Dona Ana County Commission Shouldn't Adopt Republican Resolution Pressing for Premature Relaxation of Health Orders

I oppose the Republican draft resolution (introduced in several counties) pushing New Mexico to reopen small businesses prematurely.

I agree thoroughly with the resolution’s “WHEREAS, small businesses have long been recognized as the backbone of New Mexico’s economy.” I’d strengthen it to, “WHEREAS, small businesses are the lifeblood of both our economy and our community.” 

 

But I’d also insert: “WHEREAS, facing a pandemic, by quickly imposing unpleasant but necessary restrictions on citizens and businesses alike, the Governor of New Mexico, local government entities in Doña Ana County, and the citizens of this county have managed to minimize the incidence of the virus here and saved some unknown number of lives.” 

 

One proposed “WHEREAS” notes that “the modeling of the spread of COVID-19 has changed multiple times,” usually decreasing the expected death toll. Modeling changes because this is a novel coronavirus, and we keep learning more; scientists aren’t ideologues, but adjust thinking to reflect events; and we’ve instituted stringent health orders that are intended to diminish the death toll. 

 

If we were paddling around in a piranha-filled river, safely staying in the boat, would we conclude after 20 minutes without injury that the danger was a bunch of partisan nonsense – and take a swim?

This should not be a partisan issue. Several Republican governors have acted to protect their populations. But Mr. Trump sees everything solely in terms of how it can make him wealthier or more popular. 

 

I’m no scientist – and even scientists don’t know exactly what’s next. I do have some ideas where to look for answers: to well-respected and sensible-sounding doctors like Anthony Fauci and our own David Scrase, and to other epidemiologists. Not to Steve Pearce, with his long history of bringing counterfeit “experts” to congressional hearings. Nor to Trump, who keeps pushing an unproven and dangerous drug in which he has a financial interest – and fired an experienced federal doctor for trying to test and evaluate that drug like any other. 

 

Maybe look to folks evaluating evidence and making decisions they themselves don’t like. One exception to the rule against hearsay trial testimony is an “admission against interest.” (If you haven’t gone outdoors yet today, who’re you going to listen to: the umbrella salesperson who says it’s raining cats and dogs – or the one who says it isn’t?) No politician wants to make the hard decisions many governors, from both political parties, have made this spring. Every President wants to make the economy hum like a BMW – and tell you it is when it isn’t.

In Wednesday’s long [virtual] press conference, Gov. Lujan-Grisham and two cabinet members discussed these issues and took questions. At some point I realized how glad I was that I was not watching Steve Pearce hold a Trumpish press conference. Elections have consequences. Last fall’s gubernatorial election, frankly, saved some number of New Mexicans’ lives. Yeah, most who’d have died are old or unwell; but someone loves each of ‘em. 

 

Gov. Lujan-Grisham and Dr. Scrase cited a lot of facts and sources, expressed their terribly mixed feelings about what they’re having to do, and sounded open to new ideas. By contrast, the petty politicians who introduced this resolution pressuring the Governor are clearly seeking small-business owners’ votes, without offering evidence or substantively helping small-business. (More promising is the idea of using interest from the county’s “hospital account” to offer real help.)

Let’s stay the course until reliable scientific evidence suggests otherwise.

                                                    – 30 --

[The above column appeared this morning, Sunday, 26 April, 2020, in the Las Cruces Sun-News, as well as on the newspaper's website the newspaper's website and on KRWG's website.  A radio commentary version will air during the week on both KRWG and KTAL, 101.5 FM (www.lccommunityradio.org) and will be available on demand at KRWG's site.]

[As of Sunday, the resolution proposed by Commissioner Isabella Solis has been modified extensively to conform better with the facts and with local citizens' desire at this point to "reopen" in a way that still prioritizes safety.  The Commission is scheduled to vote Tuesday morning, and citizens can attend the meeting (though that's discouraged) or comment by emailing or calling your county commissioner, or all the county commissioners.]

[A New York Times piece Friday was headed "New Mexico showed how a state can fight the coronavirus with aggressive social distancing, free testing and scientific expertise. But contagion threats are building."  It noted that we have "fewer hospital beds per capita than nearly every other state, . . . a rapidly aging population and widespread poverty . . . [and widespread] underlying medical conditions that are widespread in New Mexico that heighten the risk of dying from Covid-19, [yet] for the moment, at least — with a coronavirus death rate that is lower than neighboring states like Colorado and Oklahoma."]

 [Meanwhile, it's delightful that, just weeks after Dr. Fauci embarrassedly responded (to a TV interviewer's question as to who should play him in the movie) that if someone had to do it, how about Brad Pitt -- Brad Pitt played him in last night's Saturday Night Live -- a three-minute bit three-minute bit that's worth a listen.]