Scientists must be willing to question everything. To be a scientist does not make you omniscient; it makes you an expert in the field, but even the experts get it wrong. Like the experts that Galileo bucked when he suggested the solar system revolved around the sun and not around the earth; like the ones that Louis Pasteur bucked when he said that doctors who didn’t properly sanitize themselves and their instruments between patients were killing people; like the scientists who believed that the world was flat, or that bleeding people with leeches to “balance the humors” was a good idea; like the doctors who literally believed that the African body wasn’t truly human.

I could obviously go on, but here’s my point: there is nothing wrong with asking questions, even of the experts. No one knows ANYTHING for sure when it comes to COVID-19. NOT. EVEN. THE. EXPERTS. So it’s scary to see how many people are being ostracized and turned into social pariahs just for saying: “but hey wait a sec…” God-forbid you bring up the two times the renowned Anthony ~Tony~ Fauci is on record back in the winter saying this would be nothing.

And if you’re a scientist who refuses to be open to the possibility that maybe, JUST MAYBE, there’s room for error…. you’re not a scientist. You’re a propagandist. There is demonstrable evidence that, no matter how many cases are cited globally, the mortality rate is exponentially less than predicted. It’s less than one percent in the nation’s titular hotspot! (0.07%, to be precise, when accounting for the 25%+ of New Yorkers who have tested positive for the antibody).

I’m saddened by the vitriol and snottiness that I’m seeing, even from people who should know better. Disrespect to their elders, sanctimony, personal attacks… for Pete’s sake. People are scared. People are hurting. And it’s not wrong to ask for a little more solid justification for ruined lives and livelihoods. God-forbid. It’s not wrong to say “HEY– you said to stay at home until we got the hospitals ready. They’re ready! So what gives.”

No one said anything about shutting down the country until we come up with some kind of vaccine (which incidentally you can’t force all people to get) or some kind of Orwellian personal barcode tracking system (yeesh).

Yes, we will see an increase in cases by opening the economy. That’s what’s SUPPOSED to happen. That’s what we prepared for by sheltering in place. It’s not shortsighted or selfish to start opening up. It’s exactly what we planned for.

Mary Ramirez is a full-time writer, creator of www.afuturefree.com, and contributor to The Chris Salcedo Show on KSEV 700 Radio in Houston, and on Newsmax TV. She can be reached via: afuturefree@aol.com; or on Twitter: @AFutureFree