In the current situation, we are all stressed, jobs are on the line, pay is lessened, the economy in danger, health concerns abound, and isolation and modification of normal human behaviors are driving us all further and further down a path where, maybe, madness lies. Thus I thought it might be helpful to meditate on some legitimate and illegitimate arguments regarding the Coronavirus shutdown.
1. My financial situation / my business / my employees / my family / my sanity / my health is suffering. I need and want to work.
Short Response: Legitimate.
Longer Response: We are citizens, not subjects, and our concerns are legitimate. As long as you and your workplace follow official medical guidance, this should be made possible.
2. I will still support all possible hygienic and distancing measures, as medically required to curb the infection.
Short Response: Legitimate.
Longer Response: The virus is real, the dead are real, and the better we fight it, the better we avoid more health problems and more economic damage. Public health and economy are interrelated. If we feel safe, we will agree to participate in the economy. If we feel unsafe, we will not agree to it – we may be forced to, but that undermines both public safety and trust.
3. I can work from home, and I should be able to continue to do so.
Short Response: Probably Legitimate.
Longer Response: We have a chance here to revisit outdated models of demonstrating physical presence when working. Remote work, if possible and desired by the employee, saves on commuting costs, time, and can increase safety. We should use that opportunity as it presents itself.
4. Be cautious about indoors, but let people be outside. Open the parks, and let people sit outside at restaurants.
Short Response: Probably Legitimate.
Longer Response: This agrees with the science. However, maintain distances, beware of slipstreams, and ideally, also wear a mask outdoors. Definitely wear a mask indoors. Also be careful about central air systems.
5. I am afraid. If other people want out, let them. But let me stay home.
Short Response: Probably Legitimate.
Longer Response: This is still a largely unknown virus, with no good medication to ameliorate symptoms, high contagiousness, and a possible second wave coming. Caution is legitimate, and no one can deny your feelings. But please don’t panic, we will solve this. It is serious, but it is not the Black Death.
6. Let’s all stay home.
Short Response: Probably Illegitimate.
Longer Response: Unless everyone has a perfect home, all the food and supplies and energy needed, a perfect family situation, no other health issues, all the money they need, etc., someone will have to be out there. Not all jobs can’t be done remotely.
7. I have only responsibility for myself. You cannot tell me what to do.
Short Response: Illegitimate.
Longer Response: The golden rule is a cornerstone to all human societies for a good reason. We cannot live in complete isolation, we always depend on others, so we need to act accordingly. Surely, hygienic measures have to be democratically legitimized, and have to make scientific sense, and you can demand that. But if they are, you should follow them.
8. I cannot spread the virus, as I do not feel sick.
Short Response: Probably Illegitimate.
Longer Response: You cannot be certain of that. It has been proven that you can spread the disease while not (yet) showing symptoms.
9. I am not part of the risk group. I want to live as I used to, no matter the consequences.
Short Response: Probably Illegitimate.
Longer Response: This virus has still unknown consequences even for those who survive it. Better be safe.
10. Scientists and politicians said something else before. How can we trust their judgement now?
Short Response: Illegitimate.
Longer Response: When available information and available resources change, suggested solutions have to change as well. This is normal.
11. I do not like the current government, so I am against everything they do.
Short Response: Illegitimate.
Longer Response: People can legitimately argue which government they like or not. But elections matter, and disagreements are normal.
12. There is a conspiracy. There is no Coronavirus / Bill Gates did it / Q knows / Reptiles / Aliens / Nazis / Communists / Foreigners / Old People / Globalists / Nationalists / Jews / Elites / Businesses / x Needs to be Blamed.
Short Response: Probably Illegitimate
Longer Response: This stands so much against established opinion that the burden of proof is on you. We know the first cases were reported in Wuhan, China (which does NOT legitimate xenophobic attacks against people of Chinese origin). We can legitimately complain and blame governments and organizations that have been and continue to be complicit in misinformation about the virus, and this needs to be cleared up. There is no reason to discriminate against groups of people unconnected to these decisionmakers. Pursuing outlandish theories is not helpful, and displays of xenophobia, racism and antisemitism are intolerable.
We all realize this is an untenable situation, but if the governments in competing or even enemy countries all react similarly to this, does this not show that the virus is serious? Does not the imperfect reaction to the virus shown by EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY in the world (maybe except Taiwan) demonstrate that there cannot be a conspiracy?
Be reasonable, and we will listen to you. Pursue unreasonable theories, and we will not take you seriously. Quid pro quo.
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