Except you used to the word "or" in your question which makes it a choice between one or the other. It can be either.
Fauci started out by saying face coverings weren't needed and then on to saying cloth and surgical masks are good protection, neither of which was is true. I believe he knew both were false when he said them.
Yet Dems spent years, and many still do, claiming that masking with these cloth masks was effective. That was never true and no rationally thinking person should have ever thought so as the evidence against it was clear. Fauci lied, likely based on public pressure. But lied nonetheless.
Then I doubt you have actually been paying attention. Regardless, it should have never been a thing in the first place.
I was struck by how many chose to despite how obviously ineffective they were. It did show me how social engineering was so powerful though.
Doesn’t really matter. What’s more astounding was people dropped everything else they knew about the world and believed him despite critical thinking demonstrating how ineffective they were.
The image of sheep lining up to be slaughtered comes to mind when I consider what you're saying. I don't know why so many were willing to lose their freedom for a false sense of security.
Many people are poorly educated and rely on opinions they see on tv. They don't know why masks are or aren't effective, so they pick someone they think they can trust and parrot their opinion. I blame the education system and that's why I support school vouchers.