[dragonwriter]

> It's pretty rational for someone to understand that and make personal choices without feeling like they're causing real danger to the community.

Discounting externalized costs to zero is rational, true; that's the source of the tragedy of commons (in the economics/game theory sense, not necessarily the somewhat disputed original example for which the effect is named.)

But that's a manner in which individual rationality is insufficient to address issues whose effects aren't limited to the individuals engaging in transactions.

[showdeadtest]

While you raise a good point, I question the wisdom of relying solely on hastily devised rules and accompanying sloganeering to solve such issues.

I understand the pandemic is an emergency, but it was predictable. If we got caught with our pants down, we got caught with our pants down. Personally I think it’s time to put the hysteria aside and start discussing the longer-term view.