The issue described here is the inability of people to actually *think*, based on probabilities and causal mechanisms, and instead taking refuge in the rote application of procedure- in this case, procedural doubt of anything which cannot be proven absolutely by clinical study. https://twitter.com/politicalmath/status/1352658291822714882

As noted, this is the same inability to weigh probabilities which got us “don’t use m_sks, we can’t prove they work” and which now seems to partially account for the overemphasis on them- people are incapable of displaying prudential judgment, preferring all-or-nothing rules.

Now read this report, and note again the same problem recurring over and over: people in positions of authority who cannot weigh evidence and probabilities, cannot make wise judgments under pressure, and default to rote application of procedure. https://mobile.twitter.com/Reuters/status/1352722952224124929

Pardon my brief window of idealism here, but in a republic the state is you. “State capacity” is in substantial part the ability of the people in responsible positions to act responsibly, demonstrate wise judgement, and make difficult decisions without perfect knowledge.

The degree to which we encourage and defend refusal to take responsibility by those charged directly with doing so is the degree to which our institutions will keep failing us, over and over. There is no substitute for finding talent, giving it rein, and holding it to results.