Rantz: Washington’s coronavirus stay-at-home order could end now if we wanted

Gov. Jay Inslee and other governors should know that their coronavirus stay-at-home orders could be over right now if we wanted. We don’t need them to decree it so.

If everyone decided they wanted it to be done tomorrow, they could go to work, open up their restaurants or retail, or head on over to a park with friends. The stay-at-home order is only in effect because the majority of people, smartly, have decided to follow the guidance. I will continue to follow the guidance and I hope you will too.

But we have the power to end this all, should we choose.

Governors and any local leaders should be reminded of this as they consider their next steps to reopening parts of the economy. Because I fear their inaction, political cowardice, or uncertainty will lead people to break the order prematurely.

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The people can end coronavirus stay-at-home orders

There’s not enough law enforcement in the country to enforce any stay-at-home orders if enough people decide to revolt and go about their business. Stay-at-home orders are only as good as the leaders implementing them are trusted.

Gov. Inslee could start to lose enough trust where people start to violate the order. And violations beget violations.

We’ve already seen this happen with multiple protests to the inexplicably silly ban on recreational fishing. There is no coronavirus threat for fishing alone in a boat. You’re at a higher likelihood of getting and spreading the coronavirus by going to a grocery store. Similarly, there’s no legitimate reason a publicly funded construction project is somehow safer than a privately funded one. Those moves were based on politics, not public health.

But now things are changing. Inslee is finally starting to get a feel for Washingtonians. That explains his about-face on some recreational activities and construction projects. There’s no new meaningful data, which is why he won’t present it for review. He just likes putting on his glasses and squeezing the word “data” as many times into a speech as possible. He made the change because the mood of the state is changing.

You should still follow the rules

I don’t think people should go back to “normal” tomorrow, or any time in the near future. I do, however, think the data in most states justifies easing some restrictions. And there’s certainly enough data to warrant an end to the inconsistently applied shutdowns on businesses and recreation.

In Pierce County, Executive Bruce Dammeier has the right position, pushing for a reasonable, slow, and safe restart to the local economy. It’s why their approach will ultimately work so well.

But Inslee needs to make sure he’s paying attention to all of Washington, not just the western part of the state. There’s no reason Garfield County should be under the exact same rules as King or Snohomish counties. And once enough people in Garfield County violate, so, too, will folks in Asotin and Columbia. Then Walla Walla afterwards. Then, folks here will start to wonder why a family in Milton or Lynnwood must hunker down like someone in Seattle or Everett.

But, but the polls!

Inslee can cite any poll he likes, but people are getting antsy to get things going again, even if they approve of a coronavirus stay-at-home order in a general sense. And it’s understandable to want to get things moving again.

Inslee needs to be in better touch with folks outside his bubble. In his bubble, they don’t know what it’s like dealing with an an economic slowdown because they’re not losing any paychecks. But others are.

Inslee waited until after protests to start making some reasonable, simple changes. He needs to be more proactive. A little change can go a long way. The change in fishing or golfing, ultimately, impacts just a few people. But it earns Inslee goodwill and it gives the impression that people are being heard.

If Inslee refuses and waits too long, he’s going to wake up one day and he will have lost too many people, willing to foolishly spread the coronavirus because they have a leader who isn’t listening to their needs. And what’s been asked, so far, has been reasonable and can be done in a safe way.

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