Newaygo County Public Opinion

Guest Column: A Call for Action

12/13/2020

A response to Rep. VanSingel
By Kathy Morrison

You say, Representative VanSingel, that you are furious about the governor’s extension of closures.
I am furious that your party fought her tooth and nail early on in the pandemic, prompting the “us versus them”, “mask versus non-mask”, “science versus fantasy” climate that has worsened the spread.

I hear over and over that your party leadership does not feel a mask mandate is needed, but instead, people will make the personal choice to do the right thing and wear one. I’ve heard Republican arguments that public messaging will be effective enough. Everyone has seen the news, read the case accounts, driven past rallies, and watched social media footage of hundreds, sometimes thousands, gathering closely together, unmasked. What would make anyone think that those who have already very flagrantly flaunted mask wearing, will suddenly decide to follow public messages over what they see as a Democrat party plot. These are the constituents that voted you into office. They have very verbally and in action, proven they won’t follow the lead of the Democrat leadership, so there appears to be only one option: an effort to make them wear masks via a strong and forceful Republican led pro-mask movement.

This leadership needs to come from the GOP. Not in a few weeks or a few months. Left, right, Democrat, Republican, we all need it - now. Talking, waiting to convince, hoping for change and conformity will only cost lives and prolong our full economic recovery, which is only going to happen when we can all safely reopen.

Representative VanSingel, you are in a unique position, given your recent recovery from Covid and newfound realization that masks are indeed critical. Your attempts at convincing your peers of the importance of masks are admirable. Your desire for public messaging is too. I can’t think of a better person to present televised public service announcements than an elected Republican leader who knows it is real, dangerous and nothing to mess with.

By all means, please do continue urging your Republican peers of the importance of mask wearing and the realities of Covid, but these steps are not sufficient in a situation that can’t wait days, weeks, or months for results. We may disagree on the format of how and where closures/county mandates should be organized and implemented but we definitely agree on the efficacy of masks. They are, as you said, perhaps the single most effective way we can prevent the spread of this virus. Slowing the spread means safe reopening, while allowing the spread to continue means prolonging closures and perhaps having to return to lockdown.

Please be the extraordinary leader we need now, despite what your party leadership is saying, and sponsor an enforceable mask mandate immediately. It may mean the difference between health and illness, between life and death.

3 Comments

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Michael Ross

12/14/2020 11:34:55 am

I am not here to argue the question of using or not using masks. However, I have one question. IF wearing masks is "the single most effective way we can prevent the spread of this virus", then why forced use of the vaccine?
What I do disagree with is the statement that the Republican Party was responsible for the “us versus them”, “mask versus non-mask”, “science versus fantasy” climate. It was the governor and the democratic party that has continued (from day one) to create turmoil for the last four years.

Kathy Morrison

12/14/2020 02:53:30 pm

I’m glad we agree on mask wearing, Mike. Masks and distancing have for centuries been used to prevent viral spread but are imperfect tools. They have slowed disease spread but not stopped it. Vaccines, on the other hand, are far more effective in not only slowing the spread of life threatening illness but in some cases, like small pox, eliminating the virus altogether. This is why the vaccine is crucial and why masks are not enough unless we wear them the rest of our lives. Though there is legal precedent for mandatory vaccination, in practice, they are not “forced” on citizens.

Governor Whitmer’s efforts, and those of many governors, both Democrat and Republican alike, were criticized by President Trump. Why? Because they dared question him or say something he didn’t like to hear about himself. Instead of a swift, well coordinated effort to combat the spread, we had Trump, who, by his own admission, downplayed the seriousness of the virus, publicly belittled mask wearing, encouraged large gatherings and rallies and tried to silence the life saving advice of medical experts. He chose to promote craziness coming from his hand picked medical “experts “, like Dr Scott Atlas, who is not a virologist or infectious disease expert, but a dangerous quack who encouraged people disregard all medical sense and to rise up against at their state leaders who were trying to stop the spread, the illnesses, the deaths, and untenable pressure on their overwhelmed state healthcare systems.

Mike, when this virus began spreading, I had the a heart full of hope that both sides of the political spectrum would quickly begin to work together despite their differences. I thought Americans would come together to control this thing. I was appalled at what played out in the Spring and following months. Instead of leadership, we got Republicans from the top, right on down, through their words and example, saying that mask wearing and distancing were things to be fought against. It did create an us versus them, mask versus no masks, science versus fantasy climate. The political divide and turmoil that is here, did not start 4 years ago, but long before Trump was elected. It was, however, made decisively deeper by the host of Republican leaders who, instead of treating this as the health crisis that it is, instead, made it a political issue, disregarding masks, distancing and restrictions, and in a dangerous and deadly move, encouraged their constituents to do the same.

Sally Kane

12/14/2020 11:49:04 am

Dear Scott Van Single,
I first want to thank you for publically showing a more thoughtful, reflective position about mask wearing and the seriousness of this pandemic following your experience of being sick with the CV.
That said, I support Kathy Morrison’s articulate appeal to take a stand in the state legislature for a non- wavering bi-partisan position that demands mask wearing and citizen unity for the common good. Slowing and stopping the spread will help our economy heal. We cannot reboot an economy that’s in deficit spending or crippled due to a public health crisis. The choice to mask up and socially distance is a moral compass choice that supersedes any idea that ones personal freedom over the good of others takes priority.
I also understand that you’ve been threatened personally by individuals and groups who want to keep their power by bullying you for speaking out. That’s terrifying on many levels. Threats have been directed at our Governor and other public officials through our state.
This is overt violence. It undermines democracy. Republicans and Democrats need to come together and take legislative action that supports the common good and protects both public officials and the overall public.

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Guest Column: A Call for Action

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