[This post is an updated rewriting of Blue States, Red States and When It Makes Sense to Ease the Lockdown. Plus, the table is new.]
The progressive left tends to view Republicans as a bunch of dupes, demons, and dummies. Hence, the widespread condemnation of Republican governors who are easing lockdown restrictions in their states. As one opinionator puts it:
“Naturally, Republicans are already pushing to ease lockdown measures…Their stubborn childishness and ideological zealotry, aside from getting people killed, will likely mean lockdown measures need to last much longer than they otherwise would.” Ryan Cooper/The Week
Before assuming Republican governors are up to no good, I suggest making a good-faith effort to understand their point of view. For example, why would the governors be more concerned about their local economies than stemming the viral tide? Here’s a clue:
Note: Death Rates are as of May 5, 2020. Source: Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_2020_coronavirus_pandemic_in_the_United_States Accessed on May 5, 2020
Bottom line: The virus leaves death and devastation in its wake, but so does the lockdown. Downplaying the effects of shutting down schools and the economy is just as callous as downplaying the suffering of the infected. It makes sense that Republican governors are moving more quickly to open their economies, given their per capita Covid-19 mortality rate is so much lower than the mortality rate of states with Democrat governors. Compassionate public policy is always a balancing act.