# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/141 "2020-04-27T21:07:58Z")
I’m not a Republican, but I do share this part of a common Republican belief, so I think I’m qualified to post on it: Republicans tend to trust non-governmental institutions a lot more than Democrats. They’re more likely to think that churches and business and local organizations and individuals are going to figure things out. In the extreme, this comes off as anti-authority, anti-intellectual, anti-science. And to _some extent_ it is a self-fulfilling prophecy that if you elect people who claim government is ineffective, they are ideologically opposed to making government effective. But in many respects, they are right. There are a lot of problems that government is not a good solution to. And even in this case, they were right about lots of things. The NBA, the Vegas resorts, the ski resorts, Broadway all shut down _before_ a government edict. They were ahead of the curve! WHO and CDC were telling us _for weeks_ not to wear masks. I do worry that in this particular case, those instincts may be disastrous. Slow moving problems and linear problems are well-suited to experimentation and decentralized solutions. Exponential problems are not. By the time a local church realizes things are a problem in their area, a bunch of their congregants are going to die. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/142 "2020-04-27T21:51:58Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Republicans tend to trust non-governmental institutions a lot more than Democrats. They’re more likely to think that churches and business and local organizations and individuals are going to figure things out. But for some reason they don’t trust universities. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/143 "2020-04-27T22:26:48Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > But for some reason they don’t trust universities. Sure, just as liberal people tend to not trust churches (I say this as a somewhat moderate liberal who doesn’t really trust churches). ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/144 "2020-04-27T23:32:19Z")
> [@Kearsen1](#): > > And next you’ll tell them that Democrats do not do this, but if they do it’s because the Pubbies are actually wrong and shouldn’t be listened to anyway, am I right? The left thinks that Republicans are immoral people when they advocate for locking children in cages away from their parents for the crime of being brought to the USA. Republicans think that Democrats are evil and anti-christ worshippers when they advocate for access to healthcare for all, or good education for all of the people, not just the wealthy. So I guess they ARE just both the same. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/145 "2020-04-28T00:49:43Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I don’t think me or anyone else in the thread has said any such thing. The thread is “Why do Republicans want to end the corona virus restrictions?” and my answer is that Republicans, generally, do not like government intrusion. When the government tells me that I must stay at home, my first reaction is to recoil and protest against that, and then continually think that we must have a better solution than that. So something like ending restrictions and getting herd immunity will instinctively get a much more positive response from a Republican for that reason alone. But this isn’t some new Liberal power grab. Quarantines go back at least as far as the [revolution.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1775%E2%80%931782_North_American_smallpox_epidemic) The government using its authority to enforce public health regulations has been one of its fundamental roles throughout history. The only reason it feels extreme is that its been so long since we had a severe health crisis like this, and that modern transportation means its hitting everywhere at once. > [@UltraVires](#): > > My impression is that when Democrats hear a decree that you must stay home, their first reaction is that because the government said so then there must be some real substance to that decree … Actually no. Democrats hear a decree to stay home and think there must be some sense to it because epidemiologists and expert [economists](https://www.kunc.org/post/university-wyoming-economists-find-52-trillion-benefit-staying-home#stream/0) say that that is the best course of action. On to the OP, I also wonder if there is a bit of blame avoidance either calculated or instinctive on the part of Republican politicians. The deaths caused by the Covid-19 are not directly caused by any policy action, they may be exacerbated by a failure to act but the direct cause is a natural phenomenon. On the other hand, economic hardship is a direct consequence of government enforced shutdown. So that can be laid at their feet. This is basically the trolley problem all over again. A million deaths on one side of the track and a million job losses on the other side. But to switch from the deaths to the job losses requires actively inflicting those losses. ETA Disclaimer: the numbers above are poetic license and not meant to reflect actual predicted outcomes. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/146 "2020-04-28T02:18:14Z")
Ike (that’s General of the Armies, Columbia U. president, and POTUS Eisenhower) [nailed it](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/eisenhower-political-party-moral/): _“If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power.”_ Sickening citizens by slashing environmental protections and medical services is not moral. Disenfranchisement of citizens and voter suppression is not moral. Ignoring physical reality is not moral. Today’s GOP are indeed a gang of thugs as described by the leader they would now despise. Their current party leader said there are nice Nazis and Klansmen. Fuck that. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/147 "2020-04-28T02:40:46Z")
For republicans it’s now a matter of timing. If the country can somehow get to the point where coronavirus becomes old news, where there are fewer and fewer COVID -19 deaths and new cases, maybe, just maybe, the story fades. They can then shift the focus back on the economy. Sure, it’s shitty now but they can have a debate if the focus goes back to opening up more of the economy and who gets the government handouts: brown people or white small business owners. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/148 "2020-04-28T02:44:18Z")
> [@Kearsen1](#): > > This conservative wants to end the stay at home work order because it isn’t sustainable. Now I am ok will all kinds of restrictions (wear face mask, stay 6’ away, wash hands etc) but people have got to get back to work. I and my family all are lucky enough to have jobs that we can do from home, a lot of others do not, and a lot of other industries business models are failing because they also CANNOT > > I will also attribute it to a false belief that this may be a chicken little moment also but I lack faith in any government entity telling me what is best for me or my family. I’d rather make those calls myself. See, I get it. I disagree like hell, but I don’t think this is batshit crazy. I do think that getting out in the streets, hoisting a confederate flag, and holding big signs saying Trump 2020 is kinda batshit, though. But I think even some democrat-leaning voters are mildly skeptical of whether we really have to live weeks and months on-end locked in our basements and binging on Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/149 "2020-04-28T07:00:20Z")
> [@Kearsen1](#): > > And next you’ll tell them that Democrats do not do this, but if they do it’s because the Pubbies are actually wrong and shouldn’t be listened to anyway, am I right? You do remember that Pelosi negotiated with the White House on the stimulus bill, right? She cut McConnell out, but McConnell is the we do not negotiate guy, so he cut himself out. ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Kearsen1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen1)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/150 "2020-04-28T13:31:42Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > You do remember that Pelosi negotiated with the White House on the stimulus bill, right? She cut McConnell out, but McConnell is the we do not negotiate guy, so he cut himself out. This stuff writes itself. She cut him out but he did it himself. Kinda like the bullshit hold up of that same stimulus bill, for partisan reason. Did she do that too? I am more than willing to call out that partisan bullshit from both parties, are you? I somehow doubt it ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Kearsen1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen1)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/151 "2020-04-28T13:37:11Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > See, I get it. I disagree like hell, but I don’t think this is batshit crazy. > > I do think that getting out in the streets, hoisting a confederate flag, and holding big signs saying Trump 2020 is kinda batshit, though. > > But I think even some democrat-leaning voters are mildly skeptical of whether we really have to live weeks and months on-end locked in our basements and binging on Netflix. I think we can all (here) agree that getting out in public to wave a flag is batshit. But let that shit slide, those are the Darwin award winners. The bottom line is the goal posts have been moving the entire time. First it was flatten the curve, it’s pretty flat, now it’s we can’t let anyone contact this virus. The stay home order is simply unsustainable, we need a plan to get out from under that order. Gov Abbott is green lighting people to go back to work on Friday (May 1st with all sorts of safety protocol. Masks, distancing, 25% capacity of restaurants etc ,but it is the right call. Even with that done, I can almost guarantee that you see very little movement at first. Also the right call. ---
**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 28, 2020, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/152 "2020-04-28T15:12:17Z")
> [@Kearsen1](#): > > The bottom line is the goal posts have been moving the entire time. First it was flatten the curve, it’s pretty flat, now it’s we can’t let anyone contact this virus. The stay home order is simply unsustainable, we need a plan to get out from under that order. Well, duh. If there ever was an issue where the goals change it is a pandemic. Thanks to the lockdown an overwhelming situation in some states health care systems was avoided, and the bit about trying to prevent people from getting the virus follows if some who are not ready really do follow with a dismissal of the stay at home orders. > **[Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces team to restart the economy, loosens some...](https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/17/texas-reopening-greg-abbott-coronavirus/)** > > The reopening will happen in phases, Abbott said, and will be guided by data and doctors. > [@](#): > > Democrats said they are tired of waiting for Abbott’s promises of more testing to come to fruition. During a conference call after Abbott’s news conference, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, told reporters that is is hard to “flatten the curve when our leaders have been so far behind it,” accusing Abbott of first relying on local leaders to address the coronavirus response before finally taking statewide action. > > “We’re concerned about the life and the livelihood of Texans,” Castro said. “Throughout the response, Abbott has said, ‘More tests are coming,’ but they still haven’t come.” > > Democrats were also quick to note that Abbott’s task force does not include any local officials, whom Abbott had initially deferred to in enacting policies to contain the coronavirus. One of those officials, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, responded to Abbott’s news conference with a statement urging local, state and federal officials to work together to restore the economy in a responsible way. > > “Several of the things mentioned by the Governor today were already being discussed by our team in Dallas County such as loosening the restrictions on some surgeries and ‘retail to go,’” Jenkins said. “Others, like opening movie theaters and restaurants are not businesses we contemplate being in the first group of businesses to be opened for in person experience.” > > In naming the leaders of the task force, Abbott turned to two men with deep experience in and around business and state government. Huffines, the chair, previously served as Central and South Texas chairman of PlainsCapital Bank in Austin. From 2003-10, he served on the University of Texas System Board of Regents, including two stints as chair. > > Toomey, who will be the top full-time staffer for the group, is best known as a close adviser to former Gov. Rick Perry, for whom he was chief of staff. Toomey, a former state representative, also was chief of staff to ex-Gov. Bill Clements. Toomey is a partner at Texas Lobby Group, though Abbott spokesman John Wittman said Toomey has deregistered as a lobbyist to join the task force. > > Abbott’s news conference came as the number of coronavirus cases in Texas climbed to at least 17,371, including 428 deaths, according to the latest numbers from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Out of Texas’ 254 counties, 192 are reporting cases. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/153 "2020-04-28T15:46:15Z")
> [@Kearsen1](#): > > This conservative wants to end the stay at home work order because it isn’t sustainable. Now I am ok will all kinds of restrictions (wear face mask, stay 6’ away, wash hands etc) but people have got to get back to work. I and my family all are lucky enough to have jobs that we can do from home, a lot of others do not, and a lot of other industries business models are failing because they also CANNOT. I think that the belief that if governments end stay home orders, that the economy will come roaring back is mostly incorrect. On the margin, there are definitely some businesses that will be able to open up meaningfully, but a lot of them won’t, or won’t for very long. Airlines were never forced to close, but air travel is down like 95% year over year. Restaurant reservations cratered before restaurants were forced to close. Shutdown orders change things _a little_ at the margin, but the primary reason for economic slowdown is _the virus_. ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Kearsen1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen1)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/154 "2020-04-28T16:08:59Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > I think that the belief that if governments end stay home orders, that the economy will come roaring back is mostly incorrect. > > On the margin, there are definitely some businesses that will be able to open up meaningfully, but a lot of them won’t, or won’t for very long. > > Airlines were never forced to close, but air travel is down like 95% year over year. Restaurant reservations cratered before restaurants were forced to close. > > Shutdown orders change things _a little_ at the margin, but the primary reason for economic slowdown is _the virus_. Roaring back? Of course not. Start a slow recovery? Yes. The sooner you start the recovery the better for us economically, ALL OF US. And I am not Trump nor am I running for election. ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Kearsen1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen1)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/155 "2020-04-28T16:12:05Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Well, duh. > > If there ever was an issue where the goals change it is a pandemic. Thanks to the lockdown an overwhelming situation in some states health care systems was avoided, and the bit about trying to prevent people from getting the virus follows if some who are not ready really do follow with a dismissal of the stay at home orders. > > [Texas reopening: Greg Abbott plans to restart economy after coronavirus | The Texas Tribune](https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/17/texas-reopening-greg-abbott-coronavirus/) Let me ask you a question When I first delegate things to my supervisory staff and they don’t get done or they don’t get done how I want them done, my NEXT step is to do it myself or create a company wide policy that WILL get done. So why would he, NOW, after he had to take steps because the “local” guys weren’t cutting the mustard, add them to some council that he would listen to? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/156 "2020-04-28T16:21:43Z")
> [@Kearsen1](#): > > Roaring back? Of course not. Start a slow recovery? Yes. The sooner you start the recovery the better for us economically, ALL OF US. > > And I am not Trump nor am I running for election. Why would you expect a “slow recovery” when we will be doing nothing to curtail the spread of the virus? If we were ready to begin heavily testing and contact tracing, I’d agree with you, but it seems clear that if we open up without any of those precautions we will not see a “slow recovery” but rather a rapid boom in the number of sick people. ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Kearsen1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen1)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/157 "2020-04-28T16:49:27Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Why would you expect a “slow recovery” when we will be doing nothing to curtail the spread of the virus? If we were ready to begin heavily testing and contact tracing, I’d agree with you, but it seems clear that if we open up without any of those precautions we will not see a “slow recovery” but rather a rapid boom in the number of sick people. Why would you assume that, the safety protocols are still in place. Social distancing, masks, limited congregations etc? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/158 "2020-04-28T16:57:59Z")
> [@Kearsen1](#): > > Why would you assume that, the safety protocols are still in place. Social distancing, masks, limited congregations etc? And if you believe people will follow these protocols once Trump and their governors tell them to reopen, I have beachfront property in Nebraska to sell you. ---
**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 28, 2020, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/159 "2020-04-28T17:05:16Z")
> [@Kearsen1](#): > > Let me ask you a question > > When I first delegate things to my supervisory staff and they don’t get done or they don’t get done how I want them done, my NEXT step is to do it myself or create a company wide policy that WILL get done. > > So why would he, NOW, after he had to take steps because the “local” guys weren’t cutting the mustard, add them to some council that he would listen to? This really sounds like assuming that the current governor has no responsibility, just like the ones at higher levels than he. Your reply also makes it sound as if the “local” guys had the power to override what the Governor orders, he currently thinks that the the locals can’t and AFAIK many do agree that that is the case. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128/160 "2020-04-28T17:12:17Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > And if you believe people will follow these protocols once Trump and their governors tell them to reopen, I have beachfront property in Nebraska to sell you. And by the way even right here in California where the state is still locked down, idiots flooded the beaches last weekend. I fear numbers will skyrocket in the next couple weeks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-want-to-end-the-corona-virus-restrictions/852128.md?page=9)