Posted on 03/30/2021 4:13:16 PM PDT by george76
The results are in—and they overwhelmingly vindicate the free states over the authoritarian experiments. ..
When COVID-19 first came to our shores, it presented policymakers and elected officials with a crisis like nothing in living memory. In the year since, states have taken markedly different approaches to pandemic policy. Some, like New York, embraced sweeping government lockdowns and top-down mandates while others like Florida and South Dakota took a more humble, hands-off government approach, trusting individuals to make the best decisions for themselves.
The results are in—and they overwhelmingly vindicate the free states over the authoritarian experiments. First, we saw that states with the harshest restrictions didn’t necessarily achieve the best COVID-19 death outcomes. Florida has fared far better than New York and New Jersey, for example, and multiple studies have found no correlation between lockdown stringency and death rates.
Yet lockdowns have come at an enormous economic and human cost. We’ve seen mental health problems and child suicide spikes, an increase in domestic violence, an uptick in drug overdoses, and much, much more. And, of course, the economic toll of shutting down businesses and criminalizing “non-essential” livelihoods has been devastating.
The national unemployment rate was a poor if not disastrous 6.2 percent in February. Yet the just-released state-level unemployment rates for last month show that the devastation hasn’t been equal across the board. New Labor Department data reveal that many free states have returned to nearly their pre-pandemic unemployment rates—while lockdown states dominate the wrong end of the list.
Hands-off states such as South Dakota, Utah, Nebraska, and New Hampshire top the list with unemployment rates hovering around a stellar 3 percent. States that received enormous flak for eschewing drastic lockdowns like Georgia and Florida both rank in the top 20. Perhaps the only obvious outlier is Texas, which ranks poorly with an unemployment rate of 6.9 percent—but, then again, Governor Greg Abbott only rolled back the remaining restrictions in the Lone Star state earlier this month.
Meanwhile, the worst 10 states, with unemployment rates from 7 to 9 percent, include lockdown-happy localities like New York, New Jersey, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, D.C., and Rhode Island.
There is a clear trend here. Free states have largely avoided the labor market carnage associated with the COVID pandemic, while lockdown states have wrought higher unemployment levels—without guaranteeing better pandemic health outcomes.
As famed economist Thomas Sowell said, in complex issues of public policy “there are no solutions, there are only tradeoffs.” There was never an easy answer to the COVID pandemic, but the economic, health, and social outcomes of free states all suggest that they made the right call in rejecting the authoritarian instinct embraced by too many of their neighbors.
I live in lock down happy CT. Our Dem controlled legislature just extended Lamont’s “Emergency Measures” From 4/20 until 5/20.
Even people still employed are hesitant so spend money as no one knows the future as it is all done in secret. Same goes for events, many have already cancelled for this year as well as they can’t afford to plan to open, only to be shut down again.
Late 2019 almost every strip mall in my area was at or near 100% occupancy. I had to go to Staples and the only things left in that strip mall are a grocery store, pet store, Staples and UPS store. All the “non-essential” shops are gone. I counted 7 “for lease signs” from 3k - 35k SF. But, hey startling Memorial Day free CTransit bus service on weekends! That will get people to the non existent businesses.
It only shows Florida had a higher than normal death rate.
The article says New York and New Jersey were worse.
Also, what you posted used data before December, 2020, while the FEE article references data at least to February, 2021.
Imagine that.
There’s just another reason to add to why we left NY for NH.
Thanks george76.
Most of the country’s major states have Trump hating Hovernors.Shutting those states down was more than enough to bring the economy to its knees...which all part of Orange Man Bad.
I would expect NY and NJ to be worse. They have a much higher population density. New York: 27,000 people per square mile. New Jersey: 1,211 people per square mile. Florida: 397 people per square mile.
New York State has an area of 54,555 square miles and population density of 421 people per square mile and home to Statue of Liberty.
New York Population 2020/2021 - World Populationhttp://www.populationu.com › new-york-population
From the article.
I believe the Texas unemployment numbers are also due to the huge drop in the price of oil. Hopefully with it getting back to former price levels, the unemployment will quickly dip back down to the 3-4% level.
That’s 150% higher than CDC numbers.
Rather unscientific - aka ‘emotional’ - of you.
I’ll tell you what it reminds me of:
Defense of ‘climate change’ BS.
Altering statistics to support your agenda reminds me of a liberal trying to convince everyone that the economy is improving back in 2009. or that an assault weapon ban is necessary because of all the gun violence which is actually mostly suicides that involved handguns.
Florida is prime example why Democrats shouldn’t run a lemonade stand in the desert. Ron DeSantis is doing a great job...
Uh-huh.
Another reason I have a ceramic plate in the back.
And the bulk of Texas Covid deaths did not happen in the Texas urban areas?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.