What this Opinion section is all about
For the last three years, this editorial page has marked the anniversary of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home order with commentaries reflecting on the lessons learned from the coronavirus pandemic. We continue this tradition, as we believe it’s important for people to critically engage with what happened, what went right, what went wrong.
Presented today are wideranging commentaries from our in-house columnists and editorial board members, as well as contributors from across Southern California.
Columnist and editorial board member Steven Greenhut helpfully reminds readers that we in this Opinion section were calling balls and strikes throughout the coronavirus pandemic in ways not seen in most of the California press.
Noted economist James Doti presents in clear language and with robust data the reality that California’s heavy-handed approach to the pandemic ultimately did no better than less restrictive approaches to the pandemic.
Dr. Houman Hemmati shifts through the good, the bad and the ugly of national, state and local public health responses to the coronavirus pandemic. Hint: There was a lot more bad than good.
Former state Sen. John Moorlach shares his perspective as a state lawmaker who saw firsthand the inept decision-making processes that would change our lives forever.
Longtime columnist Doug Mcintyre takes a step back and puts the frankly nutty pandemic period into perspective.
Columnist Rafael Perez applies his philosphical training to clarify how to think through the appropriate response to a public health crisis like COVID-19.
Columnist and editorial board member Larry Wilson cuts through the conspiratorial nonsense about the life-saving coronavirus vaccines and tells it like he sees it.
Newport Beach Mayor Will O’neill was an early critic of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s topdown, draconian approach to the pandemic. O’neill recounts how his city took responsible, respectable actions during the pandemic, and contrasts that with Newsom’s imprudent beach closures.
Columnist and editorial writer Susan Shelley details an interview between President Donald Trump and journalist Bob Woodward in the early days of the pandemic. Her takeaway? Trump was right.
Education policy expert Lance Christensen breaks down the horrific consequences of coronavirus school closures on the youth. The consequences of putting kids last, Christensen argues, will be with us for years to come.
Former Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Hewitt, once one of the highest-ranking Libertarian elected officials in the nation, offers his insights into what went right and wrong during the coronavirus pandemic.
As always, you may agree or disagree with the pieces presented. But we hope you consider what they have to say. We encourage you to offer your thoughts on them at opinion@ scng.com.
Online, in the Opinion section, you will find this editorial along with links to additional pieces, including one from editorial board member John Seiler on the good things, yes, the good things, that came from the pandemic years. That column will be in print on Tuesday.
Presented today are wide-ranging commentaries from our in-house columnists and editorial board members, as well as contributors from across Southern California.
Re “Four years on, what has COVID taught?” (March 12):
The main takeaway from the COVID fiasco is that you cannot trust politicians, mainstream media, social media or public health officials. With a few commendable exceptions (e.g. Ron Desantis) most politicians proved to be tinpot tyrants who saw an opportunity for authoritarian control and seized it. Our less-than-beloved Gavin Newsom was one of the worst offenders in this regard. As for the media and public health, they lied, lied and lied about almost every aspect of the pandemic: that it wasn’t created in a Chinese lab (it was); that lockdowns were necessary (they weren’t); that masking was necessary and effective (it wasn’t); and that the vaccines were safe and effective (they weren’t). The list goes on and on. If anyone tried to question the party line, they were libeled, hounded and canceled. I don’t think that the above institutions will ever recover their credibility, at least not in our lifetimes.
Biden’s classified docs case and the campaign
Re “Classified docs hearing becomes campaign fight” (March 13):
Once again I see the Associated Press describe President Biden’s handling of classified documents as having “insufficient evidence for charges.” Robert Hur has corrected this misrepresentation over and over again. His words were that Biden “willfully” withheld the documents. Because Biden took them when he was a senator and vice president, they were not covered under the Presidential Records Act, and he took them illegally.
The rationale for not charging Mr. Biden was because he is in such an addled state, prosecuting him would seem cruel to a jury.
The AP tries to obfuscate by saying Biden returned the documents quickly when asked. That is not the point. (And he had some of them for decades.) My only question to Mr. Hur would be why he describes Biden as “well-meaning.”