COLUMN: Brian Kemp’s middle way
Gov. Gavin Newsom has put California on a total lockdown and announced several million are going to get the virus and many will die. What Newsom actually meant was that if California had not done what it was already doing and now escalating, half the state will get infected and a lot will die.
The way he said it and the way it was reported, Newsom seemed to convey that everyone was going to get sick anyway. It was a mixed message he is going to need to clarify. Otherwise, people are going to wonder what the point is. They’re already isolating and restricting travel.
Newsom’s approach now increasingly mirrors the approach of Governor Mike Dewine in Ohio. Dewine has steadily shut down parts of Ohio. Dewine went so far as to cancel elections in the state in defiance of a court order. He has gotten a lot of praise from the American media.
On the opposite end is Governor De Santis of Florida. As Spring Breakers began to pile onto the beaches and into the bars, De Santis left everything open. Only after national outrage built over videos of young people on the beaches of Florida did the Governor act. Even then, he has refused a statewide closure of beaches. If the virus spreads in Florida or the Spring Break partiers take the virus back to their own states, De Santis is going to pay a price.
In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp is starting to get attacked for not being aggressive enough. He shut down schools and universities. He had the state legislature give him extraordinary powers to shut down the state. So far he is only pushing people to do the right thing.
The Governor has taken a regionalism approach within the state of letting local officials give the orders to shut things down, then backing them up with the power of the state. As a result, places like Atlanta have shuttered most businesses and gatherings, but places like Savannah have not. Some are insisting the Governor make it statewide and mandatory. But his position is that if he does it, a lot of people will not take it seriously and law enforcement will be diverted from major tasks to keep people in their homes.
His preferred approach is to trust people to do the right thing. So far, it appears to be working. Businesses are shutting on their own. Restaurants have converted to carry out only or closed. Travel and commerce have fallen. Some would argue, however, that it is not enough. Time will tell and his actions now will define his legacy.
On a related note, let me encourage you all to work with your friends, churches, networks, etc. to adopt some local restaurants. We are now in hard times that none of us have experienced before. For a number of years, great small restaurants have been serving our communities. It is now time to step up and serve them. Adopt one if you can. Organize with your friends to all get take out from these restaurants.
When we all come out of our houses again, we are going to want these businesses to be there. I have started going to a gym, Tao Fitness, up by the Riverside Crossing Mall. I am getting the owner to bill me next month even if I cannot be there. I want to make sure he is there when I can get back. Not everyone is able to do stuff like that, but if you can, please step up now to help.
Erick Erickson is host of the Erick Erickson Show on News-Talk 940 WMAC