Thats the question I am struggling with, what does it takes to set up infrastructure for masks on scale, maybe somewhat lower quality for the population. Compared to the cost of shutting down lives of people which would have a very long term impact.

Certainly N95 and such should go to providers but if everybody used even a cotton bandana on their face would help.

That's a reasonable argument to make, and a correct one.

That's different from the lie which is being given to the population: that they don't help.

I totally agree that first responders need to get them first. This virus will not go away. We need to plan towards the future until we get a vaccine or there's enough herd immunity that it's no longer a threat.

See: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22708139

Wearing a mask is about not spreading your droplets around. While they do protect you to some degree they also protect other people from you. There is no way to know if you are an asymptomatic or presymptomatic carrier. Hand washing and sterilization are also useful tools but so are masks. Certainly we need to have them for our providers but having even a cotton bandanna on yourself is a courtesy to others. Anything to reduce your spread of droplets may help others.