The scientific method relies on running experiments to verify predictions made from testable hypotheses.

We have two competing hypotheses about how to manage public health and safety. One predicts that the better way to maintain and improve public health and safety is to require certain people, including public safety employees, to be vaccinated against Covid-19—and to fire those individuals, including public safety employees who refuse vaccination, The other predicts that public health and safety will be better maintained and improved if people are allowed to make decisions about being vaccinated for themselves and those decisions are decoupled from employment.

The two hypotheses are being tested experimentally as different states follow one approach or the other. It shouldn’t be too long before we know whether either approach was better. (They could both be wrong.)

When we know the results of this experiment, will we follow the resulting science?