Abbott’s Vindication

When Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he was rescinding the state’s face mask mandate and business occupancy limits effective on March 10, he was widely criticized. President Biden said the decision was “Neanderthal thinking.” Anthony Fauci, the top COVID-19 advisor to both Trump and Biden, called the move “really quite risky.” The chairman of the Texas Democrat Party said the order was “extraordinarily dangerous” and it would kill Texans.

Ten weeks after Texas became the first state to re-open, the dire predictions of a surge in COVID cases has not materialized. From March 10 to May 22, new COVID cases in the state decreased by 86.5 percent, and deaths declined 85.5 percent. Yet, the critics—including the media—have been largely silent on the topic. To admit that they were wrong about Abbott’s order would be to admit that they were wrong about many other claims made during the pandemic.

When they announced mask mandates and lock downs, government officials routinely told us that they were following the science. But if science supported their position, then why didn’t they present the facts to the public and let individuals decide for themselves? That is what Abbott did when he rescinded his lock down orders. He gave his reasons for doing so, strongly suggested that we continue to wear masks in public, and then let us decide for ourselves.

In contrast, the implied reason for mandates and other coercive measures is because most people aren’t rational. If the government didn’t force individuals to wear masks and stay at home, it was implied, most people would engage in reckless behavior that would endanger themselves and others.

The narrative used by government officials when lock downs were announced was false, just as the narrative used in condemning Abbott was false. Given the facts, along with recommendations regarding precautions to reduce exposure, most individuals will make rational choices. And the non-catastrophe in Texas is evidence of that.

Undoubtedly, the increased availability of COVID vaccines has helped tremendously. On March 10, about 16 percent of Texans had received at least one vaccine shot. By May 22, that number had grown to more than 42 percent. But with or without a vaccine, Texans have not engaged in the wholesale reckless behavior that Abbott’s critics implicitly predicted.

My own personal observations confirm this. I went to the grocery store on May 20 and I estimate 90 percent of the customers were wearing a mask. I went to a major home improvement store two days later, and I estimate 80 percent of the customers were wearing a mask. Admittedly, this is a limited “study,” but based on this small sampling the vast majority of Texans continue to take precautions.

The advocates of lock downs and similar coercive measures want us to believe that people must be forced to engage in the “right” behavior. But as Texans have demonstrated, we are perfectly capable of making rational decisions on our own.