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Liberals are constantly demanding that we believe the science. Im all for that. But the problem is the science changes, often quickly. Worse yet, what some want to call science is increasingly politics masquerading as science. And nothing has demonstrated that better than the coronavirus.

Consider House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiNRCC turns up heat on vulnerable Democrats over Omar's call to abolish police Shocking job numbers raise hopes for quicker recovery Engel primary challenger hits million in donations MORE (D-Calif.). In an April press conference discussing the coronavirus pandemic she said, If you dont believe in science and you dont believe in governance, that is their [Republicans] approach.

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersBiden formally clinches Democratic presidential nomination OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump signs order removing environmental reviews for major projects | New Trump air rule will limit future pollution regulations, critics say | DNC climate group calls for larger federal investment on climate than Biden plan Google: Chinese and Iranian hackers targeting Biden, Trump campaigns MORE (I-Vt.) said last March that the Trump White House has shown the world that it does not believe in science.

And lets not overlook Democratic presidential nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenBiden formally clinches Democratic presidential nomination The Memo: Job numbers boost Trump and challenge Biden Chris Wallace: Jobs numbers show 'the political resilience of Donald Trump' MORE. On May 19 he tweeted, We need a president who believes in science.

These believe the science scolds are little more than thinly vailed efforts to attack conservatives who ask reasonable questions. They also convey a sanctimonious intellectual superiority over anyone who challenges the left.

But demands that we believe the science raise the question: Which science are we supposed to believe?

Earlier this year the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rejected the notion that the public should be wearing face masks. CDC Director Robert Redfield told a House committee, There is no role for these masks in the community. And U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted, STOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing the general public from catching coronavirus.

I watched several of the experts explaining last January and February why wearing anything but an N95 mask wouldnt protect the wearer or others. And several TV pundits went so far as to mock people who did wear masks.

But by early April, the CDC had flipped. CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus.

So in February you were silly if you wore a mask, and by April you were a fool not to. As Biden said of President Trump the day after Memorial Day, hes an absolute fool for not wearing a mask.

Heres the question: Was it science (1) when the CDC rejected mask wearing; or (2) when the CDC strongly recommended everyone wear a mask; or (3) does the CDC flip-flop demonstrate that the science may change when more information becomes available?

Warning to liberals: If you choose the third option you undercut all of your politically motivated believe the science rants.

Oh, and now the health experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) say heathy people should only wear masks if they are taking care of someone with COVID-19 or coughing or sneezing or under a few other circumstances.

So while Trumps recent in-person meetings with businesses apparently did not meet Bidens science, he did meet the WHOs science.

Will someone please tell me which science I am supposed to believe?

Theres more. In March and April, we saw lots of scientific studies discussing how long the coronavirus could survive on various objects. That led to massive wipe-downs, fumigations and sterilizations of everything.

But the CDC recently updated its guidance, informing us that the virus is spread mainly from person-to-person. While it can happen, the CDC does not think the virus spreads easily through contact with things.

And the political nature of believe the science appeared again in the recent protest marches and even riots over the tragic death of George Floyd.

For the past few months the left has warned us against reopening the economy too soon. The science, we were told, said it would lead to a spike in coronavirus infections and death.

But those same people have been largely silent as thousands of people flooded the streets to protest the Floyd death. Most protesters were not wearing masks. Most were not socially distancing. Many were singing, chanting and even screaming all of which the science now says are the primary ways the coronavirus is spread.

The George Floyd demonstrations are both understandable and a constitutional right unless they devolve into riots and destruction. But not only are the believe-the-science scolds not criticizing the protest marches, they are supporting them.

Science changes over time as we learn more, which is why one has to be careful in proclaiming that an issue is settled science.

Its the blatantly political nature of believe the science that has so many people questioning and even doubting the claims. Because when liberals admonish people to believe the science, what they are usually saying is shut up and do as youre told.

Merrill Matthews is a resident scholar with the Institute for Policy Innovation in Dallas, Texas. Follow him on Twitter @MerrillMatthews.

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Liberals: Which 'science' are we supposed to believe? | TheHill - The Hill