Don's Tuesday Column

THE WAY I SEE IT by Don Polson     Red Bluff Daily News 1/21/2024

        Information is accurate or inaccurate

Professor Watson harangued us over DEI, or rather opposition to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by conservatives. It’s apparently offensive to find ulterior, even malign, agendas in the DEI programs that seek only to improve our lives. Or do they?

The phrase, “variety is the spice of life,” has traditionally helped to broaden our perspectives; it was never a mandatory principle. A “rut” is only different from a “grave” by the depth involved. Try new things; meet new people; you’ll be better for it.

Many take exception to the implied guilt-trip if our experiences don’t have the “proper” mix of “colored beans.” The Watsons among us, and the “enlightened” niche in our businesses, institutions and higher education, believe we can benefit from imposed “variety,” and should welcome forced “inclusion” of the requisite mix of races, cultures, lifestyles and backgrounds.

They’re shocked to find that people and businesses resent being told what’s best for them when they can determine that on their own. Many of these self-appointed “know-ers of what’s best” never suspect that their character is hardly virtuous enough to judge anyone.

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I mention that to raise a broader critique over the trend, by many “authorities,” of labeling as “misinformation” facts or statements with which they disagree. In their mind, accuracy is subject to their opinions; in any dispute, they can simply call it “misinformation” and there’s no longer any debate.

Health “authorities” advise us against “misinformation” over public or personal health. I’ll not dispute actual medical science, or empirical lab studies; however, “science” is rarely set in stone but is a process of arriving at provable, replicated truth.

So-called “experts,” by training, experience or education, are—sometimes unknowingly—exposed to erroneous, inaccurate, even misrepresented studies and analysis. The number of supposedly “scientific” papers that have been withdrawn after publication would astound you.

A serious problem arises when medical “science” is empowered with political authority—in a nation where only elected representatives may order our lives. Hence, the process of debate based on verifiable facts is short-circuited. Manufactured urgency drives thinly-veiled despotic tendencies to mandate actions that, in a free nation, should be left to the people’s informed free will.

Did science or “misinformation” mandate wearing masks, keeping a 6-foot distance, closing schools, requiring vaccinations for all children and adults, and returning elderly to care homes where they often died alone? None of those things were based on medical science. Have health authorities learned from those mistakes, or even acknowledged that they relied on “misinformation”?

I agree with the principle of verifying the accuracy of information from reliable sources. However, “groupthink” among even trained, educated and informed experts can lead to hidden or not-so-hidden allegiance to political agendas, or even financial incentives—as was seen in the COVID pandemic.

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That same pattern of using the “misinformation” label to silence critics with inconvenient-but-truthful observations has emerged over the devastating fires down south. Cartoons on this page have ironically portrayed “misinformation” alongside the fires as equal threats. Governor Newsom, LA Mayor Bass and others have used microphones and cameras to belittle and condemn opinions, and critics who share accurate information that puts them in an unfavorable light.

Extremely severe weather alerts for catastrophic “Santa Ana” winds were publicly issued; yet Bass flew to Ghana on a Biden-organized junket, completely disregarding the impending fires. We’ve witnessed the herculean, valiant efforts on the ground and in the air, by selfless firefighters; it’s indisputable that that same level of response should/could have been organized from the moment forecasts issued warnings.

Response times that should have been minutes for the impetus of the Palisades fire’s ignition were hampered by an empty reservoir nearby. Overgrown weeds, that local environmental fanatics claimed were “endangered,” prohibited replacing old wooden utility poles with metal ones.

Firefighter ranks were irresponsibly reduced by COVID firings and a desire to avoid overtime. “Just WEEKS Before LA Fires, Firefighters Were Warning Leaders About Fire Danger and Were IGNORED” (Twitchy.com, 1/16); “LAFD bosses sent just 5 fire engines to Palisades Fire—while holding back 1,000 firefighters and 35 trucks in critical first hours” (NYPost.com 1/15).

LA County Fire Chief: “We are asking our unhoused neighbors to not have warming fires right now” amidst reports that half of all fires are started by homeless campers. Can we tell them to not burn stuff or smoke crack?

“Last year Gov. Newsom vetoed a bill that would have let CalFire retain seasonal firefighters to help with staffing shortages. His veto forced the layoff of thousands of seasonal firefighters, who he never replaced despite his promises” (Kate Sanchez).

 “California Politicians Cut Fire Department Funding Because of These Three Things” (Matt Vespa, Townhall.com, 1/17). “Gov. Newsom cut fire-fighting budget while pouring billions of dollars into his ‘Don Quixote’ green ventures” (NYPost.com 1/13). The fingers point themselves; stop dodging accountability.