"Absurd comparison."

How is it absurd?

Demographically, Florida should have posted higher numbers due to the larger number of older folks that live there. It didn't.

I think that lockdowns were really an only option heading into the Pandemic-it's not something that western governments had much experience with. Now that we are able to observe the results of different polices in different states, that's what should be used to formulate future policy.

To me, it would seem difficult to mandate a mask policy when it doesn't appear that it necessarily produces a different outcome.

"MadBomber would claim the lockdowns are bad, even if they proved to be effective."

Whoa, easy Champ. I didn't invent this stuff. I saw it for the first time on Smerconish's CNN show. And I pretty much trust Smerconish as an objective dude. I think most people do.

"Also, just because they were put in place doesn't mean they were followed."

If the restrictions intended to help people don't actually help them...what's the purpose in the first place?

I've heard tales of many a sheriff who was refusing to enforce state-ordered lock-down restrictions. Is that cop on the side of the state or the side of the people? Whose side should they be on?

"Even Sweden admitted they got it wrong and their approach didn't help their populace or economy, it just resulted in higher death rates."

That's not really a fair thing to say because the pandemic is ongoing. You can say between time "A" and time "B" there was a deathrate delta of x, but we have yet to reach a final time "B"

And between two countries who experience "y" lockdowns during the pandemic over a shorter period of time with less restrictions, that's a success story when compared to the state that spent more time in lock-down, but wound up with the same number of courses.

I just popped an ambien...I will be leaving soon

"SWEDEN SAID IT. We are a year into this and time has told the tale. They acknowledged they are doing worse than most countries with their tactic."

Is the pandemic over in Sweden?

Until it's over within a given country, you can't really make any meaningful comparisons. And what exactly do you mean by "worse?" Economically, Sweden seems to be doing better than most.

"As for sheriffs refusing to enforce them they should be stripped of their positions. They're not there to judge what laws are valid or not."

That's absolutely fair.

But what about the people? Do they get to judge if the laws are valid or not? If the voters of Mojave county decided to vote against a state or federally mandated lockdown...would that matter to you? And if the voters of Mojave county did vote that way, would the county sheriff be obligated to support those who voted for him or her?

"You don't understand how our system of government works, do you?"

I don't know.

Who does a County Sherriff answer to?

"How can you view any law be valid, when the enforcement mechanism is the coercive power of the state, ultimately backstopped with a gun to your head?"

Marijuana is illegal at the Federal level, yet many states have legalized it.

Your argument appears to be that local law enforcement officers in these states should be obligated to uphold the highest law in the land, even if it is conflict with lower echelon laws that are more reflective of the will of the people.

"But my comment was broader than that. A locality can't make laws that supersede federal law."

So...Marijuana? Is that pretty much what the states did with marijuana laws? Supersede them? or at least compel/demand local LE not to enforce those laws?