What is up with the waiting periods?

Here is the answer - the choice for them is (game theory?)

A). They remove mandates now:

• They look like losers. They gave up under pressure. They've lost.
• Protestors are the winners.

B). They delay by 2-3 weeks.

• They can claim that it had nothing to do with the protests. It was their wise decision based on the disappearing pandemic.
• Optics: The protestors become marginalized, irrelevant.
• When protestors go home - government can restore all restrictions back and force mandates because the pandemic is back and wise government needs to take an action.

The move of the protestors should be:

• Continue the protest until the last day, demanding "Now".
• Then claim the victory.

The possible moves of the gov will be:

a). silence and restrictions lifted im March - protestors win

b). accuse protestors for not appretiating the government offer - proves they've made a decission based on fear - protestors win

c). miss March deadline - people outrage and protests intensify - you know the winner

Because they are just words to calm the masses. They will not open up as the situation will change when we get to the date. The words being used are to change behaviors of the public today. Not to tell us what they are going to do. Words can be use to program behavior not just to inform.

They're slow-walking out of a party after being told to leave by the host.

When reading about the psychology of control freaks I came across:

Instead of regaining control over the thing they lost control over in the first place, some people try to regain control over other irrelevant areas of their lives. If a person feels they lack control over X, instead of regaining control over X, they try to control Y. Y is usually something easier to control in their environments like furniture or other people.