One of my biggest frustrations this year, which is saying something in context, is the number of times I’ve heard officials say “we should follow the science” only to immediately do the opposite. I’m accustomed to politicians counting on the masses to be ignorant as a means of exactly desired outcomes, but seldom have I seen such instantaneous hypocrisy and dishonesty as what’s played out during the pandemic lockdowns. Usually the left will save their “Black Lives Matter” arguments for separate debates from their “Pro-Choice” arguments and will keep their “Pro-Choice” arguments separate from why they oppose school vouchers. To their credit they’re skilled at lies and manipulation which is necessary when you have a platform that is as contradictory as what I just referenced. Anyway, back to the lockdowns.
The “science” has been crystal clear since May. Use of masks, social distancing, and good hygiene is more effective than lockdowns at stopping the spread of the virus. The only thing the lockdowns proved to be effective at doing was killing the economy and more people than necessary in states like New York. Nevertheless, as flu season arrives, and predictably COVID-19 is the virus most commonly being passed around, countries around the world have started to lock down and states which never really reopened like California are looking at going back to where the lockdowns started. One thing has changed since this spring. Many Americans aren’t willing to accept them this time.
Gallup has been surveying monthly on lockdowns since they first cropped up in March. At the time they took effect nationally, 67% of Americans were on board and willing to “lockdown” for a month. However, support has consistently been sliding and now is below 50%. According to Gallup’s most recent work, 49% of Americans would accept locking down again if it were recommended by public health “experts”. While it’s still higher than I’d like to see, at least half the country has opened their eyes and perhaps seen what the actual science is on the virus rather than what disingenuous politicians say is the science. Having support below 50% nationally is important with the prospect of a Biden-administration on the horizon and the proclivity by left-leaning politicians at the state and local levels to use lockdowns.