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The Politicization of Science Is Going to Kill Us Alex Jarecki / Biology and Political Science 2023
T
he COVID-19 pandemic is one of the deadliest outbreaks of the last century.[1] As of November 8, it had killed over one million people (more than 230,000 in the US alone) and infected more than fifty million.[2][3] The US is home to less than five percent of the world’s population but accounts for nearly twenty percent of global deaths.[4] The federal government’s abysmal response to the pandemic has largely contributed to the country’s high case numbers and deaths.[5] President Trump knew about the severity of COVID-19 back in February but downplayed the virus to avoid “a panic.”[6] But Trump didn’t just downplay the virus—he actively opposed measures that would have slowed its spread. While other countries mobilized a federal response to the disease, the Trump administration took little action, leaving the response to states.[7] Lockdowns, mask mandates, social distancing guidelines, restaurant and bar closures, suspension of large gatherings, and other safety measures varied by state. [8] It wasn’t until mid-March that Trump declared a nationwide state of emergency. By then, a number of states had declared one themselves. Trump denounced criticism as a Democratic “hoax” to disrupt his presidency. [9] In April, when Michigan, Minnesota, and
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Virginia imposed stay-at-home orders, Trump tweeted: “LIBERATE MINNESOTA!” and added “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” a moment later.[10] He then tweeted: “LIBERATE VIRGINIA, and save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!” A few weeks after these tweets, maskless armed demonstrators entered the Michigan State Capitol to protest the stay-at-home order.[11] Trump and COVID-19 deniers weren’t just angry about stay-at-home orders; they also criticized mask mandates implemented to slow the
But the politicization of science doesn’t just apply to actions like wearing a mask or getting a vaccine. It’s also a threat on a much larger, more existential scale. spread of the virus.[12] While scientists initially did not recommend that people wear masks, that guidance stemmed from uncertainty on how effective face coverings would be at preventing the virus’s spread. Once these experts reached a consensus that masks are effective, they adjusted guidelines to encourage their use.[13] The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that universal mask-wearing alone could inhibit COVID-19 more effectively than a vaccine.[14]
Following scientific advice, many states enforced mask mandates in public spaces. But these mandates varied—one study found that Republican-led states delayed mask mandates by an average of nearly a month.[15] As of November 2, thirty-three states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico required people to wear face coverings in public.[16] Only nine of the twenty-six states with Republican governors had mask mandates, but every state with a Democratic governor did.[17] Republican state officials’ reluctance to enforce mask-wearing is likely a result of conservatives’ broader dislike for what they view as an encroachment of civil liberties.[18] For months, Republican politicians and conservative media outlets mocked mask use. Back in March, Representative Matt Gaetz donned a gas mask on the House floor to ridicule face coverings. [19] Even after more than 200,000 people died, Tucker Carlson still referred to mask-wearing as “cult” activity.[20] Trump didn’t wear a mask publicly until July 12—several months after many states imposed mask mandates.[21] Trump has since adjusted his position—at the first presidential debate, he said “masks are okay” and that he will wear one when he thinks it’s necessary.[22] He then mocked Joe Biden for wearing “the biggest mask” he had ever seen.
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