hands and say "we had no choice, because Dr. Cody made the call," and not have to fall on their swords on tough decisions.  

It would be nice if we lived in a world where elected officials weren't profiles in cowardice, and could make tough choices, but this isn't our world in the U.S. in 2020.

I mentioned off-hand that one of the hottest political seats around is police chief in a small town. They are fired constantly.

So, in these days, is health officer. Assuming that decisions made by either chiefs or health officers reflect detached, neutral science is rather naive. They are hopefully science based, but reflect the value judgments of the individual. They are naturally going to be controversial, and sharply disputed by one faction or another of the public.

Just like a football coach, you accept firing as part of the deal.