Carte Blanche: How Much Credit Should We Give the State?

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

The Constitution of the United States pretty clearly outlines individual and collective liberties of the American populace and those values have always been staunchly defended by the libertarian faction. The current pandemic has been a nightmare to navigate in the ‘Era of Information,’ and uncertainty regarding the role of our fundamental rights in this time has come to the fore.

Scientists, commentators, and everyday citizens who call for strict lockdowns and penalties for deviants are not members of a monolithic tyrannical faction that seeks to erode the values of our Republic. These people see a dangerous world where 23 million have been infected, 803,000 have been killed, and supply chains have ceased to function. A very real and present problem demands a swift, effective solution.

There is reason in the rationale of those who believe the machine of the state and its officials might be a bulwark against the devastation of this pandemic. However, I wholeheartedly refuse to succumb to the notion that the ‘almighty power’ of the state is the only solution to our problem, nor do I believe it is worth further aggrandizement of government control.

The US has the most recorded cases in the world, the media profit from fear-based consumption, and the government’s response to the virus has been met with criticism that predictably falls on the President (yet he is not solely responsible). Furthermore, social media is littered with videos of people partying, massive groups of protesters, and a constant overhanging dread of the virus. The optics of the virus gives legitimacy to people who would support totalitarian policies and institutions for the well-being of society.

The well-intentioned support for totalitarian policies is even more dangerous to a republic than the demagogues and radicals that pose as blatant threats. Sure, it seems like a great idea to just tell everybody to stay home, stay apart and stay out of work, and patiently wait for the omnipotent state to come to the rescue.

The reality is no one completely understands how the virus works, how to stop it, nor do they know how long it will last. Businesses across America have been forced to shut down as a consequence of lockdowns and customer responses to the pandemic. There are too many reports to count that assume the virus will be here beyond this year and maybe even next year, perhaps even permanently.

This catastrophe has justified politicians shuttering the windows of businesses, and society as a whole, bystanders witness the politics of election year further distort the already imperfect pool of information available to the public. Don’t be too hard on the politicians, they are only acting in their own self-interest, as most humans do. How could I say such a thing when these people pursue the just preservation of life? Because these stringent rules have been paired with ridiculously arbitrary exceptions that defy logic, much less consistency.

We should not give so much credit to government officials for individuals rationally modifying their behavior in response to the virus. Of course, there are the irrational actors that ignore​ recommendations and health announcements, but we should be wary of the ‘effectiveness’ of totalitarianism as justification for the suppression of liberties.

The media darling for his handling of the virus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) holds the macabre accolade of the highest death toll by a very wide margin in New York. Cuomo came up with the stringent “food-and-drink mandate.” This policy was insightful beyond imagination, as the Governor declared that “there is no bar that only serves alcohol,” and thus he ordered all alcoholic drinks had to be served with food of some kind.

Cuomo instituted this so as to curb outdoor drinking thereby stopping potential increases in the spread of the virus. This regulation doesn’t do anything. There are bars in New York that are currently selling slices of stale bread for a penny with drinks to circumvent this measure. This is a politician saving face to appear as if he is actively making change, while his failure with nursing homes avoids scrutiny because of his ‘darling status.’ Cuomo’s actions might make it apparent, generally, that political actors are not motivated solely by their efficiency and effectiveness, but their own self-interest.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan issued executive orders mandating that people maintain social distancing guidelines in public, but she publicly attended a Black Lives Matter demonstration a couple of days later. The demonstration pretty clearly did not follow mask or social distancing guidelines, evidenced by Whitmer’s photo ops. To clarify, this is not a condemnation of individuals exercising their right to peaceful assembly, rather it is demonstrative that ‘restrictions’ and ‘shutdowns’ are usually an arbitrary matter of political convenience.

Clarence Tabb Jr./ The Detroit News

The optics of looking like we are successfully fighting the virus through government coercion ignores the fact that individual actors are the most directly affected by the regulations that these politicians make. Labeling professions as ‘essential’ or ‘nonessential’ is another arbitrary subject. Is a cosmetic surgeon’s office really more essential than access to a place to exercise? It’s hard to say because it depends on the individual you are asking. The labeling has been done for us though, and because of that businesses like bars and gyms have no chance to open in order to stay afloat. According to ABC 11, over 1,000 bars and 1,000 gyms have been closed by the government in North Carolina alone.

Gyms and bars across the nation have struggled desperately, and a Harvard study estimates they are not alone, as over 110,000 businesses have shut down from March until May alone, and it is certainly well beyond that number now. Instead of allowing rational actors to modify their business model to better suit a ‘spread-free’ environment, their investments have been ravaged by not only the pandemic, but the state itself.

The same state we are supposed to trust to put money in our pockets and food on our tables has failed to even debate an extension of PPP benefits. Benefits we wouldn’t need if we trusted individuals to operate businesses responsibly. Of course, I’m being optimistic to believe all businesses and individuals will be responsible and safe during the pandemic. However, my lenses are no more rose-tinted than the citizens who believe the state will efficiently function for their well-being.​

We should not ignore rational decision-making simply because we have the ability to delegate to the state. Naturally, there is the risk of entering into a truly free society with individuals that might not possess reason. Though nothing is stopping an individual business owner from refusing service based on failure to comply with safety codes, and those most at risk already have an incentive to best protect themselves. It’s already difficult to truly evaluate the effectiveness of government policy, but it is painfully obvious when a certain law is created as an arbitrary weapon of political convenience.

If my assertions are wrong, I would rather err on the side of individuals being able to best adapt to their environment rather than a complete manipulation of society by the state. That being said, wear a mask, stay safe, and always exercise your rights as an individual.