OPINION:
At the risk of sounding cliche, 2020 has been rough. Between the COVID-19 pandemic, the lockdowns and the economic turmoil, Americans haven’t suffered en masse this directly in decades. As we prepare to turn the page of history, it’s worth reflecting on what lessons we learned throughout this hellish year.
First, 2020 has taught us that life can change very rapidly. As I noted in my 2019 wrap-up column for The Washington Times, the 2010s were the most prosperous decade in human history by any measure imaginable. I’m thankful, however, that I had the foresight to note in the column that “[y]esterday doesn’t predict tomorrow.” Progress isn’t always inevitable, and even prosperous societies go through hard times. That was certainly the case in 2020.
On the political level, 2020 has taught us a lesson about the power and arbitrariness of government force. Even the most ardent libertarian like myself would agree that some sort of governmental response was needed to combat the global pandemic. However, the government response that we got was confused at best and killed more than necessary at worse.
Take the bloated $900 billion stimulus package that President Trump signed this week. While some of the funds go toward direct relief to struggling Americans in the form of $600 stimulus checks and $300 per week enhanced unemployment insurance, too much of the bill is foreign aid and pork barrel spending.
From $25 million to the Kennedy Center to $10 million to gender programs in Pakistan and everything in between (almost literally), the law is the epitome of big government run amok. A smart government would focus its relief on its citizens and small businesses most in need; a global pandemic is the absolute worst time to give into special interests.
When it came to guidance, the government response was perhaps even worse than its spending. Heralded experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx regularly contradicted themselves on things like the usage of masks and broke their own travel and social distancing guidances. Of course, President Trump was no help, leading to disjointed messaging from the federal government at a time when unity was needed more than ever.
On the state and local level, governments often imposed draconian policies that were not backed by science. From closing parks in the early stages of the pandemics to banning indoor dining (the current order in D.C.), the government often made matters worse while taking little responsibility. According to data from New York state, less than 2% of COVID-19 transmissions come from bars and restaurants. Smart government policies would weigh the small risk against the huge benefit of returning millions to work in the restaurant industry who remain unemployed because of arbitrary restrictions.
Indeed, it’s important for policymakers to remember that COVID-19 is not the only sickness that humans are suffering from right now. While the media will endlessly cover COVID-19 infections and deaths, what doesn’t make the six o’clock news is the millions of families who the economic turmoil has relegated to depression, domestic abuse, unemployment and poverty for the foreseeable future.
The worst part is that we won’t fully understand all the unintended consequences for years to come, although some organizations are already projecting the effects. The United Nations estimated this month that an additional 200 million people globally will be pushed into extreme poverty as a result of the long-term consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Government certainly has a role to play in emergencies, but we can all expect better than what we’ve seen in 2020.
Despite all the bad news this year, there is still reason for hope. It’s a good thing that this pandemic happened in 2020 versus 2000. With the world at our fingertips, it is easier to connect with one another, shop, learn and be entertained than ever before. That’s not to say that the Internet is a supplement for face-by-face interaction by any means. This lesson has been underscored the most in K-12 education, where parents and teachers are starting to worry about the critical development skills that their children are not developing as effectively as they would in the classroom.
2020 is a lesson for the digital age about how important it is to put down the screens and relate on a direct, personal level with our friends, colleagues and loved ones when we can safely do so again. Too often in life, we can take for granted what we have without realizing how quickly it can disappear. The millions of people who lost loved ones during the pandemic are testament to the importance of grace and cherishment in our everyday lives. Let us never forget their sacrifice.
• Casey Given is the executive director of Young Voices.
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