07-25-2020, 05:22 PM
Federal report: Tennessee needs mask mandate, should enlist Dolly Parton to help
This is the plan: Secretly lead!
Officials cannot publicly lead, because:
a) They're no longer credible/qualified, i.e. no one would listen at being told "what to do."
b) They'll get in trouble with their boss.
c) Both "a" and "b" are correct.
(Don't fret. I grade on a curve.)
It's almost as if they know what should be done but that some central, highly influential figure is making it hard to do their job!
Doesn't matter, right? So let's say Dolly takes a minute outta her day to say the soft part out loud. And as if by magic, *everyone* listens to her because I don't know, they don't have a mind of their own, right? C'mon, it's Dolly! She's a national treasure and always a straight shooter!
And then what happens is with so many newbies wearing masks, whaddya know the virus is better contained and Knox County gets studied for centuries for how they overcame Covid-19. All because of the collective conscience of everyone doing the right thing without being told.
What's the variable here. Anyone? I'll give a hint, by necessarily removing two commonly-cited faux variables:
-coincidence
-shared brilliance due to independent thought ("I listen to credible sources but it's never any that matter, because I have secret knowledge that shouldn't be forced upon anyone.")
Said another way ... how exactly is it that a leader can be effective at reducing mask usage, yet it wouldn't matter if he advocated mask usage? Asking for a friend.
This is the plan: Secretly lead!
Officials cannot publicly lead, because:
a) They're no longer credible/qualified, i.e. no one would listen at being told "what to do."
b) They'll get in trouble with their boss.
c) Both "a" and "b" are correct.
(Don't fret. I grade on a curve.)
KNOX COUNTY, Tenn — A team of federal public health representatives said Tennessee needs a statewide mask mandate and blamed local confusion on a lack of consistent messaging from the state and federal governments, a list of recommendations issued to the Knox Co. Health Department showed.
After naming Knox County a COVID-19 hotspot earlier this month, three representatives from the CDC, FEMA and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response told the Health Department consistent messaging on masks is needed from all levels of the government to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
"Currently there is a county-wide indoor mask mandate in Knox County, but surrounding counties do not have mandates and are unlikely to pass them. A statewide mandate is needed," the report said.
It advised a member of the White House COVID-19 Task Force call or visit Governor Bill Lee and recommend passing a statewide mask mandate.
The report also asked the health department to consider identifying "trusted and influential celebrities" to encourage mask wearing, specifically naming Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, Chris Blue and University of Tennessee coaches.
"The message should be that it is important to protect the economy AND the health of our citizens (not either/or)," the report said.
It's almost as if they know what should be done but that some central, highly influential figure is making it hard to do their job!
Doesn't matter, right? So let's say Dolly takes a minute outta her day to say the soft part out loud. And as if by magic, *everyone* listens to her because I don't know, they don't have a mind of their own, right? C'mon, it's Dolly! She's a national treasure and always a straight shooter!
And then what happens is with so many newbies wearing masks, whaddya know the virus is better contained and Knox County gets studied for centuries for how they overcame Covid-19. All because of the collective conscience of everyone doing the right thing without being told.
What's the variable here. Anyone? I'll give a hint, by necessarily removing two commonly-cited faux variables:
-coincidence
-shared brilliance due to independent thought ("I listen to credible sources but it's never any that matter, because I have secret knowledge that shouldn't be forced upon anyone.")
Said another way ... how exactly is it that a leader can be effective at reducing mask usage, yet it wouldn't matter if he advocated mask usage? Asking for a friend.