The opinion on the level of health risk one is supposed to take on in an effort to keep the economy running is very much split along the political lines. For every solid argument you brought up, there's a solid counterargument from the other side of the fence. Both sides of the fence include intellectuals who can be extremely thoughtful and reasonable. I don't think that HN would be the right time and place to regurgitate all the reasonable arguments from both sides (and certainly not all the unreasonable ones).
First of all, I was reflecting on the situation in the public sector, in a very blue state, where officially you strictly don't talk politics at work. Do you think my comments were all from "one side of the fence"? Which one?
Also, I wasn't expressing any opinion on what risk there is or what risk should be acceptable.
I don't see anything political in the fact that multiple parents are concerned about bringing covid home to their family if people don't wear masks.
It doesn't matter what people are saying in internet debates; I was stating this is what real people are saying in non-political, offline conversation.
I also don't see politics in the sense of left or right if the leader of our organization is making decisions that I don't see the sense in. I think leaders of all types can fall in a trap where they commit to something just because they don't want to look weak and wishy washy.
As far as my risk goes, if everybody wants to wear masks, I'm fine with it, and if nobody wants to wear mask, I'm fine with that too.
I waited my turn, then I got vaccinated promptly, now there is nothing for me to do. I just want whatever people decide to make sense.