Oh so you're just joking about most people being dumb? If so, your sense of humor sucks. lol
Lying by a government agency, particularly as it relates to public health, is not ok. They should tell the truth. Let the public decide how to mitigate risk based on the truth. They shouldn't, for example, lead people to believe that six feet of social distancing is based on science, when the actual number is like thirty feet or more.
Again its a joke from carlin
You know, a world famous comedian. Being dumb is relative of course, not absolute. So depending on how high your IQ is (I sense yours is average to slightly above) you would find less people "dumb" than me. Seeing as my reference went over your head, this fits.
There is no truth when it comes to matters like these. I think we have a fundamentally different way of viewing the world. Truth is an interpretation. You get all this data and it appears that its likely true that something is the case, but there is never certainty. I would consider being weighing the options and if white lies are needed which have an overall beneficial effect, so be it. We all do it all the time, all of us.
You can't let the public decide how to mitigate risk when they don't understand the issue at hand. I rely on experts all the time and if I was given all the information I would still not be able to make a decision because I don't know what I don't know.
It's like saying give me the facts of the case and I will decide the best course of action legally, it's not wise and its not wise to allow people without proper education decide public health. I understand the slippery slope this creates, but I can't see a better answer that has the most good in mind.
We all agree to forego things in the name of societal interests, like driving a car whilst only sober, doing water conservation when needed etc.
This data on distancing you are referring to, was this the case when they made the claim or was it in retrospect?