csmonitor--2020-05-06--Rural America lags on fast internet. Now small co-ops are building it.

Allen Bartels owns a trucking business in Winthrop .
“ In the world of business today , if you don ’ t have fiber in rural areas , you ’ re obsolete , ” says Mr. Bartels .
“ You ’ re a dinosaur .
People don ’ t want to work with dinosaurs.
” According to a 2019 report by the Federal Communications Commission , 73 % of rural Americans had access to broadband internet , up from 45 % in 2013 but still well below the 98 % in cities .
But experts say the problem is worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because what the federal government defines as broadband service really isn ’ t fast enough .
While federal and state governments have been trying to help close the digital divide between city and country , many rural communities aren ’ t waiting .
After hearing “ no ” from both their local phone and internet provider and the county , people in the town of Winthrop , Minnesota , started a cooperative .
They laid fiber optic cable serving about 2,400 customers , both in towns and in the surrounding countryside .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , workers toil from home , and local businesses find new opportunities .
When people in the little farm town of Winthrop , Minnesota , grew tired of slow internet service , they approached the local telephone and internet provider and asked for something faster .
The company couldn ’ t help .
Next they went to the county board .
They proposed that Sibley County , in the corn and soybean flatland west of the Twin Cities , install its own broadband network .
The board declined .
So they did what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a century : They started a cooperative and did it themselves .
Called RS Fiber , the co-op has laid fiber optic cable across Sibley County ( and parts of neighboring Renville ) and is providing fast internet service to about 2,400 customers , both in towns and in the surrounding countryside .
It ’ s helping farmers monitor their fields , workers toil from home , and local businesses find new opportunities .
“ I realized that this is something we should have in our communities , ” says Dave Trebelhorn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who helped lead the effort .
“ We ’ re connected to the world.
” Almost everyone agrees that rural Americans need to be better connected .
Expanding higher-quality broadband service to rural areas figured prominently in the platforms of Democratic presidential candidates ; President Donald Trump called for it in his latest State of the Union address .
The coronavirus emergency , pushing more Americans to do things from home , has only amplified the need .
Federal and state governments have been trying to help .
The U.S. Department of Agriculture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been committing ever larger sums to encourage the telecommunications industry to expand broadband in rural areas .
Many rural communities aren ’ t waiting .
Rural cooperatives , some of them dating to the New Deal , are helping many rural areas close the digital divide between city and country , and often doing it with little outside help .
Often no other businesses are willing to build networks .
“ Co-ops in my mind are the unsung heroes of broadband rural deployment , ” says Christopher Ali , a professor of media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is writing a book on the subject .
“ Co-ops are much more responsive to needs of their local communities.
” Co-ops are private businesses owned by their customers and governed by directors chosen from among them , often local business leaders and economic development officials .
They are familiar institutions in rural America , especially in the upper Midwest , where in the 19th century farmers came together to establish cooperatives to better market their crops .
But it was the New Deal and rural electrification that brought a wider flourishing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of co-ops sprang up to deliver electricity .
In the 1950s a new wave of cooperatives brought telephone service to rural areas .
Today , as then , co-ops are an answer when traditional market forces don ’ t seem to work .
Pamela Lehmann is one beneficiary of the shift .
Ms. Lehmann lives in Boyd , Minnesota , in the county where she grew up .
“ It ’ s a great place to grow up and live , ” she says .
But internet service was slow – “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says – until she and others persuaded a Minnesota telephone cooperative to extend its broadband internet service into their county .
Ms. Lehmann , who was the county ’ s economic development director , now works from home , operating a consulting business that recruits medical personnel for dozens of health care facilities .
“ Without this technology , ” she says , “ it would never be possible.
” In the Winthrop area , broadband internet service is new , but for some it ’ s already made a difference .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year , workers in the RS Fiber service area were able to continue working from home after the RS fiber management convinced Verizon that it could provide high speed internet to their houses .
Businesses have benefited , too .
Bartels Truck Line , a family-owned company in Winthrop , employs 65 people and hauls refrigerated goods all over the country .
Allen Bartels , the company ’ s president , says that fast internet has become essential for keeping track of shipments and meeting the expectations of clientele .
The company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s faster internet service to build a refrigerated warehouse that could employ as many as a dozen more local workers .
“ In the world of business today , if you don ’ t have fiber in rural areas , you ’ re obsolete , ” says Mr. Bartels .
“ You ’ re a dinosaur .
People don ’ t want to work with dinosaurs.
” Helping in farm fields as well as offices Outside the towns , high speed internet is helping farmers practice “ precision agriculture ” using technological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and crops and involve heavy use of data .
“ Once they try it , there ’ s no going back , ” says Jacob Rieke , a fifth-generation farmer near Fairfax , west of Winthrop , where he grows corn and soybeans and raises hogs .
Mr. Rieke , who chairs the RS Fiber board of directors , uses fast internet to map fields , share information with crop advisers , and upload photos from a drone he sends aloft to check his crops .
He and his wife also are building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopes to sell her work online .
RS Fiber stands out because it ’ s one of the few cooperatives that have been formed specifically to provide broadband service .
That it was a cooperative helped it gain quick acceptance in the community .
“ There are more co-ops in Minnesota probably than any state , ” says Mr. Trebelhorn .
“ A lot of people understand co-ops.
” Still , it wasn ’ t easy .
The co-op struggled at first .
“ We couldn ’ t get people signed up fast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Winthrop ’ s mayor .
Three years in , it defaulted on its loans and had to refinance .
It scaled back its plans .
Its aim has been to offer fiber optic connections to everyone in its area – 10 towns and 17 townships .
For now , however , the fastest service is available only in towns .
In the countryside , the fiber optic goes to antennas on water towers and grain elevators , which send a high-speed wireless signal out to customers like Mr. Rieke .
Still , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the co-op is seeking new ways to serve the community .
Recently , for example , it began offering 60 days of free internet service for low-income residents as a response to the COVID-19 epidemic .
“ The goal is to make a sustainable business , to support the generations that come out here , and their internet needs , ” says Mr. Pierson .
Despite gains in recent years , rural Americans continue to lag in internet access .
According to a new report by the Federal Communications Commission , 78 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadband internet , up from 45 % in 2013 but still well below the nearly 99 % in cities .
And experts say the problem is worse than the numbers suggest , in part because what the federal government defines as broadband service really isn ’ t fast enough .
Now , hundreds of telephone cooperatives are offering fiber optic broadband .
In North Dakota , many rural areas enjoy faster internet than cities and towns .
To advocates , the benefits are clear .
They say better broadband is essential to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs , attracting new families , even increasing civic engagement .
“ If you care about rural places and access to opportunity , you have to care about rural broadband , ” says Bernadine Joselyn , director of public policy at the Blandin Foundation , which has aided the co-op activity in Minnesota .
“ Access denied is opportunity denied .
If you don ’ t have access to broadband and the ability to use it , you simply can ’ t participate in the modern economy .
”

Allen Bartels owns a trucking business in Winthrop. “In the world of business today, if you don’t have fiber in rural areas, you’re obsolete,” says Mr. Bartels. “You’re a dinosaur. People don’t want to work with dinosaurs.”
According to a 2019 report by the Federal Communications Commission, 73% of rural Americans had access to broadband internet, up from 45% in 2013 but still well below the 98% in cities. But experts say the problem is worse than the numbers suggest, in part because what the federal government defines as broadband service really isn’t fast enough.
Amid the wide open spaces of the Great Plains, some communities got tired of waiting for others to connect them to the modern economy. Instead, residents are getting more bandwidth by banding together.
While federal and state governments have been trying to help close the digital divide between city and country, many rural communities aren’t waiting. After hearing “no” from both their local phone and internet provider and the county, people in the town of Winthrop, Minnesota, started a cooperative. They laid fiber optic cable serving about 2,400 customers, both in towns and in the surrounding countryside. It’s helping farmers monitor their fields, workers toil from home, and local businesses find new opportunities.
In the 1930s, co-ops brought electricity to rural America; in the ’50s, telephone service. Today, co-ops are providing fast internet.
When people in the little farm town of Winthrop, Minnesota, grew tired of slow internet service, they approached the local telephone and internet provider and asked for something faster. The company couldn’t help.
Next they went to the county board. They proposed that Sibley County, in the corn and soybean flatland west of the Twin Cities, install its own broadband network. The board declined.
So they did what rural Americans have been doing for more than a century: They started a cooperative and did it themselves. Called RS Fiber, the co-op has laid fiber optic cable across Sibley County (and parts of neighboring Renville) and is providing fast internet service to about 2,400 customers, both in towns and in the surrounding countryside. It’s helping farmers monitor their fields, workers toil from home, and local businesses find new opportunities.
Why We Wrote This Amid the wide open spaces of the Great Plains, some communities got tired of waiting for others to connect them to the modern economy. Instead, residents are getting more bandwidth by banding together.
“I realized that this is something we should have in our communities,” says Dave Trebelhorn, a retired corn and soybean farmer who helped lead the effort. “We’re connected to the world.”
Almost everyone agrees that rural Americans need to be better connected. Expanding higher-quality broadband service to rural areas figured prominently in the platforms of Democratic presidential candidates; President Donald Trump called for it in his latest State of the Union address. The coronavirus emergency, pushing more Americans to do things from home, has only amplified the need.
Federal and state governments have been trying to help. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Federal Communications Commission in particular have been committing ever larger sums to encourage the telecommunications industry to expand broadband in rural areas.
“The unsung heroes”
Many rural communities aren’t waiting. Rural cooperatives, some of them dating to the New Deal, are helping many rural areas close the digital divide between city and country, and often doing it with little outside help. Often no other businesses are willing to build networks.
“Co-ops in my mind are the unsung heroes of broadband rural deployment,” says Christopher Ali, a professor of media studies at the University of Virginia who is writing a book on the subject. “Co-ops are much more responsive to needs of their local communities.”
Co-ops are private businesses owned by their customers and governed by directors chosen from among them, often local business leaders and economic development officials. They are familiar institutions in rural America, especially in the upper Midwest, where in the 19th century farmers came together to establish cooperatives to better market their crops. But it was the New Deal and rural electrification that brought a wider flourishing of cooperatives across rural America, as hundreds of co-ops sprang up to deliver electricity. In the 1950s a new wave of cooperatives brought telephone service to rural areas.
Today, as then, co-ops are an answer when traditional market forces don’t seem to work.
Pamela Lehmann is one beneficiary of the shift. Ms. Lehmann lives in Boyd, Minnesota, in the county where she grew up. “It’s a great place to grow up and live,” she says. But internet service was slow – “I could hardly get dial-up,” she says – until she and others persuaded a Minnesota telephone cooperative to extend its broadband internet service into their county. Ms. Lehmann, who was the county’s economic development director, now works from home, operating a consulting business that recruits medical personnel for dozens of health care facilities.
“Without this technology,” she says, “it would never be possible.”
In the Winthrop area, broadband internet service is new, but for some it’s already made a difference. When a Verizon call center in Mankato closed last year, workers in the RS Fiber service area were able to continue working from home after the RS fiber management convinced Verizon that it could provide high speed internet to their houses.
Businesses have benefited, too. Bartels Truck Line, a family-owned company in Winthrop, employs 65 people and hauls refrigerated goods all over the country. Allen Bartels, the company’s president, says that fast internet has become essential for keeping track of shipments and meeting the expectations of clientele. The company is also taking advantage of RS Fiber’s faster internet service to build a refrigerated warehouse that could employ as many as a dozen more local workers.
“In the world of business today, if you don’t have fiber in rural areas, you’re obsolete,” says Mr. Bartels. “You’re a dinosaur. People don’t want to work with dinosaurs.”
Helping in farm fields as well as offices
Outside the towns, high speed internet is helping farmers practice “precision agriculture” using technological innovations that enable close monitoring of fields and crops and involve heavy use of data. “Once they try it, there’s no going back,” says Jacob Rieke, a fifth-generation farmer near Fairfax, west of Winthrop, where he grows corn and soybeans and raises hogs. Mr. Rieke, who chairs the RS Fiber board of directors, uses fast internet to map fields, share information with crop advisers, and upload photos from a drone he sends aloft to check his crops. He and his wife also are building her a pottery studio, and she hopes to sell her work online.
RS Fiber stands out because it’s one of the few cooperatives that have been formed specifically to provide broadband service. That it was a cooperative helped it gain quick acceptance in the community. “There are more co-ops in Minnesota probably than any state,” says Mr. Trebelhorn. “A lot of people understand co-ops.”
Still, it wasn’t easy. The co-op struggled at first. “We couldn’t get people signed up fast enough,” says Kelly Pierson, Winthrop’s mayor. Three years in, it defaulted on its loans and had to refinance. It scaled back its plans. Its aim has been to offer fiber optic connections to everyone in its area – 10 towns and 17 townships. For now, however, the fastest service is available only in towns. In the countryside, the fiber optic goes to antennas on water towers and grain elevators, which send a high-speed wireless signal out to customers like Mr. Rieke.
Still, the number of subscribers has been increasing, and the co-op is seeking new ways to serve the community. Recently, for example, it began offering 60 days of free internet service for low-income residents as a response to the COVID-19 epidemic.
“The goal is to make a sustainable business, to support the generations that come out here, and their internet needs,” says Mr. Pierson.
Despite gains in recent years, rural Americans continue to lag in internet access. According to a new report by the Federal Communications Commission, 78% of rural Americans have access to broadband internet, up from 45% in 2013 but still well below the nearly 99% in cities. And experts say the problem is worse than the numbers suggest, in part because what the federal government defines as broadband service really isn’t fast enough.
Now, hundreds of telephone cooperatives are offering fiber optic broadband. In North Dakota, many rural areas enjoy faster internet than cities and towns.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
To advocates, the benefits are clear. They say better broadband is essential to the vitality of rural communities – to creating jobs, attracting new families, even increasing civic engagement.
“If you care about rural places and access to opportunity, you have to care about rural broadband,” says Bernadine Joselyn, director of public policy at the Blandin Foundation, which has aided the co-op activity in Minnesota. “Access denied is opportunity denied. If you don’t have access to broadband and the ability to use it, you simply can’t participate in the modern economy.”


csmonitor--2020-04-03--In Kentucky, a Democratic governor gains new fans: Republicans

“ He has given me hope that we can turn this around , ” says Dominique Dye , a stay-at-home mom from Lexington who did not vote for Mr. Beshear but is now a vocal fan .
“ Both the coronavirus and our country ’ s polarization.
” Most important , say his conservative supporters , Mr. Beshear is staying true to the “ together ” part of his opening statement by avoiding partisan language and blame shifting .
Just a few months after beating an unpopular incumbent governor , Mr. Beshear is proving it ’ s possible to effectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crisis .
Governor Beshear may not be speaking from one of the nation ’ s COVID-19 “ hot spots , ” but his nightly 5 p.m. press briefings have become a reassuring ritual for the Bluegrass State , with more than a dozen self-identified conservative Kentuckians interviewed by the Monitor offering unabashed praise for their Democratic governor .
He presents practical advice , such as how to explain the current situation to children , as well as new executive orders , such as pausing housing evictions and expanding unemployment eligibility .
Every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We will get through this , ” says Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear shortly after taking the podium .
“ And we will get through this together .
” Every evening , he begins the same way .
“ We will get through this , ” says Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear shortly after taking the podium .
“ And we will get through this together.
” No state has been spared from COVID-19 , and while Governor Beshear may not be speaking from one of the nation ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p.m. briefings have become a reassuring ritual for Kentuckians .
Mothers pause their dinner preparation to turn up the TV ’ s volume , and 20-somethings tune in to online watch parties .
Members of both parties in the Bluegrass State say Mr. Beshear ’ s daily briefings are a comforting antidote to these anxious times , with more than a dozen self-identified conservative Kentuckians interviewed by the Monitor offering unabashed praise for their Democratic governor .
Dominique Dye , a stay-at-home mom from Lexington who voted for Mr. Beshear ’ s Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found herself creating and sharing memes in a pro-Beshear Facebook group of more than 180,000 .
Some of the governor ’ s most popular phrases from his briefings are even being marketed on T-shirts and mugs , with proceeds going to the state ’ s COVID-19 relief funds .
He isn ’ t the only governor enjoying a surge in popularity right now .
A recent national poll found strong bipartisan support for state executives , with almost 75 % of Americans approving of their governor ’ s handling of the crisis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Larry Hogan of Maryland have won widespread praise for taking decisive action early .
Some governors have hit record approval ratings , such as New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , whose daily briefings have made him something of a national star .
Mr. Beshear ’ s audience is far smaller than Governor Cuomo ’ s , but his fans appear equally ardent .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , we ’ ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .
Every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state calmly and confidently , but without fear-mongering , many Kentuckians say .
He presents both practical advice , such as how to explain the current situation to children , as well as the state ’ s detailed containment plan .
He announces new executive orders to make daily life easier , such as pausing all housing evictions and expanding unemployment eligibility .
Most important , say his conservative supporters , Mr. Beshear is staying true to the “ together ” part of his opening statement by avoiding partisan language and blame shifting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states that lean to the opposing party , Mr. Beshear campaigned as a moderate who would reach across the aisle .
But locals say he ’ s done more than that , just a few months after barely beating a widely unpopular incumbent governor .
He ’ s proving it ’ s possible to effectively communicate with both Republicans and Democrats during a crisis .
“ He has given me hope that we can turn this around , ” says Ms. Dye .
“ Both the coronavirus and our country ’ s polarization.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ never voted for a Democrat before , but if Mr. Beshear runs for reelection in 2024 , she will not only vote for him , she will volunteer for his campaign .
Her mother , Deborah Dye , vowed she would never vote for a Democrat after seeing how the party treated President Donald Trump – but says she ’ ll break that promise for Mr. Beshear .
“ He ’ s doing what I wish all politicians would do , which is set aside the politics of it and focus on what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” says Deborah Dye .
When reporters try to “ bait ” Mr. Beshear with questions about the federal response , or other states , he typically redirects the conversation .
After President Trump said last week that he would like the country back up and running by Easter , for example , Mr. Beshear was asked during his daily press conference if he considered the president ’ s statement “ realistic.
” The governor didn ’ t reference the president in his answer , instead saying that Americans need to be prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect one another .
“ I just hear a lot of Trump bashing around this , ” says Cathy Samuels , a registered nurse from Louisville , who voted for President Trump in 2016 and plans to vote for him again in November .
She didn ’ t vote for Mr. Beshear , and if the election was held again tomorrow , she ’ s not sure she would change her vote .
But for now , she appreciates how Mr. Beshear seems to be looking out for all of Kentucky , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appreciate the fact that Beshear is not politicking this right now.
” “ I ’ m starting to question whether he ’ s a Democrat or not , ” says Ms. Dye , laughing .
“ I ’ m even starting to question if he ’ s a politician – and I love that.
” Of course , not everyone in Kentucky is happy with how their governor is handling things .
Similar to the partisan debate happening at the national level , some Kentucky conservatives believe the governor ’ s efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , unnecessarily hurting the economy .
On March 19 , a Republican legislator filed an amendment to a bill in the Kentucky state house allowing residents to sue the state if an executive order adversely affects their business .
And Mr. Beshear has drawn criticism from the left , with some environmental advocates accusing the governor of using COVID-19 as a smokescreen to sign a new law criminalizing fossil fuel protests .
But his ability to communicate without “ coded ” language could offer a lesson for other politicians , says Stephen Voss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of Kentucky .
Instead of talking about the essential role of government in protecting public health , for example , Mr. Beshear is talking about the essential role of community .
The governor ’ s daily briefings have become “ the social media version of FDR ’ s fireside chats , ” says Mr. Voss , blending comfort with competence .
“ The lesson here is that in a crisis of this sort , where people are fearful , they don ’ t look at the government the same way they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Voss .
“ It ’ s not about ideology right now.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , we ’ ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

“He has given me hope that we can turn this around,” says Dominique Dye, a stay-at-home mom from Lexington who did not vote for Mr. Beshear but is now a vocal fan. “Both the coronavirus and our country’s polarization.”
Most important, say his conservative supporters, Mr. Beshear is staying true to the “together” part of his opening statement by avoiding partisan language and blame shifting. Just a few months after beating an unpopular incumbent governor , Mr. Beshear is proving it’s possible to effectively communicate with both Republicans and Democrats during a crisis.
As they confront a pandemic, governors are seeing their popularity soar. Kentucky’s Andy Beshear is winning plaudits for a calm, pragmatic approach that some see as a model for bridging the partisan divide.
Governor Beshear may not be speaking from one of the nation’s COVID-19 “hot spots,” but his nightly 5 p.m. press briefings have become a reassuring ritual for the Bluegrass State, with more than a dozen self-identified conservative Kentuckians interviewed by the Monitor offering unabashed praise for their Democratic governor. He presents practical advice, such as how to explain the current situation to children, as well as new executive orders , such as pausing housing evictions and expanding unemployment eligibility.
Every evening, he begins the same way. “We will get through this,” says Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear shortly after taking the podium. “And we will get through this together .”
Every evening, he begins the same way. “We will get through this,” says Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear shortly after taking the podium. “And we will get through this together.”
No state has been spared from COVID-19, and while Governor Beshear may not be speaking from one of the nation’s “hot spots,” his nightly 5 p.m. briefings have become a reassuring ritual for Kentuckians. Mothers pause their dinner preparation to turn up the TV’s volume, and 20-somethings tune in to online watch parties.
Members of both parties in the Bluegrass State say Mr. Beshear’s daily briefings are a comforting antidote to these anxious times, with more than a dozen self-identified conservative Kentuckians interviewed by the Monitor offering unabashed praise for their Democratic governor. Dominique Dye, a stay-at-home mom from Lexington who voted for Mr. Beshear’s Republican opponent just four months ago, has found herself creating and sharing memes in a pro-Beshear Facebook group of more than 180,000. Some of the governor’s most popular phrases from his briefings are even being marketed on T-shirts and mugs, with proceeds going to the state’s COVID-19 relief funds.
Why We Wrote This As they confront a pandemic, governors are seeing their popularity soar. Kentucky’s Andy Beshear is winning plaudits for a calm, pragmatic approach that some see as a model for bridging the partisan divide.
He isn’t the only governor enjoying a surge in popularity right now. A recent national poll found strong bipartisan support for state executives, with almost 75% of Americans approving of their governor’s handling of the crisis. Republican Govs. Mike DeWine of Ohio and Larry Hogan of Maryland have won widespread praise for taking decisive action early. Some governors have hit record approval ratings, such as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whose daily briefings have made him something of a national star. Mr. Beshear’s audience is far smaller than Governor Cuomo’s, but his fans appear equally ardent.
Editor’s note: As a public service, we’ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.
Every night the newly elected governor updates his state calmly and confidently, but without fear-mongering, many Kentuckians say. He presents both practical advice, such as how to explain the current situation to children, as well as the state’s detailed containment plan. He announces new executive orders to make daily life easier, such as pausing all housing evictions and expanding unemployment eligibility.
Most important, say his conservative supporters, Mr. Beshear is staying true to the “together” part of his opening statement by avoiding partisan language and blame shifting. Like other U.S. governors elected in states that lean to the opposing party, Mr. Beshear campaigned as a moderate who would reach across the aisle. But locals say he’s done more than that, just a few months after barely beating a widely unpopular incumbent governor. He’s proving it’s possible to effectively communicate with both Republicans and Democrats during a crisis.
“He has given me hope that we can turn this around,” says Ms. Dye. “Both the coronavirus and our country’s polarization.”
Ms. Dye says she’s never voted for a Democrat before, but if Mr. Beshear runs for reelection in 2024, she will not only vote for him, she will volunteer for his campaign. Her mother, Deborah Dye, vowed she would never vote for a Democrat after seeing how the party treated President Donald Trump – but says she’ll break that promise for Mr. Beshear.
“He’s doing what I wish all politicians would do, which is set aside the politics of it and focus on what’s good for the country,” says Deborah Dye.
When reporters try to “bait” Mr. Beshear with questions about the federal response, or other states, he typically redirects the conversation. After President Trump said last week that he would like the country back up and running by Easter, for example, Mr. Beshear was asked during his daily press conference if he considered the president’s statement “realistic.” The governor didn’t reference the president in his answer, instead saying that Americans need to be prepared to sacrifice more and wait longer to protect one another.
“I just hear a lot of Trump bashing around this,” says Cathy Samuels, a registered nurse from Louisville, who voted for President Trump in 2016 and plans to vote for him again in November. She didn’t vote for Mr. Beshear, and if the election was held again tomorrow, she’s not sure she would change her vote. But for now, she appreciates how Mr. Beshear seems to be looking out for all of Kentucky, not just his own party. “I appreciate the fact that Beshear is not politicking this right now.”
“I’m starting to question whether he’s a Democrat or not,” says Ms. Dye, laughing. “I’m even starting to question if he’s a politician – and I love that.”
Of course, not everyone in Kentucky is happy with how their governor is handling things.
Alex Slitz/Lexington Herald-Leader/AP View caption Hide caption Harry Powell works to change the marquee at the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington, Kentucky, March 18, 2020. The theater has closed following an executive order from Gov. Andy Beshear asking all public-facing businesses to close to help fight the spread of the coronavirus.
Similar to the partisan debate happening at the national level, some Kentucky conservatives believe the governor’s efforts to fight the pandemic have gone too far, unnecessarily hurting the economy. On March 19, a Republican legislator filed an amendment to a bill in the Kentucky state house allowing residents to sue the state if an executive order adversely affects their business. And Mr. Beshear has drawn criticism from the left, with some environmental advocates accusing the governor of using COVID-19 as a smokescreen to sign a new law criminalizing fossil fuel protests.
But his ability to communicate without “coded” language could offer a lesson for other politicians, says Stephen Voss, an associate professor of politics at the University of Kentucky. Instead of talking about the essential role of government in protecting public health, for example, Mr. Beshear is talking about the essential role of community. The governor’s daily briefings have become “the social media version of FDR’s fireside chats,” says Mr. Voss, blending comfort with competence.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“The lesson here is that in a crisis of this sort, where people are fearful, they don’t look at the government the same way they do under normal circumstances,” says Mr. Voss. “It’s not about ideology right now.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, we’ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-01--Coronavirus drives competing global ‘playbooks’

The United Nations secretary-general , who seeks $ 2 billion in aid , called this week for united action .
“ This human crisis demands coordinated ... and innovative policy action from the world ’ s leading economies , ” he said , “ and maximum ... support for the poorest and most vulnerable.
” The second involves international political ramifications .
With the United States having retreated , and Europe initially fumbling , China and Russia launched high-profile initiatives to help Italy .
Now , the European Union is moving more assertively .
But the wider international response remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable countries and the some 70 million people worldwide fleeing hardship .
But if governments worldwide are now adapting in similar fashion , two areas remain murky .
One involves national politics .
China , for example , has broadened an already wide array of electronic surveillance measures .
Hungary gave Prime Minister Viktor Orbán open-ended emergency powers .
Egypt forced out a Western correspondent who reported the government was understating COVID-19 cases .
When it comes to COVID-19 , autocratic and democratic governments alike were slow to respond .
For the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epidemic risked denting their image of strength .
For the latter , initial reluctance was more about upending lives and economies .
For hundreds of millions of us across the globe , much of life as we ’ ve known it is now on hold .
Not so , however , politics .
Or geopolitics .
And in recent days , some striking patterns have emerged as governments – autocratic and democratic , mainstream and populist – deal with a public health challenge every bit as novel as the COVID-19 virus itself .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been playing catch-up , in part because of an initial political reluctance to take steps widely accepted as critical in limiting the terrible loss of life : testing and tracking those exposed to the virus and promoting “ physical distancing ” or even full-scale lockdowns to stem its spread .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
For autocratic governments – those , for instance , of Russian President Vladimir Putin or Egyptian military ruler Abdel Fattah al-Sisi – or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro , merely acknowledging the scope of the epidemic risked denting their long-projected image of strength , self-confidence , and control .
And not just for them , but for many free-market democracies like Australia or Britain , Italy or Spain , the initial reluctance was also about upending people ’ s everyday lives and bringing their national economies to a grinding halt .
But the result was broadly the same : a significant delay before acting to keep the number of cases from overwhelming the capacities of caregivers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the imperative to act has been setting in for more countries .
Last week , Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a lockdown of all India ’ s 1.3 billion people , setting off a flight on foot of huge numbers of migrant workers across the country .
Russia has become the latest example of a tightening of restraints .
President Putin announced a few days ago that this week would be “ non-working , '' with the country ’ s nearly 150 million people urged to stay home .
But with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epidemic , ” many took the announcement as simply a week ’ s holiday .
So on Monday , the mayor of Moscow directed all but essential workers to remain in their homes .
The prime minister urged regional governments to follow suit .
Politically , for now , there ’ s been no price to pay for the delays .
As in wartime or national emergencies , the initial popular response has been to pull together , recognize the need for extraordinary measures , and , for the most part , support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , British Prime Minister Boris Johnson , himself in self-isolation after contracting the virus , enthused about the country ’ s uniting in response to his stay-at-home directive .
In a clear reference to a 1980s remark by then-Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher that any country was just an amalgamation of individual citizens and families , he said that this crisis had proved that “ there really is such a thing as society.
” In Europe , polling has shown an initial boost not just for Mr. Johnson , but for French President Emmanuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and , in the hardest-hit European Union state , Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte .
President Trump ’ s approval rating , too , has ticked upward .
But if governments worldwide are now adapting in similar ways to the pandemic , there are two areas where the picture remains less clear – one involving national politics , the other international .
The first concerns authoritarian states , where there are signs the crisis could be used as cover for further tightening controls on dissent .
In China , an already wide array @ @ @ @ @ @ @ track people ’ s movements and contain the virus .
In Hungary , right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is poised to impose an open-ended state of emergency allowing him to rule by decree .
He also wants prison sentences for anyone publishing “ false information ” about the epidemic or his government ’ s response .
Egypt last week forced out the correspondent for Britain ’ s Guardian newspaper after she reported that President Sisi ’ s government was understating the numbers of COVID-19 cases .
And the international political ramifications of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least two major countries – China and Russia – the initial response has been out of a familiar playbook .
Especially with the United States having retreated from its previous leadership role in such crises , both the Chinese and Russians have launched high-profile initiatives to provide assistance to Italy ’ s hard-hit public health system .
Yet after an initially fumbled response , the EU has begun to move more assertively to frame a shared response .
As with the fallout from the 2008 economic crisis , the European Central Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it takes ” to deal with the financial effects .
There have also been efforts to coordinate the procurement of urgently needed equipment like ventilators .
The still-open – and potentially serious – question is whether there will be a wider international response .
Reports emerging of the first cases in war-ravaged Syria and Afghanistan are a reminder that COVID-19 may before long spread to dozens of states with less developed economies and less resilient health care networks , not to mention the some 70 million people worldwide fleeing conflict or economic hardship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last week issued a $ 2 billion appeal for international aid .
This week , he called for everyone to `` act together . ''
“ COVID-19 is the greatest test that we have faced together since the formation of the United Nations , ” he said .
“ This human crisis demands coordinated , decisive , inclusive , and innovative policy action from the world ’ s leading economies – and maximum financial and technical support for the poorest and most vulnerable people and countries.
” Editor ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

The United Nations secretary-general, who seeks $2 billion in aid, called this week for united action. “This human crisis demands coordinated ... and innovative policy action from the world’s leading economies,” he said, “and maximum ... support for the poorest and most vulnerable.”
The second involves international political ramifications. With the United States having retreated, and Europe initially fumbling, China and Russia launched high-profile initiatives to help Italy. Now, the European Union is moving more assertively. But the wider international response remains a question, especially regarding war-ravaged, vulnerable countries and the some 70 million people worldwide fleeing hardship.
Democratic and more authoritarian governments have adopted many similar measures to address COVID-19. But it’s worth watching for where they diverge – including steps toward tighter controls on dissent and support for coordinated international response.
But if governments worldwide are now adapting in similar fashion, two areas remain murky. One involves national politics. China, for example, has broadened an already wide array of electronic surveillance measures. Hungary gave Prime Minister Viktor Orbán open-ended emergency powers. Egypt forced out a Western correspondent who reported the government was understating COVID-19 cases.
When it comes to COVID-19, autocratic and democratic governments alike were slow to respond. For the former, merely acknowledging the scope of the epidemic risked denting their image of strength. For the latter, initial reluctance was more about upending lives and economies.
For hundreds of millions of us across the globe, much of life as we’ve known it is now on hold. Not so, however, politics. Or geopolitics.
And in recent days, some striking patterns have emerged as governments – autocratic and democratic, mainstream and populist – deal with a public health challenge every bit as novel as the COVID-19 virus itself.
With few exceptions, they’ve been playing catch-up, in part because of an initial political reluctance to take steps widely accepted as critical in limiting the terrible loss of life: testing and tracking those exposed to the virus and promoting “physical distancing” or even full-scale lockdowns to stem its spread.
Why We Wrote This Democratic and more authoritarian governments have adopted many similar measures to address COVID-19. But it’s worth watching for where they diverge – including steps toward tighter controls on dissent and support for coordinated international response.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
For autocratic governments – those, for instance, of Russian President Vladimir Putin or Egyptian military ruler Abdel Fattah al-Sisi – or populist leaders like U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, merely acknowledging the scope of the epidemic risked denting their long-projected image of strength, self-confidence, and control.
And not just for them, but for many free-market democracies like Australia or Britain, Italy or Spain, the initial reluctance was also about upending people’s everyday lives and bringing their national economies to a grinding halt.
But the result was broadly the same: a significant delay before acting to keep the number of cases from overwhelming the capacities of caregivers.
Now, with each passing day, the imperative to act has been setting in for more countries. Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a lockdown of all India’s 1.3 billion people, setting off a flight on foot of huge numbers of migrant workers across the country.
Russia has become the latest example of a tightening of restraints. President Putin announced a few days ago that this week would be “non-working," with the country’s nearly 150 million people urged to stay home. But with the Kremlin still insisting there was “no epidemic,” many took the announcement as simply a week’s holiday. So on Monday, the mayor of Moscow directed all but essential workers to remain in their homes. The prime minister urged regional governments to follow suit.
Parting ways in key areas
Politically, for now, there’s been no price to pay for the delays. As in wartime or national emergencies, the initial popular response has been to pull together, recognize the need for extraordinary measures, and, for the most part, support their governments.
In a video message, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, himself in self-isolation after contracting the virus, enthused about the country’s uniting in response to his stay-at-home directive. In a clear reference to a 1980s remark by then-Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher that any country was just an amalgamation of individual citizens and families, he said that this crisis had proved that “there really is such a thing as society.”
In Europe, polling has shown an initial boost not just for Mr. Johnson, but for French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and, in the hardest-hit European Union state, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. President Trump’s approval rating, too, has ticked upward.
But if governments worldwide are now adapting in similar ways to the pandemic, there are two areas where the picture remains less clear – one involving national politics, the other international.
The first concerns authoritarian states, where there are signs the crisis could be used as cover for further tightening controls on dissent. In China, an already wide array of electronic surveillance measures was increased to track people’s movements and contain the virus.
In Hungary, right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is poised to impose an open-ended state of emergency allowing him to rule by decree. He also wants prison sentences for anyone publishing “false information” about the epidemic or his government’s response. Egypt last week forced out the correspondent for Britain’s Guardian newspaper after she reported that President Sisi’s government was understating the numbers of COVID-19 cases.
And the international political ramifications of the pandemic are still playing out.
For at least two major countries – China and Russia – the initial response has been out of a familiar playbook. Especially with the United States having retreated from its previous leadership role in such crises, both the Chinese and Russians have launched high-profile initiatives to provide assistance to Italy’s hard-hit public health system.
Yet after an initially fumbled response, the EU has begun to move more assertively to frame a shared response. As with the fallout from the 2008 economic crisis, the European Central Bank has now vowed to do “anything it takes” to deal with the financial effects. There have also been efforts to coordinate the procurement of urgently needed equipment like ventilators.
The still-open – and potentially serious – question is whether there will be a wider international response.
Reports emerging of the first cases in war-ravaged Syria and Afghanistan are a reminder that COVID-19 may before long spread to dozens of states with less developed economies and less resilient health care networks, not to mention the some 70 million people worldwide fleeing conflict or economic hardship.
With this in mind, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last week issued a $2 billion appeal for international aid. This week, he called for everyone to "act together."
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“COVID-19 is the greatest test that we have faced together since the formation of the United Nations,” he said. “This human crisis demands coordinated, decisive, inclusive, and innovative policy action from the world’s leading economies – and maximum financial and technical support for the poorest and most vulnerable people and countries.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-06--Prayer services during a pandemic: Why some churches stay open

“ Few of the public health measures put in place around the country hit as close to home for people of faith as restrictions on when and how congregations can gather , ” says Dallas attorney Brad Nitschke .
“ And the tension between the First Amendment ’ s protection of the free exercise of religion and recommendations of public health authorities is clearly top of mind for elected officials , as well.
” More than 80 % of U.S. houses of worship have stopped meeting in person .
Alabama , Texas , and Missouri , however , issued executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ essential ” services .
Other states offer similar exemptions for religious gatherings .
“ We ’ ve got to understand when God is in control of our life , then we can rest in the fact that we know that God , ” said Pastor Darlene Bishop Driscoll during her March 29 sermon at an Ohio megachurch that continues to meet .
“ OK , so they call us stupid .
That ’ s OK. ” In Florida last week , a sheriff arrested the pastor of a megachurch for violating a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor exempted houses of worship when he issued a statewide stay-at-home order .
It ’ s one of the most fraught questions for people of faith during the pandemic : Should we go to church ?
Rusty Reno has been a bit alarmed over the past few weeks as both civil and religious authorities began to restrict the number of people who can gather together to pray .
The Catholic theologian and conservative political thinker bristled when the New York archdiocese shut down most services over three weeks ago in response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ’ s executive order stated that houses of worship were not ordered closed .
“ I mean , right now I ’ m looking out of my window at the construction project on a very tall apartment building , and it ’ s ongoing , ” says Mr. Reno , editor of First Things , a Manhattan-based journal published by the Institute on Religion and Public Life .
“ So the trades in New York got an exemption for construction projects , the liquor stores are deemed essential services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services , ” he says .
“ So I still wish that the churches , the leaders of the church , had pressed for reasonable accommodations , ” continues Mr. Reno .
Their concern , especially now , should be to sustain the spiritual health of those entrusted to their care , he says .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , we ’ ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .
It ’ s been a refrain among a number of religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week , after President Donald Trump warned Americans that “ hard days lie ahead ” and his administration issued sobering projections of COVID-19 ’ s impact , the nation ’ s stay-at-home landscape began to change in unexpected ways .
Last Monday , the sheriff in Tampa , Florida , arrested the pastor of an Evangelical Protestant megachurch , charging him with unlawful assembly and violating the county ’ s emergency public health rules .
On Wednesday , police in Lakewood , New Jersey , broke up a funeral for a Hasidic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Gov .
Phil Murphy ’ s executive order banning large gatherings .
“ This ban applies to everyone , ” said Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer in a statement .
“ To be blunt , ignoring the Governor ’ s Order places lives at risk – not just the lives of everyday citizens , but the lives of our brave men and women in law enforcement who are required to respond in order to break up these unlawful gatherings.
” As more states began to issue versions of stay-at-home orders , responding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country would have “ a rough two weeks ” ahead , many have listed places of worship as essential services exempt from bans on public gatherings .
In Florida , Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis issued a new statewide order that listed “ essential activities ” including religious services , in effect superseding the local health rules behind the arrest of the Tampa pastor .
Last week , Alabama , Texas , and Missouri issued executive orders that include places of worship as essential services .
Michigan , too , exempts places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kansas exempts activities necessary to “ preserve constitutional or legal rights , ” including to “ perform or attend religious or faith-based services or activities ” and “ manufacture or sell firearms.
” “ Few of the public health measures put in place around the country hit as close to home for people of faith as restrictions on when and how congregations can gather , ” says Dallas attorney Brad Nitschke , a partner with Jackson Walker .
“ And the tension between the First Amendment ’ s protection of the free exercise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities is clearly top of mind for elected officials , as well.
” The vast majority of the nation ’ s houses of worship , including most Catholic dioceses and Evangelical Protestant congregations , have already stopped meeting in person , according to a March survey by the American Enterprise Institute .
Still , about 12 % of Americans who attend a church , temple , synagogue , or mosque say their congregations still continue to meet as before .
Public health officials , including the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid gathering in groups , in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19 and alleviate the strain on the health care system .
Some of these congregations have downplayed such warnings , and many maintain a skepticism toward secular science and a deep suspicion of the encroaching power of government regulations .
Some , too , express confidence in divine protection from what could be a moment of reckoning for the country .
“ We ’ ve got to understand when God is in control of our life , then we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know that God , ” said Pastor Darlene Bishop Driscoll during her March 29 sermon at Solid Rock Church in Monroe , Ohio , a multiservice megachurch that has continued to meet .
“ OK , so they call us stupid .
That ’ s OK. ” Later in the sermon she claimed the pandemic , in which 1.3 million people worldwide have been diagnosed , is God punishing the U.S. for legalizing abortion in the 1970s .
Earlier in the week a local health commissioner sent Solid Rock a letter noting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many worried about the church ’ s large gatherings .
Ohio , like other states , has also exempted places of worship from stay-at-home health directives .
“ Bringing together a large number of people during a pandemic increases the pace at which the virus spreads , overwhelming our hospital systems , and posing a significant risk to members within the congregation , ” the commissioner ’ s letter said , echoing the guidelines given by the Trump administration and the CDC .
In a statement , Solid Rock Church responded : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jesus Christ to obey the laws of our land .
Therefore , if the laws of our nation should ever change with respect to our First Amendment right to assemble , thereby restricting us from having our church doors open , we will willingly comply.
” Such postures during the crisis could do lasting harm to the cause of religious freedom , long a central concern for many Republicans and religious conservatives , says Robin Fretwell Wilson , associate dean for public engagement and a professor at the University of Illinois College of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Professor Wilson cites Supreme Court precedent that permits certain restrictions of religious expressions so long as they are applied neutrally to everyone .
Religious liberty does not mean “ every citizen can become a law unto himself , ” she says .
At the same time , Congress and dozens of states have also instituted Religious Freedom Restoration Acts , which demand authorities present both a compelling government interest for any religious restrictions , and if they do , these must be the least restrictive possible .
“ But at a time like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of us , religious people should have to cooperate with the program just like everybody else , ” says Professor Wilson , who has helped the Fairness For All initiative that works to bridge the divides between advocates of religious freedom and LGBTQ rights .
“ Every religious person can not simply say , nope , not me .
They could then be like a traveling bubble of contagion , like Typhoid Mary.
” Mr. Reno at First Things , however , sees a deeper theological problem with the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes could outlast the pandemic .
“ It ’ s the modern conceit that we can control the time and the hour of death , ” Mr. Reno says .
“ People are anguished by the reality of death , and my heart goes out to the health care workers who must face it .
But we as moderns , we believe we have the technological ability to simply send it away , which of course is an impossible task.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

“Few of the public health measures put in place around the country hit as close to home for people of faith as restrictions on when and how congregations can gather,” says Dallas attorney Brad Nitschke. “And the tension between the First Amendment’s protection of the free exercise of religion and recommendations of public health authorities is clearly top of mind for elected officials, as well.”
More than 80% of U.S. houses of worship have stopped meeting in person. Alabama , Texas , and Missouri , however, issued executive orders that include places of worship as “essential” services. Other states offer similar exemptions for religious gatherings.
“We’ve got to understand when God is in control of our life, then we can rest in the fact that we know that God,” said Pastor Darlene Bishop Driscoll during her March 29 sermon at an Ohio megachurch that continues to meet. “OK, so they call us stupid. That’s OK.”
If liquor stores and smoke shops are considered “essential,” why not religious services? That’s the question a number of conservative religious groups are asking in the wake of the nearly nationwide shutdown sparked by the coronavirus crisis.
In Florida last week, a sheriff arrested the pastor of a megachurch for violating a local shutdown order. Days later, the governor exempted houses of worship when he issued a statewide stay-at-home order.
It’s one of the most fraught questions for people of faith during the pandemic: Should we go to church?
Rusty Reno has been a bit alarmed over the past few weeks as both civil and religious authorities began to restrict the number of people who can gather together to pray.
The Catholic theologian and conservative political thinker bristled when the New York archdiocese shut down most services over three weeks ago in response to the coronavirus crisis – even though Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive order stated that houses of worship were not ordered closed.
“I mean, right now I’m looking out of my window at the construction project on a very tall apartment building, and it’s ongoing,” says Mr. Reno, editor of First Things, a Manhattan-based journal published by the Institute on Religion and Public Life. “So the trades in New York got an exemption for construction projects, the liquor stores are deemed essential services, the hookah stores are deemed essential services,” he says.
Why We Wrote This If liquor stores and smoke shops are considered “essential,” why not religious services? That’s the question a number of conservative religious groups are asking in the wake of the nearly nationwide shutdown sparked by the coronavirus crisis.
“So I still wish that the churches, the leaders of the church, had pressed for reasonable accommodations,” continues Mr. Reno. Their concern, especially now, should be to sustain the spiritual health of those entrusted to their care, he says.
Editor’s note: As a public service, we’ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.
It’s been a refrain among a number of religious conservatives during the current contagion, but last week, after President Donald Trump warned Americans that “hard days lie ahead” and his administration issued sobering projections of COVID-19’s impact, the nation’s stay-at-home landscape began to change in unexpected ways.
Carlos Barria/Reuters View caption Hide caption A person in a dog costume accompanies kids as they leave the Life Tabernacle megachurch after attending Sunday service challenging state orders against assembling in large groups to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, April 5, 2020.
Last Monday, the sheriff in Tampa, Florida, arrested the pastor of an Evangelical Protestant megachurch, charging him with unlawful assembly and violating the county’s emergency public health rules. On Wednesday, police in Lakewood, New Jersey, broke up a funeral for a Hasidic rabbi, charging 15 people with violating Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order banning large gatherings.
“This ban applies to everyone,” said Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer in a statement. “To be blunt, ignoring the Governor’s Order places lives at risk – not just the lives of everyday citizens, but the lives of our brave men and women in law enforcement who are required to respond in order to break up these unlawful gatherings.”
As more states began to issue versions of stay-at-home orders, responding to President Trump’s warning that the country would have “a rough two weeks” ahead, many have listed places of worship as essential services exempt from bans on public gatherings.
In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a new statewide order that listed “essential activities” including religious services, in effect superseding the local health rules behind the arrest of the Tampa pastor.
Last week, Alabama, Texas, and Missouri issued executive orders that include places of worship as essential services. Michigan, too, exempts places of religious worship from penalty, and Kansas exempts activities necessary to “preserve constitutional or legal rights,” including to “perform or attend religious or faith-based services or activities” and “manufacture or sell firearms.”
“Few of the public health measures put in place around the country hit as close to home for people of faith as restrictions on when and how congregations can gather,” says Dallas attorney Brad Nitschke, a partner with Jackson Walker. “And the tension between the First Amendment’s protection of the free exercise of religion and recommendations of public health authorities is clearly top of mind for elected officials, as well.”
The vast majority of the nation’s houses of worship, including most Catholic dioceses and Evangelical Protestant congregations, have already stopped meeting in person, according to a March survey by the American Enterprise Institute. Still, about 12% of Americans who attend a church, temple, synagogue, or mosque say their congregations still continue to meet as before.
Public health officials, including the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have urged communities of all kinds to avoid gathering in groups, in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19 and alleviate the strain on the health care system.
Some of these congregations have downplayed such warnings, and many maintain a skepticism toward secular science and a deep suspicion of the encroaching power of government regulations. Some, too, express confidence in divine protection from what could be a moment of reckoning for the country.
Carlos Barria/Reuters View caption Hide caption Local residents leave Sunday service at the Life Tabernacle megachurch challenging state orders against assembling in large groups as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, April 5, 2020.
“We’ve got to understand when God is in control of our life, then we can rest in the fact that we know that God,” said Pastor Darlene Bishop Driscoll during her March 29 sermon at Solid Rock Church in Monroe, Ohio, a multiservice megachurch that has continued to meet. “OK, so they call us stupid. That’s OK.”
Later in the sermon she claimed the pandemic, in which 1.3 million people worldwide have been diagnosed, is God punishing the U.S. for legalizing abortion in the 1970s.
Earlier in the week a local health commissioner sent Solid Rock a letter noting the complaints from those in the surrounding community, many worried about the church’s large gatherings. Ohio, like other states, has also exempted places of worship from stay-at-home health directives.
“Bringing together a large number of people during a pandemic increases the pace at which the virus spreads, overwhelming our hospital systems, and posing a significant risk to members within the congregation,” the commissioner’s letter said, echoing the guidelines given by the Trump administration and the CDC.
In a statement, Solid Rock Church responded: “As Christians we are charged by Jesus Christ to obey the laws of our land. Therefore, if the laws of our nation should ever change with respect to our First Amendment right to assemble, thereby restricting us from having our church doors open, we will willingly comply.”
Such postures during the crisis could do lasting harm to the cause of religious freedom, long a central concern for many Republicans and religious conservatives, says Robin Fretwell Wilson, associate dean for public engagement and a professor at the University of Illinois College of Law.
As a legal issue, Professor Wilson cites Supreme Court precedent that permits certain restrictions of religious expressions so long as they are applied neutrally to everyone. Religious liberty does not mean “every citizen can become a law unto himself,” she says.
At the same time, Congress and dozens of states have also instituted Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, which demand authorities present both a compelling government interest for any religious restrictions, and if they do, these must be the least restrictive possible.
“But at a time like this, in a crisis that affects all of us, religious people should have to cooperate with the program just like everybody else,” says Professor Wilson, who has helped the Fairness For All initiative that works to bridge the divides between advocates of religious freedom and LGBTQ rights. “Every religious person cannot simply say, nope, not me. They could then be like a traveling bubble of contagion, like Typhoid Mary.”
Mr. Reno at First Things, however, sees a deeper theological problem with the country’s virtual shutdown and is concerned that damaging changes could outlast the pandemic.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“It’s the modern conceit that we can control the time and the hour of death,” Mr. Reno says. “People are anguished by the reality of death, and my heart goes out to the health care workers who must face it. But we as moderns, we believe we have the technological ability to simply send it away, which of course is an impossible task.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, we’ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-06--Global economy flooded with resources and resolve to meet virus

The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed .
The following are the latest developments on Monday related to the global economy , the work place , and the spread of the virus .
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is preparing to announce a $ 1 trillion economic package to help the country weather the coronavirus crisis .
Mr. Abe said Monday he plans to disclose details of the package as early as Tuesday .
Japan , the world 's third-biggest economy , was already in a contraction late last year before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The government has been slow to roll out containment measures , on a piecemeal basis , and only recently announced it would postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by one year .
But a surge in infections has led Mr. Abe and other leaders to seek more stringent methods to contain the pandemic .
Mr. Abe is expected to announce a state of emergency on Tuesday , at least for the hardest-hit big cities , such as Tokyo .
Japan 's package amounts to about one-fifth of its economy and includes $ 55 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help protect jobs , and extensions of deadlines for taxes and social benefit payments .
Hungary 's prime minister has announced a second package of economic measures .
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Monday that the measures would reallocate some 18 % to 20 % of Hungary 's state budget , or as much as around $ 32 billion , while raising the budget deficit from 1 % of GDP to 2.7 % .
Mr. Orban said the state will help pay some wages in the private sector and spend about $ 1.33 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hungary will also make available loans totaling some $ 5.9 billion for businesses and gradually boost pension payments from February 2021 .
Opposition parties called for extending unemployment benefits and for immediate extra payments to pensioners and workers in the health sector .
Hungary has registered 744 coronavirus cases , with 38 deaths linked to COVID-19 .
The founder and top shareholder of European carrier EasyJet says the company has enough money only to get through August at best and wants to cancel a 4.5 billion-pound ( $ 5.5 billion ) contract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 107 `` useless aircraft . ''
Stelios Haji-Ioannou says that terminating the contract is the only way for shareholders to retain any value in their holdings in the company .
EasyJet , which flies predominantly in Europe , has grounded all 344 planes and like other airlines is struggling mightily with the global lockdowns on business and travel .
European companies are expected to get financial support from the government , though unlike the United States there has not been a coordinated regional plan to bail out airlines or planemakers .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Airlines , United Airlines , and JetBlue applied for a share of the $ 25 billion in federal grants designed to cover airline payrolls for the next six months .
None disclosed the amount they are seeking .
The grant money was part of the $ 2 trillion relief bill approved last week .
Delta 's CEO says his airline is burning more than $ 60 million in cash per day , and United Airline 's president puts it at $ 100 million a day .
Singapore will suspend its Changi Airport Terminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The airlines in Terminal 2 will be reallocated across the remaining terminals .
Its Terminal 4 operations have also been scaled down considerably .
Changi Airport may consider suspending operations temporarily if the remaining airlines choose to suspend or adjust their flight schedules .
Apple plans to ship over a million face shields to health care workers by the end of the week and continue to send that amount each week after that , CEO Tim Cook said in a video posted on Twitter .
The company has also sourced more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chain .
Apple hopes to quickly expand distribution beyond the U.S. , Mr. Cook said .
Hilton and American Express are donating 1 million U.S. hotel rooms to medical workers who need to sleep , relax , or isolate from their families .
The program , which begins next week and runs through the end of May , will provide free rooms to doctors , nurses , paramedics , and others , the companies said on Monday .
American Express and Hilton are paying for the rooms , which are being provided at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hilton will offer the rooms through 10 professional organizations , including the American Hospital Association and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians .
World shares climbed on Monday as investors gleaned hope from signs that the battle against the coronavirus pandemic may be making some progress in some hard-hit areas .
Energy markets have recovered somewhat on expectations that Saudi Arabia and Russia might tone down a price war launched at a time when the world is awash in oil as demand collapses .
Reports that a meeting planned for Monday has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shadow over Monday trading .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. The following are the latest developments on Monday related to the global economy, the work place, and the spread of the virus.
Japan to announce state of emergency benefits
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is preparing to announce a $1 trillion economic package to help the country weather the coronavirus crisis. Mr. Abe said Monday he plans to disclose details of the package as early as Tuesday.
Japan, the world's third-biggest economy, was already in a contraction late last year before the virus outbreak walloped business and travel. The government has been slow to roll out containment measures, on a piecemeal basis, and only recently announced it would postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by one year. But a surge in infections has led Mr. Abe and other leaders to seek more stringent methods to contain the pandemic. Mr. Abe is expected to announce a state of emergency on Tuesday, at least for the hardest-hit big cities, such as Tokyo.
Japan's package amounts to about one-fifth of its economy and includes $55 billion in cash benefits, loans to help protect jobs, and extensions of deadlines for taxes and social benefit payments.
Hungary supports wages, job creation
Hungary's prime minister has announced a second package of economic measures.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Monday that the measures would reallocate some 18% to 20% of Hungary's state budget, or as much as around $32 billion, while raising the budget deficit from 1% of GDP to 2.7%.
Mr. Orban said the state will help pay some wages in the private sector and spend about $1.33 billion to support investments targeting job creation.
Hungary will also make available loans totaling some $5.9 billion for businesses and gradually boost pension payments from February 2021.
Opposition parties called for extending unemployment benefits and for immediate extra payments to pensioners and workers in the health sector.
Hungary has registered 744 coronavirus cases, with 38 deaths linked to COVID-19.
Airlines streamline, seek support
The founder and top shareholder of European carrier EasyJet says the company has enough money only to get through August at best and wants to cancel a 4.5 billion-pound ($5.5 billion) contract with planemaker Airbus for what he calls 107 "useless aircraft."
Stelios Haji-Ioannou says that terminating the contract is the only way for shareholders to retain any value in their holdings in the company. EasyJet, which flies predominantly in Europe, has grounded all 344 planes and like other airlines is struggling mightily with the global lockdowns on business and travel.
European companies are expected to get financial support from the government, though unlike the United States there has not been a coordinated regional plan to bail out airlines or planemakers.
In the U.S., Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and JetBlue applied for a share of the $25 billion in federal grants designed to cover airline payrolls for the next six months. None disclosed the amount they are seeking. The grant money was part of the $2 trillion relief bill approved last week. Delta's CEO says his airline is burning more than $60 million in cash per day, and United Airline's president puts it at $100 million a day.
Singapore will suspend its Changi Airport Terminal 2 for 18 months from May 1. The airlines in Terminal 2 will be reallocated across the remaining terminals. Its Terminal 4 operations have also been scaled down considerably. Changi Airport may consider suspending operations temporarily if the remaining airlines choose to suspend or adjust their flight schedules.
Private companies donate supplies, resources to health care workers
Apple plans to ship over a million face shields to health care workers by the end of the week and continue to send that amount each week after that, CEO Tim Cook said in a video posted on Twitter.
The company has also sourced more than 20 million face masks through its supply chain. Apple hopes to quickly expand distribution beyond the U.S., Mr. Cook said.
Hilton and American Express are donating 1 million U.S. hotel rooms to medical workers who need to sleep, relax, or isolate from their families. The program, which begins next week and runs through the end of May, will provide free rooms to doctors, nurses, paramedics, and others, the companies said on Monday. American Express and Hilton are paying for the rooms, which are being provided at or below cost by Hilton franchisees. Hilton will offer the rooms through 10 professional organizations, including the American Hospital Association and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians.
Markets see signs of recovery
World shares climbed on Monday as investors gleaned hope from signs that the battle against the coronavirus pandemic may be making some progress in some hard-hit areas.
Energy markets have recovered somewhat on expectations that Saudi Arabia and Russia might tone down a price war launched at a time when the world is awash in oil as demand collapses. Reports that a meeting planned for Monday has been pushed back to Thursday cast a shadow over Monday trading.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-03-26--In El Salvador, quick COVID-19 response fuels fears of an iron fist

Now , El Salvador is in good company , as neighboring nations catch up on anti-coronavirus measures .
But in a region with recent memory of abuses , some critics eye those actions warily as well .
Mr. Bukele won office last year as an anti-corruption outsider , and has gained a reputation for intimidating critics and the media .
In early February , he had a showdown with lawmakers that further fueled distrust : Frustrated with legislators ’ delay to approve an international loan , he entered the chamber along with dozens of armed soldiers dressed for battle .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions to fight the new coronavirus , led by President Nayib Bukele , will put El Salvador on the right side of history .
But in a region with a history of authoritarian governments , such moves have also provoked concern about how officials could stretch their power .
But not El Salvador .
The Central American country , about the size of Massachusetts , took strong action before it had registered a single case .
More recently , the nation has implemented a nationwide quarantine , and the young president threatened that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ containment centers.
” Earlier this month , Latin American leaders seemed to be looking the other way when it came to COVID-19 .
While much of the world has been busy closing schools , clearing grocery store shelves , and calling for social distancing , gripped by the spread of the new coronavirus , Latin America has been slow on the uptake .
For weeks , leaders of the region ’ s largest economies , Brazil and Mexico , carried on with crowded political rallies , shaking hands and doling out hugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community .
A large rock concert took place unimpeded just last week in Mexico City .
But one Latin American nation took an early stand in the fight against COVID-19 .
El Salvador , about the size of Massachusetts , barred entry to nearly all foreigners , required a 30-day quarantine for Salvadorans arriving from other countries , suspended schools for three weeks , and halted gatherings of 500 people or more – all before it had registered a single positive case .
The early March moves gained international attention , with many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic could hit its underfunded health care system .
But for others , the extreme measures – which went on to include restrictions on freedom of movement and assembly – are cause for concern .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Latin America has a long history of authoritarian governments clamping down on personal freedoms and human rights .
And although Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele won office as an anti-corruption outsider , he ’ s sown seeds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That sentiment was underscored following an early February showdown with lawmakers , in which he brought the armed forces into the Legislative Assembly to pressure legislators to approve an international loan .
Mr. Bukele and his supporters insist today ’ s tough COVID-19 decisions will put him and El Salvador on the right side of history , but critics worry they ’ re witnessing a testing ground for how far the government can stretch its power now – and possibly in the future .
Back in February , long before most people had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of China would end up on their doorstep , Mr. Bukele made a risky bet .
The young leader , who previously served as mayor of the capital , San Salvador , was growing frustrated with the National Assembly ’ s inaction on the loan .
On Feb. 9 , he entered the Legislative Assembly along with dozens of armed soldiers and police officers dressed for battle , demanding the loan ’ s approval to carry out crime-fighting initiatives .
The stunt triggered a nation that lived through a brutal 12-year civil war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on both ends of the political spectrum denounced the move as an attempted coup .
It wasn ’ t Mr. Bukele ’ s first experiment with Latin America ’ s infamous “ iron fist ” approach to governance – already he ’ d gained a reputation for intimidating critics and the media – but it was his most extreme .
And it set the stage for a more skeptical El Salvador when he announced action against the coronavirus .
“ Today we all lost , ” tweeted Salvadoran lawyer and anti-corruption researcher Wilson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legislative Assembly approved restrictions on some constitutional rights , like freedom of assembly , to fight COVID-19 .
It did not approve requests to limit freedom of expression , however .
“ The worst thing is not the virus , it ’ s the next few years that will come from an authoritarianism that will gradually destroy our rights and guarantees.
” Mr. Sandoval acknowledges that a government should have some wiggle room when confronting a historic emergency like COVID-19 – particularly in a nation where health resources are scant .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he says of many world leaders ’ approaches right now .
When Mr. Bukele , for example , first announced the quarantine for Salvadorans returning from abroad , there was a rush to find housing for them .
Initially citizens of all ages were sheltered together , which public health officials criticized as inappropriate for those deemed at higher risk , like people over age 60 or with preexisting conditions .
Journalists are still struggling to get concrete information from the government about shelter locations and procedures .
“ How big of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Sandoval asks of leaders working in emergency situations .
One step that would give him more confidence is if the president put technocrats as the face of the response instead of politicians , he says .
“ The government is taking advantage of an emergency and that will affect democracy now and later , ” he says .
Mr. Bukele has sky-high approval ratings , hovering around 90 % .
A central concern is whether , if the president can curtail rights without much pushback today , he could take that as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the future .
Neighboring Honduras and Nicaragua have moved toward removing limits on reelection in recent years .
On March 21 , following the confirmation of the first positive coronavirus case , El Salvador implemented a national quarantine for 30 days .
Only one person per family will be allowed to leave the home to shop .
Doctors , journalists , the military , and other critical public servants and merchants will be exempt .
“ We are going to make some quick decisions that are going to include mistakes , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going to have incredible costs for our economy , ” Mr. Bukele said in announcing the quarantine .
El Salvador has always been polarized , says local reporter Julia Gavarrete , who has been covering the nation ’ s measures around the coronavirus .
However , the coronavirus has been something of a uniting moment for Salvadorans , who seem to recognize its many risks for the nation ’ s public health system and the economy .
“ The population is being really realistic , ” regardless of political leanings , says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website Revista GatoEncerrado .
“ Many are conscious that it ’ s better to try and work together and stay home so that the virus doesn ’ t spread.
” However , “ people are really afraid , ” she says .
And “ fear is part of the president ’ s discourse.
” An avid Twitter user , the president called out legislators earlier this week for trying to block measures he believes are necessary to fend off COVID-19 .
“ DON ’ T KILL OUR PEOPLE , I BEG YOU ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s also threatened citizens that if they violate the country ’ s quarantine , they ’ ll be taken to “ containment centers ” for 30 days .
“ It ’ s important for the president to raise awareness , but we could get to the point where it drives panic , ” Ms. Gavarrete says .
When the first COVID-19 case was confirmed last week , Mr. Bukele openly criticized the patient , who he says likely reentered the country illegally after traveling from Italy .
His supporters on social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head , demanding the government release the patient ’ s photo .
Although El Salvador led the way in tough measures against the coronavirus in Latin America , many neighboring nations followed suit .
Over the past week , governments have restricted international flights and canceled large gatherings .
On March 16 , Honduras suspended some constitutional rights , like freedom of speech and movement , for a week .
Guatemala ordered a weeklong curfew between 4 p.m. and 4 a.m. A handful of Central American countries – excluding El Salvador – signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus ’ s spread .
El Salvador ’ s leader isn ’ t the only one whose coronavirus measures have been eyed with suspicion .
“ The whole Northern Triangle , as a region , came out of civil wars and recent histories of human rights abuses and autocratic governments , ” says Geoff Thale , president of the Washington Office on Latin America , a human rights advocacy organization .
“ They have all been moving slowly to rebuild democratic institutions and exercise checks and balances and political restraints.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see measures that look like the autocratic , unaccountable governance of the past , even if they may be necessary from a public health standpoint .
At this moment , the key is for governments to make their decisions “ in the context of transparency , responsibility , and respect for democratic norms.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

Now, El Salvador is in good company, as neighboring nations catch up on anti-coronavirus measures. But in a region with recent memory of abuses, some critics eye those actions warily as well.
Mr. Bukele won office last year as an anti-corruption outsider, and has gained a reputation for intimidating critics and the media. In early February, he had a showdown with lawmakers that further fueled distrust: Frustrated with legislators’ delay to approve an international loan, he entered the chamber along with dozens of armed soldiers dressed for battle.
Many insist that today’s tough decisions to fight the new coronavirus, led by President Nayib Bukele, will put El Salvador on the right side of history. But in a region with a history of authoritarian governments, such moves have also provoked concern about how officials could stretch their power.
Around the world, quick action against the coronavirus has prompted praise, but also worry that leaders could exploit power down the road. That’s especially true in places where authoritarianism is hardly a distant memory.
But not El Salvador. The Central American country, about the size of Massachusetts, took strong action before it had registered a single case. More recently, the nation has implemented a nationwide quarantine, and the young president threatened that citizens breaking it would be brought to “containment centers.”
Earlier this month, Latin American leaders seemed to be looking the other way when it came to COVID-19.
While much of the world has been busy closing schools, clearing grocery store shelves, and calling for social distancing, gripped by the spread of the new coronavirus, Latin America has been slow on the uptake.
For weeks, leaders of the region’s largest economies, Brazil and Mexico, carried on with crowded political rallies, shaking hands and doling out hugs, despite warnings from the public health community. A large rock concert took place unimpeded just last week in Mexico City.
But one Latin American nation took an early stand in the fight against COVID-19. El Salvador, about the size of Massachusetts, barred entry to nearly all foreigners, required a 30-day quarantine for Salvadorans arriving from other countries, suspended schools for three weeks, and halted gatherings of 500 people or more – all before it had registered a single positive case.
Why We Wrote This Around the world, quick action against the coronavirus has prompted praise, but also worry that leaders could exploit power down the road. That’s especially true in places where authoritarianism is hardly a distant memory.
The early March moves gained international attention, with many praising El Salvador for recognizing how severely the pandemic could hit its underfunded health care system. But for others, the extreme measures – which went on to include restrictions on freedom of movement and assembly – are cause for concern.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Latin America has a long history of authoritarian governments clamping down on personal freedoms and human rights. And although Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele won office as an anti-corruption outsider, he’s sown seeds of distrust among parts of the population. That sentiment was underscored following an early February showdown with lawmakers, in which he brought the armed forces into the Legislative Assembly to pressure legislators to approve an international loan.
Mr. Bukele and his supporters insist today’s tough COVID-19 decisions will put him and El Salvador on the right side of history, but critics worry they’re witnessing a testing ground for how far the government can stretch its power now – and possibly in the future.
Setting the stage
Back in February, long before most people had an inkling the novel coronavirus ravaging parts of China would end up on their doorstep, Mr. Bukele made a risky bet. The young leader, who previously served as mayor of the capital, San Salvador, was growing frustrated with the National Assembly’s inaction on the loan. On Feb. 9, he entered the Legislative Assembly along with dozens of armed soldiers and police officers dressed for battle, demanding the loan’s approval to carry out crime-fighting initiatives.
The stunt triggered a nation that lived through a brutal 12-year civil war and years of autocratic leadership. Lawmakers on both ends of the political spectrum denounced the move as an attempted coup. It wasn’t Mr. Bukele’s first experiment with Latin America’s infamous “iron fist” approach to governance – already he’d gained a reputation for intimidating critics and the media – but it was his most extreme. And it set the stage for a more skeptical El Salvador when he announced action against the coronavirus.
“Today we all lost,” tweeted Salvadoran lawyer and anti-corruption researcher Wilson Sandoval on March 14, after the Legislative Assembly approved restrictions on some constitutional rights, like freedom of assembly, to fight COVID-19. It did not approve requests to limit freedom of expression, however. “The worst thing is not the virus, it’s the next few years that will come from an authoritarianism that will gradually destroy our rights and guarantees.”
Mr. Sandoval acknowledges that a government should have some wiggle room when confronting a historic emergency like COVID-19 – particularly in a nation where health resources are scant.
“It’s almost trial and error,” he says of many world leaders’ approaches right now.
When Mr. Bukele, for example, first announced the quarantine for Salvadorans returning from abroad, there was a rush to find housing for them. Initially citizens of all ages were sheltered together, which public health officials criticized as inappropriate for those deemed at higher risk, like people over age 60 or with preexisting conditions. Journalists are still struggling to get concrete information from the government about shelter locations and procedures.
“How big of a margin should they get?” Mr. Sandoval asks of leaders working in emergency situations. One step that would give him more confidence is if the president put technocrats as the face of the response instead of politicians, he says.
“The government is taking advantage of an emergency and that will affect democracy now and later,” he says. Mr. Bukele has sky-high approval ratings, hovering around 90%. A central concern is whether, if the president can curtail rights without much pushback today, he could take that as a green light for other extreme steps in the future. Neighboring Honduras and Nicaragua have moved toward removing limits on reelection in recent years.
On March 21, following the confirmation of the first positive coronavirus case, El Salvador implemented a national quarantine for 30 days. Only one person per family will be allowed to leave the home to shop. Doctors, journalists, the military, and other critical public servants and merchants will be exempt.
“We are going to make some quick decisions that are going to include mistakes, that are going to cause discomfort, that are going to have incredible costs for our economy,” Mr. Bukele said in announcing the quarantine.
Understanding – and fear
El Salvador has always been polarized, says local reporter Julia Gavarrete, who has been covering the nation’s measures around the coronavirus. However, the coronavirus has been something of a uniting moment for Salvadorans, who seem to recognize its many risks for the nation’s public health system and the economy.
“The population is being really realistic,” regardless of political leanings, says Ms. Gavarrete, who writes for the website Revista GatoEncerrado. “Many are conscious that it’s better to try and work together and stay home so that the virus doesn’t spread.”
However, “people are really afraid,” she says. And “fear is part of the president’s discourse.” An avid Twitter user, the president called out legislators earlier this week for trying to block measures he believes are necessary to fend off COVID-19. “DON’T KILL OUR PEOPLE, I BEG YOU” he wrote in all caps.
He’s also threatened citizens that if they violate the country’s quarantine, they’ll be taken to “containment centers” for 30 days.
“It’s important for the president to raise awareness, but we could get to the point where it drives panic,” Ms. Gavarrete says. When the first COVID-19 case was confirmed last week, Mr. Bukele openly criticized the patient, who he says likely reentered the country illegally after traveling from Italy. His supporters on social media began calling for this patient’s head, demanding the government release the patient’s photo.
Not just El Salvador
Although El Salvador led the way in tough measures against the coronavirus in Latin America, many neighboring nations followed suit. Over the past week, governments have restricted international flights and canceled large gatherings. On March 16, Honduras suspended some constitutional rights, like freedom of speech and movement, for a week. Guatemala ordered a weeklong curfew between 4 p.m. and 4 a.m. A handful of Central American countries – excluding El Salvador – signed on to a regional action plan against the virus’s spread.
El Salvador’s leader isn’t the only one whose coronavirus measures have been eyed with suspicion.
“The whole Northern Triangle, as a region, came out of civil wars and recent histories of human rights abuses and autocratic governments,” says Geoff Thale, president of the Washington Office on Latin America, a human rights advocacy organization. “They have all been moving slowly to rebuild democratic institutions and exercise checks and balances and political restraints.”
He says it’s “troubling” to see measures that look like the autocratic, unaccountable governance of the past, even if they may be necessary from a public health standpoint.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
At this moment, the key is for governments to make their decisions “in the context of transparency, responsibility, and respect for democratic norms.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.