You completely missed the point of my first statement. That those states that did everything they could to stop the virus, seem to have merely pushed the numbers further down the road.
I didn't miss the point. You in fact haven't proven it.
The fact is, Michigan isn't currently all that close to catching up. 87k does not equal 137k. And the one midwestern state they are close to catching also had restrictions and is not currently undergoing a surge. Further, given that Michigan's surge did not happen during restrictions, it is just as easy (and consistent with the facts) to say that lack of restrictions caused this latest surge though I would not conclude that yet. Still further, given that we have much better treatments now than we once did, and that we now have a vaccine that it is likely that they weren't just pushing the numbers further down the road. Lives were very likely saved.
And it's all too convenient an argument to make. When you see a piece of data you like, BEHOLD THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL. When you see one you don't, all too conveniently well yeah they haven't caught up yet, but they will. Not our first rodeo around here with that statement.
We went through this last year with Sweden. And so far the only thing that has been pushed down the road is the goal posts.
First it was look how great Sweden is. When they thought the numbers looked good it's BEHOLD THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!!!! Then when it's pointed out the numbers don't look so good when Sweden was compared to her similar neighbors the whole tone changers to well uh bleh bleh bleh uh uh we can't be sure of that. Those other countries are just kicking the can down the road. Check back in 3 months.
3 months later. Well we need to check those numbers in half a year. Half a year later. It's going to take a year before we're sure. Well it's past the one year mark and the other Nordic countries still aren't even close to Sweden.
Sweden 88,687
Denmark 42,019
Norway 19,861.
Finland 15, 232
Over 2, 4, and 5 times the cases per million.
Deaths
Sweden 1,358
Denmark 424
Finland 161
Norway 130.
Over 3, ?, and 10 times the deaths per million.
It's a totally convenient argument. They never actually ever have to admit they've been wrong. And they get to keep making it until the day comes when they think they're right. Or if that day never comes and people remember, just move the goal posts, lather, rinse, repeat. And by the time anyone figures out well it looks like it isn't happening, people will forget they ever made the argument in the first place.