Liberty Exposé: What The Coronavirus Has Revealed About The Body Politic
Johannes EISELE / AFP
In the past several months, Americans have had more of their fair share of doubts, fears and questions in wake of the Coronavirus. Also referred to as COVID-19, it has been an emergency of epic proportions. as it has made its way around the globe. While there’s still much we don’t know, one thing is for certain: American citizens have their eyes fixed on Washington—and the politicians sent there to represent them. In this strange and unpredictable time, here are a few observations regarding politics, the media, the how the current administration has been handling everything in the age of the Coronavirus.
If I could break down each political party’s Coronavirus response to one sound bite, it would go a little something like this:
Republicans: “Why, yes! I’d love to capitulate on my principles!”
Democrats: “Let’s spend all the money!”
Libertarians: “We are literally the only ones that care about the Constitution!”
I’m joking, of course. But if you believe that’s an inaccurate portrayal of Washington, you must be new to politics!
Truly, it has been fascinating to watch the major political players navigate the waters of the Coronavirus pandemic—and in an election year to boot. Politics by nature is a labyrinth of twists and turns, but this time the decision-makers are under the microscope of the American public—with no one escaping criticism. During the passage of the first Coronavirus stimulus package, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) drew ire from voters of all political stripes and had to hastily withdraw several of her last minute demands that were holding up the bill.
The GOP felt okay(ish) about passing a one time emergency relief stimulus, but are now feeling the heat from constituents as—at the time of this writing—the third of these bills has just passed, costing taxpayers an astonishing 3 trillion.
As for Libertarians, the zealous watchdogs of liberty have proven themselves to be just that. While as a party they don’t carry the weight of the other two political parties, it seems their early warnings about civil liberties being in danger have blossomed into legitimate concerns.
What it has revealed about the media:
The White House Press Corps has engaged in feckless, irresponsible behavior and—most troubling of all—wasting precious questions during press briefings by engaging in antagonist Tom Foolery. Almost every journalist in the White House Press Corps has the single obsession of locking horns with the President by asking a “gotcha” question—the purpose of which is either to gratify their ego by making headlines and/or simultaneously make the administration appear entirely incompetent. Where mistakes have been made, aggressive questioning will always be in order, but the petulant caterwauling by reporters has left a giant deficit of information that the American people want—and aren’t getting.
What it has revealed about the current administration:
Many—even those who voted for him—were unsure of how a President Donald Trump would react under the pressure of a national emergency. From the beginning, even unfriendly media outlets credited a different, sobering and more confident tone coming from behind the podium. The daily press briefings by the Coronavirus Task Force were a stroke of communication genius. Trump, of course, could not help himself from battling with the press—but even Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the nation’s leading experts on infectious diseases, reiterated to several news outlets that the President was heeding expert’s medical advice before making significant decisions pertaining to the crisis at hand. Trump has also relegated the majority of the decision-making to the states—and that transfer of power negates the fascist expectations that some had once held for him.
What it has revealed about the American people:
I think it is important to recognize that the American people were more than willing to do their due diligence in slowing the spread of the Coronavirus. Months later though, the question is this: what is it that we’re doing now? An additional revelation is that while the American people have been paying close attention, many have noticed that the goalposts of the original pact they agreed to has intrinsically changed—and is morphing into something quite different.
When people in good faith point this out, they are often cast off as being uncaring toward their fellow man. However, it is not outrageous to wonder why the quarantine metrics have changed. If the original safety measures have achieved their intended goal, what is the purpose of keeping America (and the economy) under lock and key?
While we await the joyful reopening of society and a return to a sense of normalcy, it is important for all of us to stay tuned into what is happening on the local, state and federal level. The Coronavirus has shaken up the lives of all Americans, as well as revealing where there may be fractures in the bedrock of our founding principles. Here’s hoping that when this is all over, the American people will continue to engage in politics, and also shake up Washington, D.C.—for the better!
