Looking back five years to when the ‘pandemic’ came crashing down on all of us seems to be a popular thing to do these days. I guess I will join the fun. Fortunately, almost two years ago, I took a look back from that vantage point at my own mindset at the time as documented over at the legacy site on March 31, 2000. Here is that June 4, 2023 look-back post in its entirety (includes the full text of the March 31, 2020 entry…sorry if the embedded post with an embedded post gets confusing):

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Another ‘Big Lie’ – Dishonesty in Government Exposed & Reflecting on My Mindset at the Time (June 4, 2023)

As the truth of our recent histories begins to seep out from under the progressive blanket of pseudo-events, a headline this week sent be looking back to what I was saying in the immediate aftermath of the failed “two weeks to flatten the curve” that marked the real opening of the COVID era on these shores. I found this from about a month and a half in:

It would all be funny if it wasn’t so sad. The (forced? voluntary?) de-evolution of the American consciousness of Freedom over recent decades has been swift…but also right out in the open for all to see. … In the current crisis, similar sadness flows from whiffs of “social tyranny” and absence of societal neutrality on many levels, some small and some large. Driven by fear…also a condition of the evolution away from strong spines…the pace is clearly picking up. – Approaching the Abyss, May 6, 2020

That post evolved from a discussion around – no, not the “Deep State” – the Extended State: “Covid-19 has emboldened American tech platforms … they are using their prodigious data-collection capacities, in coordination with federal and state governments, to improve contact tracing, quarantine enforcement, and other health measures.” At least the State (and their deputized agents) were worthy of the great trust We the People should always attach to the lending of such massive power…weren’t they? Well…:

FLATTENING THE CURVE WAS A LIE

Remember when government officials told us that we needed just a brief shutdown of economic and social activity to “flatten the curve” of covid transmission? The theory, although few seem to remember it, was that the same number of people would eventually catch covid, we just wouldn’t catch it all at once and thus we wouldn’t overload the hospital system. In fact, two weeks of curve-flattening turned into a year and a half of fascist control. …

The transition from curve flattening to outright fascism was so smooth that one always suspected it was planned from the beginning. And, sure enough, the appalling Deborah Birx admits it was all a lie. …

Ponder that for a moment: government bureaucrats, mostly Birx and Tony Fauci, knew that “flattening the curve” was just the “first step leading to longer and more aggressive interventions.” Which destroyed many thousands of businesses and devastated a generation of young people. And Birx and Fauci “had to make these palatable to the administration”–to Donald Trump and those he appointed–by “avoiding the obvious appearance of a full Italian lockdown.” Which is what they had planned.

I suspect the full truth of the agenda and maneuverings of Birx, Fauci, and their ilk during these early COVID times will – if it ever really sees the light of day – get worse than this relatively “early” revelation. Much worse.

As that history gets revealed and attempts are made to rewrite it to protect the guilty, it is important (to me) to remember the state of mind in that moment. Even the well grounded were surrounded by varying cases ranging from mild panic and completely irrational hysteria…just as intended. In my circles, skepticism was strong but largely muted by so much uncertainty. About a week and a half into the “two weeks to flatten the curve” I did manage to chime in with: “In the end, I suspect reality may be bad but not nearly what the most excitable reports keep insisting is “a crisis that cannot be looked upon too seriously” (i.e. no cost is too great).” That was presented in the larger context of the dynamics in this one family – likely not a unique situation – resulting from the varying reactions of individuals to the scare campaign imposed by high level U.S. government bureaucrats in the service of accumulating their massive salaries and pensions. (A debt to society is owed…when and how will they be punished?) That March 31, 2020 Ricochet post that hints at my mindset in the moment is presented below in its entirety. Enjoy:

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The General’s Calibrated Filter (March 31, 2020)

“…sifting out the truth from the mass of exaggerations…”

My wife continues to be frustrated, to the various extremes, by the multitude of often conflicting virus information that is available to her that is either stated with cock-sure confidence or end-of-days hysteria. I continue to (mostly) ignore the noise and read my history…and hopefully learn something. With that I offer a little diversionary reading and hopefully a bit of a lesson.

The following episode comes from late in the second day of the Battle of the Wilderness and is summarized from two paragraphs of Campaigning with Grant by General Horace Porter (1897):

It was now about sundown; the storm of battle which had raged with unabated fury from early dawn had been succeeded by calm. … Just then the stillness was broken by heavy volleys of musketry on our extreme right, which told that Sedgwick had been assaulted, and was actually engaged with the enemy. The attack against which the general-in-chief during the day had ordered every precaution to be taken had now been made.

Knowing with much certainty from which direction the enemy was coming, provisions had been made to prevent that most direct entry into our perimeter…a travel ban, if you will.

… Staff-officers and couriers were soon seen galloping up to Meade’s headquarters, and his chief of staff, General Humphreys, sent word that the attack was directed against our extreme right, and that a part of Sedgwick’s line had been driven back in some confusion. Generals Grand and Meade…walked rapidly over to Meade’s tent, and found that the reports still coming in were bringing news of increasing disaster. I was soon reported that General Shaler and part of his brigade had been captured; then that General Seymour and several hundred of his men had fallen into the hands of the enemy; afterward that our right had been turned, and Ferrero’s division cut off and forced back upon the Rapidan. General Humphreys, on receiving the first reports, had given prompt instructions with a view of strengthening the point of the line attacked. General Grant now took the matter in hand with his accustomed vigor. Darkness had set in, but the firing still continued. Aides came galloping in form the right, laboring under the intense excitement, talking wildly, and giving the most exaggerated reports of the engagement. Some declared that a large force had broken and scattered Sedgwick’s entire corps. Others insisted that the enemy had turned our right completely, and captured the wagon-train. It was asserted at one time that both Sedgwick and Wright had been captured.

News from the front lines came with “intense excitement”…”men’s nerves had been racked by the strain of a two days’ desperate battle.” Surely, extreme measures must be taken immediately, no matter how draconian.

But it was in just such sudden emergencies that General Grant was always at his best. Without the change of a muscle on his face, or the slightest alteration in the tones of his voice, he quietly interrogated the officers who brought the reports; then, sifting out the truth from the mass of exaggerations, he give directions for relieving the situation with the marvelous rapidity which was always characteristic of him when directing movements in the face of an enemy.

Whether natural ability or due to training and repetition, some leaders are best when in the heat of battle. Some seem to be always in the battle…and, therefore, always at their best (or at least have their head in the game). Similarly, whether natural ability or due to training and repetition, the skills to filter “the truth from the mass of exaggerations” – exaggerations that may be intentional or simply due to the fog of crisis – are critical in a leader. (I would posit, that in some circumstances, it is also important for the leader to signal to the subordinates that he has and will exercise this filter. It makes for a much healthier relationship. But I digress.)

Reinforcements were hurried to the point attacked, and preparations made for Sedgwick’s corps to take up a new line, with the front and right thrown back. General Grant soon walked over to his own camp, seated himself on a stool in front of his tent, lighted a fresh cigar, and there continued to receive further advices from the right.

One wonders how all of this would have been spun with calculated leaks and modern “fake news” from the press corps.

Now the big finish:

A general officer came in from his command at this juncture, and said to the general-in-chief, speaking rapidly and laboring under considerable excitement: “General Grant, this is a crisis that cannot be looked upon too seriously. I know Lee’s methods well by past experience; he will throw his whole army between us and the Rapidan, and cut us off completely form our communications.” The general rose to his feet, took his cigar our of his mouth, turned to the officer, and replied, with a degree of animation which he seldom manifested: “Oh, I am heartily tired of hearing about what Lee is going to do. Some of you always seem to think he is suddenly going to turn a double somersault, and land in our rear and on both of our flanks at the same time. Go back to your command, and try to think what we are going to do ourselves, instead of what Lee is going to do.” …

It is good to have someone in charge who doesn’t scare easily.

As I said, my wife continues to be frustrated by this Lee-as-ninja-style hysteria. I’m just heartily tired of hearing what excited couriers say the virus is going to do. In the end, I suspect reality may be bad but not nearly what the most excitable reports keep insisting is “a crisis that cannot be looked upon too seriously” (i.e. no cost is too great).

Now where is my cigar…

(End of March 31, 2020 Post)

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For more context, I searched the Drudge Report Archives for references to “Trump” on the day before the above was “published.” The first link went to this AP report:

How dire projections, grim images dashed Trump’s Easter plan

The two doctors spread out their charts on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.

The projections were grim: Even if the U.S. were to continue to do what it was doing, keeping the economy closed and most Americans in their homes, the coronavirus could leave 100,000 to 200,000 people dead and millions infected. And the totals would be far worse if the nation reopened.

Those stark predictions grew even more tangible and harrowing when paired with televised images of body bags lined up at a New York City hospital not far from where President Donald Trump grew up in Queens. …

The bleak forecasts were carried into the Oval Office by Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, who displayed to Trump projections that, on the low end, could yield 100,000 American deaths from COVID-19. One model showed that deaths could have soared past 2 million had there been no mitigation measures.

The full court press was on.

(End of June 4, 2023 Post)

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As I look back over this from the end of March 2025, it is this part that jumps out at me:

Remember when government officials told us that we needed just a brief shutdown of economic and social activity to “flatten the curve” of covid transmission? The theory, although few seem to remember it, was that the same number of people would eventually catch covid, we just wouldn’t catch it all at once and thus we wouldn’t overload the hospital system. In fact, two weeks of curve-flattening turned into a year and a half of fascist control. …

[Emphasis added]

Most will always remember the “flatten the curve” marketing gimmick catch phrase…but I admit this more detailed accompanying rationalization (as well as the ubiquitous and very emotional news narratives that were paired with it) has already started to fade from memory. But in hindsight, when combined with the broadly administered harsh condemnation of even quietly suggesting at this stage of 2020 the obviousness of a lab leak as the source of the virus, the relative ease with which the country was manipulated and steered down a very ugly path (regarding our liberties, economy, and society in general) is truly frightening. I hope enough of us have learned the appropriate lessons…