President-elect Joseph Biden has stated that he will implement an executive order to “implement masks everywhere I can.”
Texas 21st District Congressman Chip Roy had this to say in response.
Sigh. Sadly enough, that is a typical response outside of the major Texas cities (I live in San Antonio) to mask mandates, and is a primary reason we have such a huge spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths.
Mr. President-elect, you’re not going to win the hearts and minds of people that have that kind of attitude. You’re not going to win them all over anyway, but every politician knows that. If the last election proved anything, it’s that people will vote for their party’s candidate because he belongs to their party over any other factor, negative or otherwise. It’s who gets their party out more that wins the elections.
In case you’re not into sports (grade school, college, professional, private leagues) or have been too busy paying attention to the real world, here’s the thing: Sports has taken a major hit to the body (sorry, boxing metaphor) since the pandemic hit. Games were canceled and seasons delayed because the virus spreads quickly and most efficiently in large groups (super spreader).
Before the pandemic hit, I drove the night shift on Uber. I used to pick up passengers at the Spurs games, sports bars, local colleges, home parties, etc. If the Cowboys were playing that night, I’d change my work schedule to make sure that I was on the app during the games. I also took passengers to catch those early morning flights at the airport, then headed home to go to bed before the rush hour traffic started.
I talked to my passengers about the dangers of COVID-19, and how I felt it was going to shut down everything. A lot of them blew off the danger (before Trump told them to), thinking it was just a flu that would pass quickly. I told them that I thought it would be bad, and that things would shut down. I was correct, but no one really anticipated how bad it would be.
The NBA shut down it’s season for two months, then moved 20-odd teams to “the bubble” in Orlando to finish out the season. MLB cancelled spring training, a lot of games, the All-Star Game and more.
The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo were postponed until next year. Even if they’re held, the world will be less able to attend because of the virus. All of those beautiful Olympic venues built for the Games will be empty.
The NFL has played some semblance of a regular season, but to stadiums seating only 10% or less of their normal 76,000+ capacities. Several games have been rescheduled because of COVID-19 exposure. The Denver Broncos had to play their game against the New Orleans Saints without their three quarterbacks because they had to sit out due to exposure. The L.A. Rams and the Las Vegas Raiders opened up gorgeous new stadiums this year, but they’ve been playing to no crowds.
College and high school games haven’t fared well, either. In Texas, a high school game can attract up to 25,000 (or double that) people. If their leagues are playing at all, they’re playing in empty stadiums. Some (red state) colleges have refused to enforce the ban; check their COVID-19 numbers to see how well that played out.
Even local leagues have suffered. There’s a multi-plex soccer field near my home; it’s normally a big hassle to pass by when tournaments have been in play. That hasn’t been an issue this year.
Trump and the big money interests have fought like hell to keep the games going, because the lost revenue means more to them than the lives of the fans and players. The leagues have shown some responsibility for the health of said fans and players by playing in empty stadiums. But the feeling isn’t the same. Watch an NFL game on TV, and you can hear the audibles yelled out by the opposing quarterback. The team mascots and cheerleaders have no one to play to. The players don’t know from week to week if their game will happen or not.
So, Mr. President-elect, here’s my proposal. As soon as the NFL plays the Super Bowl to an empty stadium on February 7, with the normal hype and hoopla all gone, make the following announcement:
By Executive Order: ALL sporting events are cancelled until such time as the pandemic has passed and people can safely gather in large groups. This order will be rescinded upon reaching the 75% threshold of vaccinations as recommended by the CDC.
It would be great if you could make it the first week of your administration, but I think using the empty Super Bowl as a backdrop to your announcement will hammer the point home more effectively.
There will be calls for your head on a platter for daring to make such an un-American statement. The GOP, RWNJ, right-wing media and more will be calling you all kinds of names and more. The Republicans in Congress may try to block the order. People may try to sue.
Stand firm. Just like a parent telling their child they get their phone back when their grades come up; they can have their games back when three-quarters of Americans have had their vaccines. Post billboards and a website with a percentage ticker. Put the daily score on Facebook, Twitter and the front pages of search engines. Get the cities, states and towns that will be losing money on the closure to put it on their highway traffic signs during non-peak hours. Get the teams and organizations that will be closed down to implore their fan base to get vaccinated and wear masks in order to get their games back.
Instead of people being pissed that they have to get a vaccine on the orders of the government, they’ll be pissed that they can’t make it move fast enough. Anyone who objects will be shouted down by those who want their comfortable diversions back.
Added bonus: It might just extinguish the anti-vaxxers hold on the subject of vaccinations. You tell people that they can’t watch their favorite sports because some Hollywood celebrity read a debunked report by a defrocked doctor about the dangers of vaccination, and that particular meme will disappear from the social media platforms by fiat.
Appealing to people’s better nature hasn’t worked, in this subject or almost anything else in the past 12 years. It’s time to start taking away privileges.
Will this happen? Probably not. In fact, I expect to be called all kinds of nasty names in the comments. But we’re never going to get this country back to normal operations if we don’t do the hard thing. It’s time to admit that that pride may goeth before the fall, but only after you feel the pain of the broken assbone.