I knew from the beginning that Dr. Fauci was a liar

 Dr. Fauci justifies lies, saying Americans can't handle the truth

You don't have to hit me on the head several times for me to get the message: our political leaders shouldn't lie to us about serious subjects.  We're a nation of mature people who ought to be trusted with information so we can make intelligent decisions to protect ourselves.  I get it.  Yes.

Except it turns out that this rule applies only to a president who's being lambasted for his proactive decisions to fight the virus, such as closing the border, even as all the "best" medical advice is saying "no masks."  Faced with this information, all that the president can do is project optimism, but Orange Man Bad is the end of every political discussion in today's media.

Things are different if you're Anthony Fauci, the man who gave that "no mask" advice.  In his case, you are as infallible as a god.  Thus, the other day, The New York Times reported approvingly that "Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, an adviser to both the Trump administration and the incoming [ahem] Biden administration — has begun incrementally raising his herd-immunity estimate."

Wait, were we not told by the infallible press so very recently that "Herd Immunity" was a farce, a fantasy, immoral and unethical?  Suddenly it's a goal to be reached?  Isn't the whole rationale of lock-downs and closing bars and restaurants so that we don't catch the Wuhan flu, ever?  What's herd-immunity if the vast majority getting it and getting over it?

The article explains that, early in 2020, Fauci was telling people that society reaches herd immunity when about 60-70% of people are immune. A month ago, he claimed herd immunity hits at about "75 to 80-plus percent."  Now he says it needs to be greater than 90%.  (That's still better than the World Health Organization, which has jettisoned all scientific knowledge to say there is no naturally acquired herd immunity.  Only vaccinations provide immunity.)  Why the lies?  Fauci explains:

In a telephone interview the next day, Dr. Fauci acknowledged that he had slowly but deliberately been moving the goal posts. He is doing so, he said, partly based on new science, and partly on his gut feeling that the country is finally ready to hear what he really thinks.

[snip]

Dr. Fauci said that weeks ago, he had hesitated to publicly raise his estimate because many Americans seemed hesitant about vaccines, which they would need to accept almost universally in order for the country to achieve herd immunity.

Now that some polls are showing that many more Americans are ready, even eager, for vaccines, he said he felt he could deliver the tough message that the return to normal might take longer than anticipated.

In other words, what Fauci means is that he said to the American people, "You can't handle the truth."