I have a close correspondent in Europe, with whom I have exchanged ideas for years. Most recently he shared with me his worries and frustration with how Germany has been responding to the virus that has occupied so much attention. Here are thoughts from the response I shared with him. I shall call him Walter.
Dear Walter,
Thank you for your note.
The virus lockdown and response situation in Germany sounds worse than I
thought. We don’t hear much about it in
our media. Most of what I pick up from
Europe is from British commentators boasting about how glad they are that they
got out of the EU just in time. They
claim to be way ahead in vaccine administration, particularly compared with
Macron’s record in France.
Here in the U.S. we have been witnessing a general
overreaction but we also experience the benefits of a federal system. The variety of states are following a variety
of policies, and people can see what works better (if the news can get through the
big media channels). The general pattern
seems to be that the more the lockdown the higher the incidence, which these
governors then use to justify even tighter lockdowns. But even the worst states, like New York and
California, are starting to realize that they have gone overboard. Virginia is starting to ease up, perhaps
because they have elections this year for governor and legislature (where
Democrats have very thin majorities).
Schools are starting to reopen—despite the teachers unions who want to
stay closed—but who also want their teachers first in line for the vaccines. Children have been hardest hit, not by the
virus but by the policies.
Politicians do talk to one another. The virus gave a good excuse for heads of the
executive branches to enjoy making decisions without working with the other
branches of government. The Chinese
Government showed how, by engaging in a sharp, heavy lockdown of Wuhan,
including control of information. I don’t
claim that they told governors here and leaders around the world what to do,
but they did show them what to do and how to use the virus as the
excuse.
In the U.S., most governors with the early heavy-handed
policies were Democrats, and the media were by and large in deep sympathy, quickly
pitching stories to support what the governors wanted to do, helping to hype
the hysteria on which the governors’ decrees were based. Once the governors issued their first round
of decrees they got to like it, but they needed to keep going to keep their
legislatures off balance. A few judges
here and there, eventually, ruled that some of the governors had gone too far,
rolling back some of the policies. Many
judges found ways to stay out of it, considering these to be policy matters,
not judicial issues.
The thorn in the side of these governors has been other
governors, who followed more reasonable approaches, such as the governors in
Florida, Tennessee, Texas, even South Dakota, among others. That is the beauty of a federal system. It has worked imperfectly, but it has been a
salvation, particularly as people have seen better results—from the point of view
of the virus and of the economy—in these other states. It has worked to keep the debate somewhat
alive, even with media working hard to silence alternative voices.
This all shows the importance of a constitution, with personal
freedoms and diffused government. But it
also demonstrates the importance for people to insist on observance of their
rights. Bless those who have had
willingness and means to go to court and judges who have been willing to take
the cases and support the Constitution.
The biggest tool that people have is perhaps economic, and there have
been economic responses that have been penalizing states that have it
wrong.
Another important tool will be elections. A few states, such as Virginia, have
elections this year, and there has been a rising tide of resentment to the
policies. Throwing out of government the
officials who have violated rights and pursued destructive policies would send
a powerful message to other parts of the nation. What we hope for now are good candidates, the
ability to get their message out through the media opposition, and integrity in
the elections (plenty to worry about there).
Anyway, a long answer.
But I understand your frustration.
I am, however, hopeful.
Wayne
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