I admire the effort that many put in to make this a political discussion rather than an issue of public health policies. The reality is, the virus is just starting to invade many rural areas across the US. We have no idea how deadly this virus will be in those areas. (Many of these areas are not served by the medical services that are available in urban areas.) Inner cities and poverty seem to be impacting the spread of the virus. Minorities are heavily impacted, just look at the decimation in Frum communities. The virus doesn’t care whether a state is red or blue .
As Tip O’Neil once said, ‘all politics is local’. It’s up to the voters to challenge their state politicians to develop effective responses to health epidemics. Pick up the phone and call your electeds. When you vote again, decide for yourself who will best serve your interests. Don’t whine organize. In the meantime read a variety of analysis of the disease spread, understand that mathematical models are only as good as the data that is input. Look at the maps available from Johns Hopkins and see where the disease clusters are. Certainly densely populated states may have the highest number of cases and/deaths. That’s just basic probability. What you can do now is enter into conversations with your school administrators on how they can improve access to remote learning, work with them to solve the basic problem of 10 kids two telephones when it comes to classes being delivered by phone. Engage state agencies and your community to figure out how the needs of non neurotypical children and adults can be filled during times like this.
Yea it’s hard being confined to quarters if you have a large family living in a small space and for some it’s even harder not having outside help come into the home. I’m high risk (lupus) and haven’t been out of the house since Feb 27. I’m lucky because I realize the internet can be an enormous help in times like this. I’ve figured out alternative exercise regimes without a gym. I talk to friends about the country either online, via facetime or using the phone. I know staying connected and remaining positive are gifts I give myself for my own personal wellbeing.
In the meantime, be kind, be happy, call on outside resources if your family, children and neighbors are having difficulty coping. This too shall pass.