Locking down the economy has highlighted a number of interesting priorities among our politicians. During the initial lockdown, many small businesses (barber shops, hairdressers, restaurants, etc) were shut down but liquor stores were deemed to be essential services. Now, there is a growing debate over whether to re-open our schools and universities.
President Trump has led the charge to re-open the schools and universities. However, many politicians and teacher unions have pushed back, suggesting that schools should either remain closed or be significantly scaled back. The American Academy of Pediatrics had originally called for the re-opening of the schools, but after Trump indicated his support, the Academy backtracked saying that “schools in areas with high levels of COVID-19 community spread should not be compelled to reopen against the judgment of local experts.”
Leading the lockdown approach to schools are blue state Governors and politicians like New Jersey’s Phil Murphy, Connecticut’s Ned Lamont, and New York City’s Mayor De Blasio. Murphy has created onerous re-opening conditions and De Blasio has signaled that he plans on having school open only 2 to 3 days a week. The Ivy League schools like Harvard, Princeton and Yale as well as MIT have also emerged as among the most draconian, forbidding large portions of their student body from attending in person on campus. In contrast, most private boarding schools and universities elsewhere in the nation plan on re-opening their campuses and welcoming all students.
With respect to athletics, despite widespread evidence that COVID-19 is much more likely to impact those who are more sedentary and overweight, the authorities have decided to cancel Fall sports at many institutions. Statistics make clear that young, healthy college age athletes have very low risk from COVID-19, on par with the flu. Nevertheless, the athletes have been sidelined in the Ivy League and possibly elsewhere.
Meanwhile, politicians continue to make choices. The casinos in Connecticut and New Jersey, which generate significant tax revenue for both states, have been allowed to open. The older demographics that frequent the casinos would seem to be at much greater risk than school and college age kids. Yet, our politicians seem happier to have the casinos open and the schools closed. Protests are ok, but political rallies are not. Churches must be limited to 50 in person attendees, but there are not limits on protests.
At the end of the day, Americans are going to have to learn to live with COVID-19. We’ve lived with flu for generations and even with a vaccine, in a typical year about 30,000 – 60,000 Americans perish, including 100 children. We’ve lived through much worse than COVID-19: World Wars I and II, the Spanish Flu, and the Great Depression. It’s time to re-open America and let brave Americans who want to resume their life to make their own decisions on how to responsibly re-enter society in a practical and safe manner. We believe that politicians who embrace freedom, rather than lockdowns, will benefit in November.
NewEnglandPolitics.com 