This article is part of a pro-con package. To read the con side, click here.
“That woman from Michigan.”
“You know who I’m talking about.”
“Whitler.”
These names and more all to describe Michigan’s Democratic Governor, Gretchen Whitmer. Not only are these names coming from citizens of the state that voted her in, but the lack of respect even goes as far up as the head of our country: President Donald Trump.
Since releasing her “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, Whitmer has experienced significant backlash all around the state. The order shut down all non-essential travel and business in the state of Michigan in order to help flatten the curve of COVID-19. Though we cannot totally eradicate the disease right now, slowing down the spread allows hospitals and health care facilities not to be so overwhelmed with cases.
Among the original shut downs were gyms, dining in at restaurants, visiting family members not in your home, taking out a motorized boat, lawn care services and selling home-improvement materials at big-box stores. The last of which seems to have struck a chord with many Michigan residents. They claim that since they are already going to the store to buy “essential” items, they should be able to buy “non-essentials” as well.
Shuttering so many Michigan businesses and events seems drastic or overkill and many worry about the effect this time will have on the economy. But the executive directives that shut the state down, and the woman who signed the directives, are saving Michigan lives.
After all, if everyone gets sick and innumerable people die from COVID-19, how are we expected to have an economy at all?
According to a University of Michigan study published on March 31, strong social-distancing guidelines (much like the ones that Governor Whitmer implemented) can reduce hospital-bound cases of COVID-19 by up to 65%.
Talk about flattening the curve.
Again, though not everyone can be saved, the reduced admissions into hospitals for COVID-19 treatment allows hospitals to save on desperately needed personal protective equipment (PPE), control the outbreak and mitigate the amount of deaths.
Because there is no current cure or vaccine against COVID-19, our only solution at this point in time is to flatten the curve by social distancing. One study from Harvard scientists published on April 14 says that without a cure or a vaccine we could be having to socially distance until 2022.
Until we have a better solution, it’s important not to let up on the only solution we have at this time. Unfortunately (at least for right now), that means no hair cuts, no birthday parties and no hanging out with your boyfriend that doesn’t live with you.
“Operation Gridlock” was the last show of rebellion over Whitmer and her social distancing guidelines. During it, massive amounts of people gathered in the streets around the capital-in their cars and out-hoping to force the governor to hear them and reopen some of the non-essential businesses in Michigan.
Though she may have heard them, Whitmer did not feel pressured to bow to their commands.
What it actually did was block an ambulance going to a Level I trauma center, block an exit to that hospital, promoted breaking of social distancing and provided time to tout political signs (both pro-Trump and anti-Whitmer).
Another smaller movement dubbed “Operation Gridlock 2.0” occurred April 30 with demonstrators (most without masks and some with guns) storming the state capital building.
Michigan Senator Dayna Polehanki tweeted, “Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bullet proof vests are wearing them.”
It’s hard to be locked in a house only to be let out to go to the grocery store and back every so often. It’s harder that seniors are missing so many of the things that we looked forward to our whole lives. It’s hardest that the economy is in the toilet right now.
For many, the biggest concern is that the economy will be in shambles when we return to normalcy.
But to that I ask, “At what price point is a life worth?”
I am not expecting nor am I asking anyone to love Governor Gretchen Whitmer. I know that many have differing views than us and I 100% respect that. But what I do ask is that people, especially Michigan residents, begin to give her a little respect. Just because you don’t love Whitmer or you don’t believe in COVID-19, doesn’t mean that you should ruin the progress being made for the rest of us or blatantly disregard the laws put in place for your safety.
Please continue to social distance and follow all Stay Home, Stay Safe guidelines in order to stop the spread and allow us to return to life as soon as possible and with as many members of our community as possible. Social distancing is so much more effective when we all do it, not just some of us.
We are in this together.
