# Why do Republicans want to end the corona virus restrictions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 19, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128 "2020-04-19T16:17:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/61 "2020-04-20T03:48:20Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Yep sorry, I conflated the FDA with the CDC on that one small point. Since I was talking about failures at all of them, it hardly changes the point. You’re right. Both are part of Trump’s executive branch and run by his appointees. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/62 "2020-04-20T04:49:59Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You should read the posts in a thread before responding. Nobody is saying the Republicans eat babies or enslave people. They’re saying the Republicans are generally the party that’s calling for an end to lockdown policies. > > If you want to dispute that position, go ahead. If you want to defend that position, go ahead. But don’t bring your strawmen into the argument. It’s not a strawman, post #7 > [@Ulfreida](#): > > Because the freedom to rape, destroy, and plunder is a bedrock value to them. They say it differently, but that’s what is at the bottom. They hate science for being about facts when what they care about is emotions, like guns make me feel safe, brown skinned people make me feel afraid, nobody is sick that I know, and that’s all I have an interest in knowing about. Newspapers are fake news, the CDC is part of an international global conspiracy to take away our freedoms, see sentence #1. > > Simpler: they are evil idiots, the blight of planet earth. That’s the rational, reasonable answer. "the freedom to rape, destroy, and plunder is a bedrock value to them. … they are evil idiots, the blight of planet earth " Granted, nothing about eating babies or bathing in tears, but it’s plain gaslighting to deny the vicious demonization going on. > [@Velocity](#): > > I would add that a lot of the public anger at the lockdown may not necessarily be over the lockdown itself, but the way it is communicated. Fairly or unfairly, it has come across to many people as, _“Who cares if you lose your jobs or go bankrupt, you need to be locked down for the good of society overall. Suck it up and deal with it.”_ It would be interesting to see a poll of people in favor or against lockdowns that factors in the participants ability to afford food and shelter when they are out of a job. In any case it’s not as if being at risk has kept people from heigh-hoing their way to work, every day people perform dangerous jobs where they are exposed to serious injury, death or long term health problems so that they can support themselves and their families and so that others can enjoy a higher standard of living. In the end saying to people “I’m scared so you must to do as I said” is a hard sell, specially when calling those people evil idiots or worse. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/63 "2020-04-20T04:54:26Z")
Fair enough on the note, the main point then going forward is that one should notice that on this, many times the positions of the Republicans are not really understandable, simply because they are coming from a lot of ignorance relying on ignorance. Take for example the one that has Republicans praising Trump for not following what others leaders did in time of crisis, like using the power of government to organize resources to get crucial medical equipment into hospitals, the result has been a mess, the result had been graft and the tax payers money wasted well beyond to what even an unscrupulous price gouger would consider excessive. [https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2010025?utm\_source=fark&utm\_medium=website&utm\_content=link&ICID=ref\_fark](https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2010025?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark) > [@](#): > > Hours before our planned departure, we were told to expect only a quarter of our original order. We went anyway, since we desperately needed any supplies we could get. Upon arrival, we were jubilant to see pallets of KN95 respirators and face masks being unloaded. We opened several boxes, examined their contents, and hoped that this random sample would be representative of the entire shipment. Before we could send the funds by wire transfer, two Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arrived, showed their badges, and started questioning me. No, this shipment was not headed for resale or the black market. The agents checked my credentials, and I tried to convince them that the shipment of PPE was bound for hospitals. After receiving my assurances and hearing about our health system’s urgent needs, the agents let the boxes of equipment be released and loaded into the trucks. But I was soon shocked to learn that the Department of Homeland Security was still considering redirecting our PPE. Only some quick calls leading to intervention by our congressional representative prevented its seizure. I remained nervous and worried on the long drive back, feelings that did not abate until midnight, when I received the call that the PPE shipment was secured at our warehouse. > > This experience might have made for an entertaining tale at a cocktail party, had the success of our mission not been so critical. Did I foresee, as a health-system leader working in a rich, highly developed country with state-of-the-art science and technology and incredible talent, that my organization would ever be faced with such a set of circumstances? Of course not. Yet when encountering the severe constraints that attend this pandemic, we must leave no stone unturned to give our health care teams and our patients a fighting chance. This is the unfortunate reality we face in the time of Covid-19. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/64 "2020-04-20T04:57:04Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > That’s good to hear. I read and participate in message boards on both the right and the left, and I see both sides claiming that the other side are the ones who are irrational and screwing up. The truth is, people are people. There are assholes and idiots everywhere, and great people everywhere. Ninety percent of the stupidity and lies in American politics comes from the Republicans. And I’m being generous to them. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/65 "2020-04-20T04:58:28Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > shortened > … > 2. Another point they make is that the ‘movers and shakers’ making decisions about when to open up are generally in a position where the lockdown doesn’t really hurt them that much. If you’re a keyboard warrior in your spare time and a government office worker, chances are you’re still getting your salary and you’re still doing the same things you did before the lockdown. If you’re a media person or a politician you can generally keep working. To these people, the cost/benefit of a lockdown looks a lot different than someone in, say Texas with four unruly kids in the house, a mortgage payment due, no money for food, and everything you do for fun and relaxation involves being outdoors. Then they go out to a park with their kid and get fined $800, despite the fact that they don’t know anyone who is sick and their whole community only has a handful of cases. > … People who bust their ass all day every day to make a living generally don’t have the time or interest to expostulate endlessly on the internet; they are outside the bubble and people here should have the decency of acknowledging that and also that propitiating a depression by overreacting will hurt those people more than the rich. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/66 "2020-04-20T05:05:00Z")
[According to a Morning Consult poll:](https://morningconsult.com/2020/03/25/coronavirus-national-quarantine-trump/) > [@](#): > > The survey of 1,996 registered voters, conducted March 20-22, finds roughly 3 in 4 voters back a national quarantine, in which all public activity, save for essential travel such as trips to the grocery store and pharmacy, would be prohibited. There’s also a breakdown by party, and for ‘generation’. One can guess that the GenZ and Millenial cohort are more apt to be lacking the ability to afford food and shelter when out of a job (being younger and all), and they both approve of quarantine at the rate of 73%. In sum, unless that poll is wildly wrong, a large majority are _not_ in favor of relaxing quarantine, and in many states they’d like stricter measures in place. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/67 "2020-04-20T05:22:02Z")
> [@Ale](#): > > People who bust their ass all day every day to make a living generally don’t have the time or interest to expostulate endlessly on the internet; they are outside the bubble and people here should have the decency of acknowledging that and also that propitiating a depression by overreacting will hurt those people more than the rich. I think the Point there was what the Republicans propose as being understandable not that the poster did agree 100% with that; again, when it is going against science and expert advice what the Republicans propose is not really understandable. > **[Economists are united in support of the coronavirus lockdown](https://www.ft.com/content/e593e7d4-b82a-4bf9-8497-426eee43bcbc)** > > Abandoning stringent measures now will lead to worse damage in the long term, they believe > [@](#): > > Economists are united in support of the coronavirus lockdown > Abandoning stringent measures now will lead to worse damage in the long term, they believe > [@](#): > > Some ask whether the cure might be worse than the disease. But the reply from economists is a resounding “no”. > > “In times of great uncertainty, most economists think the government should intervene,” said Rachel Griffith, president of the UK’s Royal Economic Society and professor of economics at the University of Manchester. > > Surveys show a striking degree of consensus among top economists in favour of the lockdowns. > > The IGM Economic Experts Panel’s latest survey of top US macroeconomists asked for their view of the statement “Abandoning severe lockdowns at a time when the likelihood of a resurgence in infections remains high will lead to greater total economic damage than sustaining the lockdowns to eliminate the resurgence risk”. Eighty per cent of the panel agreed, the rest were uncertain or did not respond. Not a single expert disagreed. > > In Europe, 65 per cent of respondents agreed that “severe lockdowns — including closing non-essential businesses and strict limitations on people’s movement — are likely to be better for the economy in the medium term than less aggressive measures”. Only 4 per cent disagreed. > > “Clearly there is a cost” to the lockdowns, said Ms Griffith, “but what is the counterfactual? The cost of not containing the virus would be greater — even economically.” Not only was saving lives inherently valuable, but fear of contagion would cause economic disruption even in the absence of government action, she explained. Many Republicans in the highest levels of power are ignoring what needs to be done too, as in having more testing available to identify where is that ending restrictions will be ok. Unfortunately, I have seen reports were the testing has also been mired in the same insane free for all for equipment that will continue to waste taxpayer money in the most affected states and their time. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/68 "2020-04-20T05:27:11Z")
The answer is simple. Trump wants to start having his Nuremberg-esque rallies again. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/69 "2020-04-20T06:04:32Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > The answer is simple. > > Trump wants to start having his Nuremberg-esque rallies again. That may be a factor, but I do think the one about allowing graft at the highest levels is easier to continue as long as chaos is, the most effective way to get cronies and future kickback supporters to continue in the gravy train of money made with the health equipment is to end restrictions sooner. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/70 "2020-04-20T06:06:42Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > And the ironic part of this is, _if the situation is dealt with succesfully_, then the \*only \*thing a lot of the country will have _felt directly in their lives_ will have been the economic disruption. They’ll be propagandized to the effect of, it was never going to be that bad, the eggheads made your shop go bankrupt and your retirement fund fall by half for nothing. > > (As to the hotspots… well, what would you expect from filthy overcrowded corrupt places where of course things would go bad, you know how dirty and irresponsible _Those People_ are and what inept leaders they elect.) Yes, I think that if the first big hot spot had been some small town in Kansas or Kentucky the “open the country back up now!” people would be a little more subdued because it would have shown anywhere can get hit. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/71 "2020-04-20T17:39:24Z")
I think it’s important to start the conversation of when to end the restrictions. Now is too early IMO but I don’t think we should wait until the vaccine is ready either. Personally I’m employed full-time working from home so the restrictions are a minor inconvenience for me but it’s been devastating to the small business owners in the community I live in. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/72 "2020-04-20T18:55:17Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Otherwise they are just as free to worship whatever they choose as they were before. Absolutely NOTHING in any Abrahamic religion _requires_ people to gather together in massive, jammed together groups every Sunday. How do I take the Eucharist on-line? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/73 "2020-04-20T19:14:58Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > How do I take the Eucharist on-line? You can take Communion one on one. Not “people to gather together in massive, jammed together groups every Sunday” There are online Mass: [http://www.usccb.org/about/communications/resources-for-catholics-at-home-during-covid-19.cfm](http://www.usccb.org/about/communications/resources-for-catholics-at-home-during-covid-19.cfm) Not to mention:Pope Francis has reminded the faithful that “spiritual Communion” - inviting Jesus into one’s heart and soul when receiving the actual sacrament isn’t possible - is part of Catholic tradition. > **[Coronavirus revives the old, ushers in the new in Catholic practice](https://cruxnow.com/covid-19/2020/03/coronavirus-revives-the-old-ushers-in-the-new-in-catholic-practice)** > > With increasing numbers of people confined at home with no access to Mass or confession, pastors everywhere, Pope Francis included, have turned to some little-known, or at least little-used, concepts and practices, including “spiritual communion,”... So, the \*Pope personally \*has said you dont need to gather and has said to stay home. ---
**Author:** ![Kovitlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kovitlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kovitlac)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/74 "2020-04-20T19:17:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You should read the posts in a thread before responding. Nobody is saying the Republicans eat babies or enslave people. They’re saying the Republicans are generally the party that’s calling for an end to lockdown policies. > > If you want to dispute that position, go ahead. If you want to defend that position, go ahead. But don’t bring your strawmen into the argument. Oh please. This thread is littered with the likes of, “Republican don’t listen to science! They’re all rich assholes who just want the poor to starve anyway! They want to see people die!” I didn’t even have to read most of the thread to get that impression. I also figured that’d be the case since that’s all you see in any, “Why do Republicans…” posts (because Republicans are all identical). ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/75 "2020-04-20T19:24:28Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You can take Communion one on one. > Not “people to gather together in massive, jammed together groups every Sunday” > > There are online Mass: > [http://www.usccb.org/about/communications/resources-for-catholics-at-home-during-covid-19.cfm](http://www.usccb.org/about/communications/resources-for-catholics-at-home-during-covid-19.cfm) > > Not to mention:Pope Francis has reminded the faithful that “spiritual Communion” - inviting Jesus into one’s heart and soul when receiving the actual sacrament isn’t possible - is part of Catholic tradition. > > [Coronavirus revives the old, ushers in the new in Catholic practice | Crux](https://cruxnow.com/covid-19/2020/03/coronavirus-revives-the-old-ushers-in-the-new-in-catholic-practice/) > > So, the \*Pope personally \*has said you dont need to gather and has said to stay home. Interesting, but since the Bishop of Rome is not in communion with my church, not particularly relevant. The gathering of the community for communal worship, as part of the Eucharist, has always been part of our liturgy. ---
**Author:** ![Kovitlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kovitlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kovitlac)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/76 "2020-04-20T19:26:40Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > It’s really simple: > > People can continue to worship IF they don’t gather in groups in such a manner as to spread disease. > > Otherwise they are just as free to worship whatever they choose as they were before. Absolutely NOTHING in any Abrahamic religion _requires_ people to gather together in massive, jammed together groups every Sunday. > You want to take away MY freedom to make MY choice. MY choice is to comply with medical instructions because _I want to live_. I do not want to die of this. I reject your notion that your freedom is worth more than the lives of other people. > > What good is “freedom” if it kills me? The constitution, the bill of rights, and society are not and should not be a suicide pact. I agree with you. As much as I am 100% for religious freedom, churches are NOT being targeted. Churches, movie theaters, community theaters, retail stores - all these places are forced to close, or at least not allow groups of people at once. Nothing is stopping a church from streaming its services or mailing programs to congregation members. I have a dad and a cousin who are lamenting how targeted churches are, and it boggles my mind how they justify that opinion. I sympathize with those are miss church, but they will open back up again when everywhere else is allowed to. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/77 "2020-04-20T19:29:39Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Interesting, but since the Bishop of Rome is not in communion with my church, not particularly relevant. > > The gathering of the community for communal worship, as part of the Eucharist, has always been part of our liturgy. Which Church then, since the Episcopalian church has similar solutions. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/78 "2020-04-20T19:53:49Z")
Anglican. But in any event, you’re confusing two different issues, the theological issue, and the pragmatic response to the current situation. In my comment, I was responding to **Broomstick’s** comment that there is nothing in the Abrahamic religions which requires communal worship. I think that is a very sweeping claim, and not sustainable. I can’t speak to Judaism or Islam, but certainly sacramental theology in some strands of Christianity emphasise that communal worship is a key aspect of religion. In particular, the Eucharist is normally considered a communal act of worship. Now, as a pragmatic approach to the problem, churches can take measures such as that suggested by the Bishop of Rome and other churches, but that is a different issue from the statement **Broomstick** made, which runs counter to sacramental theology in many strands of Christianity. Regular communal worship is a core element of sacramental theology. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/79 "2020-04-20T19:57:45Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Anglican. > > But in any event, you’re confusing two different issues, the theological issue, and the pragmatic response to the current situation. > . Nope, they also are forward thinking and have similar guidance: [https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/Guidance%20on%20Spiritual%20Communion%20and%20Coronavirus.pdf](https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/Guidance%20on%20Spiritual%20Communion%20and%20Coronavirus.pdf) > **[Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance | The Church of England](https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance)** > > Guidance and advice on COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus, for churches and parishes. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/80 "2020-04-20T20:03:04Z")
Again, since I’m not CofE, that’s of interest, certainly, but not binding. And again, you’re responding to the pragmatic issue; temporary allowances, in light of current situations. I’m responding to **Broomstick’s** statement of theology. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128.md?page=5)