Kevin Duffy on the government-as-protector narrative

The narrative that really bothers me is that we’re all a bunch of dumbasses and without the government herding us around we’d die by the hundreds of thousands.  I think it’s helpful to consider how we could respond to something like a pandemic without our government masters bossing us around.  Most people are wired to believe chaos would ensue.  Well, when I look at Wall Street in free fall, my Facebook page showing people in long lines in grocery stores, or the local news interviewing small business owners in deep trouble and travelers who were stuck in Europe and had to pay thousands of dollars just to return home due to Trump’s travel ban, it appears that chaos already has ensued.

The evidence is pretty clear that if you’re under 50 or so and don’t have a compromised immune system, your risk to Covid-19 is minimal – probably not much greater than getting on an airplane.  Live your life and forget about it.  There’s probably a ton of spare capacity on cruise ships.  Fill them with young people on an extended spring break!  If you’re at risk, try to limit your exposure to those people who are living their lives without hesitation.  If you’re in the first group and come in contact with the second group, take precautions.  

Everyone’s situation is unique with its own set of tradeoffs.  Let people make those decisions on their own.  And guess what?  By taking responsibility and making those decisions, people will become more critical, independent thinkers better able to handle the next crisis… and not reflexively go crying to the authorities for protection.

~ Kevin Duffy, note to friend, March 13, 2020