Conservatives and liberals must give Gov. Jared Polis — and President Donald Trump — a chance during this crisis.
In uncertain times such as these, it is quite easy to become perplexed by the actions of those at the top. Schools closed, the legislature paused, and local mom and pop shops such as restaurants and nail salons ordered to halt most — if not all — of their business. Few Coloradans know somebody personally afflicted by COVID19, let alone somebody that has perished from it. Regrettably, while this virus poses a great threat to all Coloradans, it seems many of us have backed into the same partisan corners we are used to occupying during times of peace and quiet.
Our president — our governors — have extraordinary power allocated to their offices in times of emergency for a reason. Without a doubt, there will be ample time to dissect each action these chief executives take and properly determine errors in their judgment, but that time is not now. Without a doubt, if the governor broadly oversteps his bounds, there will be Republican legislators, commentators and pundits ready to call him out, but until that happens, conservatives must be willing to give leniency to a leader who is working with minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour information.
The same mercy should be allotted to President Donald Trump. The president, Gov. Jared Polis and leaders across this nation are operating under the same uncertain circumstances. With each passing moment, the situation may change and warrant further action in an effort to preserve life, the primary responsibility of government.
While modern medicine and advances in health care have made emergencies such as this a rarity, they are not without precedent. In October 1918, Colorado Gov. Julius Gunter called upon local leaders to stop the spread of influenza by “closing theaters, churches, schools and other places where people assemble, until the epidemic has run its course.” That sounds quite familiar.
Underlying this outrage over emergency actions related to COVID-19 is a cultural mistrust of government that has emerged from repeated exercises of power that tested the boundaries of our institutions and the individual. This does not justify such outrage, but it does give proper explanation for how an unknown enemy — albeit one with no national flag nor philosophy — can only further divide the people. Perhaps an enemy that isn’t so easy to identify — such as an invisible virus — sets this situation apart from others of national security. With no ability to shoot back, we seem to be aiming at each other.
I’m not suggesting that those who oppose heavy-handed government action give our leaders carte blanche authority over our lives; I’m simply suggesting that we pick our battles wisely. After all, if our leaders chose instead to do nothing, their critics would no doubt place the burden of the dead upon their shoulders.
On the other hand, government officials at every level must give thought to how they can again gain the support of the people who apparently place little faith in their actions during a time of crisis.
In my personal correspondence with Gov. Polis — the de facto leader of the party my opposite — it’s apparent that he takes no pleasure in exercising powers that will knowingly strangle the economy of the state he leads and leave government coffers significantly lighter than previously projected. I will support my governor, and the team that he leads, if for no other reason than to quickly return to a time where our antlers may lock again in a battle over the public health insurance option, gun control or vaping.
While it is increasingly easy to play armchair governor in modern times, I encourage all to consider how they might respond to a growing pandemic if they were in a place of power.
While the governor may not have had our votes or our support for his programs, policies and principles, he must have our support during this time of crisis. As it is said, there but for the grace of God go I.