The Los Angeles Times ran an editorial yesterday stating that “Rand Paul isn’t a subliterate yawper like Trump. But he’s spreading the same deadly coronavirus lies.” What heresy did Paul commit to get such negative press? He had the audacity to question the official CDC narrative that all Americans needed to be locked down in their homes and apartments, unable to make decisions for themselves.
Indeed, Paul, a medical doctor himself who recovered quickly from coronavirus, has been the most vocal politician in challenging Dr. Fauci and the rest of the medical establishment. Yesterday, Paul tweeted out a story from Wired Magazine entitled “The Case for Reopening our Schools” by David Zweig which noted that many other countries have already re-opened their schools given the very low risk that coronavirus has for people under the age of 29. Today, he followed up with another tweet that said “Paging Dr. Fauci: scientific evidence shows mortality rate for coronavirus approximates the annual flu for people under 60” and linked to a story from David Horowitz that provides the scientific evidence supporting this statement.
Paul, a well known libertarian, is on a roll. From challenging the surveillance state that was at the core of the Russia investigation of President Trump’s campaign to questioning the wisdom of the nationwide lockdown, Paul’s brand of libertarianism is increasingly relevant for most Americans. Why is the government deciding what small business owners can and cannot do? Why is the government telling you when you can go outside to take a stroll on the beach? Since when was it illegal to worship at your own church? Americans of all political stripes are starting to ask the same question.
A headline and photo posted by the Virginia-Pilot newspaper captures the state of America. The headline reads “The beach at the Oceanfront was closed. But the crowds were large.” Next to it is a picture of the beach with thousands of citizens enjoying the 78 degree weather and the oceanfront beach and surf. Despite the order from Governor Ralph Northam (D-VA) to keep the beaches closed, thousands of otherwise law abiding citizens simply ignored the government directive and headed to the beach. The same state of affairs is occurring all over the nation from Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) California to Governor Ned Lamont’s (D-CT) Connecticut.
We have a sense that this issue — the reopening of the American economy — is likely to be the defining issue of the November election. Trump seems to be siding with re-opening America, tweeting out videos of boaters and rallies against the lockdown. Biden, the Democratic Governors, and the mainstream media are doubling down in favor of the lockdown, warning of more coronavirus deaths looming in the days ahead. Biden even tweeted out today that we had “the opportunity to not just rebuild our economy — but transform it.” Judging by the crowds at Virginia Beach, we think Americans increasingly want to return to their pre-coronavirus lives and are less interested in transforming the economy. Polls of college students also show that an overwhelming majority want to return in person to their college campuses in the Fall, rather than using Zoom to listen to their professors in isolation. When the young people of America are wakening up to the dangers of government overreach, it’s a sign that something is stirring. We will have to wait until November, but our sense is that America is about to reject bigger government in favor of individual liberty.
NewEnglandPolitics.com 