What’s That Aphorism About Doing the Same Thing Over and Over, and Expecting a Different Result?

Oh yes, it’s supposed to be one definition of insanity

The drunkard who keeps drinking and driving despite getting busted again and again, losing his license, and paying tons of money in fines.

The abused spouse who either fails to call the police, or does so only to drop the charges in the hope of reformation of the abuser; rinse and repeat.

The college student who makes it a point to never study on the night before a big exam; and then wonders why her grades keep getting lower and lower.

The lonely man who spends all his time at bars, looking for love (or sex), and always ending up with the wrong partner; but still keeps trying the bars and the same sort of partner.

These are all examples of people doing the same things over and over again, yet still expecting a different result.

Many of us are doing the same thing now regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Spring Break 2020 led to outbreaks. Early relaxations and reopenings in summer 2020 led to later surges. Trumps’ many disease-friendly gatherings added to the problem. Holiday-travel in 2020 led to more problems — the level of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths went through the roof.

Now, in 2021, a number of Governors are doing the same thing, all over again — reopenings, relaxations, and even interfering with local officials. Irresponsible Spring-breakers are repeating 2020, and in the face of a more-transmissible and possibly more deadly variant. The pandemic-weary are traveling heavily. Mask wearing is starting to decline. Vaccines are up, but new cases, deaths and hospitalizations that were down, are now rising again.

All contrary to the advice, recommendations and guidance of the people who actually know something about infectious disease control and pandemics.

Same conduct, but expecting a different result. What should we call that?