How might a mask mandate play out? Look to the battle over seat belt laws

What a nice example of junk journalism! Who are they trying to fool?

What is wrong here:

1. Government seat belt mandates in the U.S. have been unconstitutional ever since 1968. This is a very controversial legislation!
2. The car accident deaths per 100,000 population increased after 1968 and did not decrease before roughly 1974 probably due to grandfathered or preexisting cars.
3. How much of the decrease in car accident deaths was due to this unconstitutional mandate or due to better cars with more safety features other than safety belts
4. Despite safety belt mandates, we still have about 11-12 deaths per 100k population
5. The death rate of Covid-19 is about 70 per 100k population. How much does the author think this death rate will decline with a government mask mandate?
6. Couriously, the article even mentions

"... Still, starting in 1984 with New York, states began passing seat belt mandates. The federal government eventually gave extra highway funding to states with tough laws. Meanwhile, new designs were making seat belts more comfortable and effective. ..."

I suspect we can make masks also more comfortable and effective?

"... Even in New Hampshire, the only state without any kind of [seat belt] mandate, [voluntary, perhaps promoted by better insurance premiums etc.] seat belt use is 71%. ..."

Curiously, the article even mentions that. It only confirms that a majority of people is reasonable enough to volunteer to wear masks if they think it provides safety etc.

"... But a mandate could be a bit of a haul in states, particularly those led by Republicans. ..."

Those pesky ulterior motives!

"... An October modeling study projected that universal mask-wearing in the US could save 130,000 lives by the end of February. ..."

Has anybody double checked or verified this model forecast? There are lies, damned lies and statistics! The main chart (see below) illustrating the results is already suspect!

"... In the end, what worked with seat belts were efforts by public health advocates, financial incentives, state level mandates, enforcement, solid research, and concerted effective public health messaging — all activities that are possible with masks. ..."

Concluding remarks by this journalist! To say that this journalist is naive would be a compliment!

How might a mask mandate play out? Look to the battle over seat belt laws If public health officials want to get people to wear masks to curb the spread of Covid-19, they might take a lesson from what is now a widely accepted aspect of American life: buckling up.