As Americans, we tend to think of ourselves as intelligent, knowledgeable, rational, and not the least bit superstitious. Nothing crushes that myth to dust more thoroughly than our public and private responses to the COVID19 pandemic.

Since late March, Americans all across the country have cowered in their homes. We closed our churches and schools and brought the most active and vibrant economy in our lifetimes to a screeching halt. We’ve been coerced into disguising ourselves like bandits in an old western movie ostensibly for health and safety reasons. But what if the hysteria is based upon less-than-credible scientific information from medical professionals? In that case, we’ve been duped by modern-day alchemists for some nefarious reason.

Reliable information is not difficult to find but today, it must be sought out by an intellectually-curious public. Generally, COVID19 is not significantly more contagious or lethal than most other seasonal influenza outbreaks that affect populations in temperate climate zones. It seems so, only because a corrupt news industry bombards the airwaves with increasing numbers of new cases, second-hand unverified opinions, and wild predictions of death and disease.

According to CDC figures (which are likely be overinflated for a variety of self-serving reasons), of the “confirmed cases” of coronavirus, over 99% of people infected recover completely. And while it is always prudent to take precautions such as frequent hand-washing and avoiding people who are coughing and sneezing, face mask mandates offer false confidence for specious undisclosed purposes.

In a report by Dr. Denis G. Rancourt, the facts about the efficacy of face masks become immediately apparent. Masks Don’t Work. Dr. Rancourt cites seven scientific sources involving numerous research studies that contradict the recommendations promulgated by the CDC for all Americans to hide behind face masks in order to protect against exposure to COVID19. In fact, even the highly recommended N95 respirators are not effective against airborne viruses.

The Rancourt report is scientific confirmation of common sense. To anyone with even the most rudimentary grasp of physics or medicine, the wearing of a face mask for protection from a virus is ludicrous. The simple fact is that a porous cloth or paper mask—even one that is perfected fitted and consistently worn—cannot filter out of the air, microbes that are smaller than the space between the fibers and that can remain suspended for hours. Wearing a face covering to guard against an airborne virus is akin to using chicken wire as a defense against malaria-carrying mosquitos.

Nevertheless, the CDC and National Institutes of Health persist in running radio and television ads that claim masks offer protection. Whenever facts and reason are not the justification for a social policy, then political manipulation and social engineering must be assumed.

Even worse than their utter uselessness, face masks can actually cause harm. Unclean masks worn for several hours of the day can breed staph bacteria that may infect the lungs and reduce the wearer’s resistance to other diseases. But the most long-lasting social, political, and economic consequences may prove to be far more severe than any viral disease. Provoking irrational fear and baseless suspicion is never kind or compassionate, especially when based upon a fallacy.

Is it reasonable to believe that CDC Director, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and the medical community are unaware of the fact that face masks cannot possibly filter out airborne viruses? No, it is not. Therefore, another reason for promoting the use of masks must be the motivation and none of the choices are good ones.

Mark Twain once said, “There are lies, damned lies, and then, there are statistics.” The same statistics can be presented to elicit or assuage fear; to inform as well as deceive. Sadly, most modern Americans consume and act upon information without question or verification. If, out of an abundance of caution, the fearful and superstitious choose to don face masks, that is certainly their right. But medical professionals and government officials who promote or mandate them when their inefficacy is well-established and clearly apparent, are morally reprehensible.

Meanwhile, America has real problems. Our public education system continues to fail another generation. State and federal governments betray our citizens, refuse to enforce our laws, and actively promote sin and death. The integrity of our election process is collapsing under the weight of multiple devious schemes to undermine its validity. The United States has real and significant problems. But COVID19 is not one of them.

Nevertheless, some good may yet come from this insane chapter of history if honest people prevail. Perhaps, we’ll realize that we’ve put an unhealthy amount of trust and confidence in modern medicine. With public schools closed or opening later than usual, parents might actually discover what their children are being taught and demand a transformation. When the Chinese coronavirus pandemic fails to wipe-out massive numbers of the U.S. population, voters may actually learn that national and local news media are the problem and not reliable sources of information.

One thing is not a matter of speculation. If the American people continue to ignore and refuse to address the systematic corruptions of our culture, the number and severity of national crises will grow increasingly more painful and destructive. And the next one may be the last.