> If we can't have a rational scientific discussion about facts, we're back to the dark ages.

We're rapidly heading that way. Masks are a political discussion now, not a scientific one. Most other aspects of COVID are the same way. You cannot criticize anything non-politically these days. Even saying "this data is entirely inconclusive" or "the first-order effects of doing this are positive but there are negative second-order effects" is a problem.

I don't have a solution, but I feel your pain.