Elections in Birmingham, Thoughts on Weasels
The city council is bad, but the mayor is worse and all need to be run out of town as fast as the stupid anti-street racing speed bumps they put all over downtown will allow.
Consider before voting tomorrow: In a moment of crisis, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and the Birmingham City Council acted decisively to cover their asses. It was something to see. There was a scramble to not tic off constituency and still be able to say that they “acted.” It was cowardice.
In March of 2020, COVID moved in public consciousness from dire scientific warnings of the type we’re all dulled to, having survived wave after wave of bird flu/SARS predictions on the killer bees model. All over the news, it was here and all the Peters cried “I told you so.” People realized we were facing something more than a bad flu season and that what had arrived promised more than devastating but pocketed outbreaks.
Big questions needed grappling with. When and to what degree can the public’s rights be set aside in an emergency? What is the role of the government in interpreting and implementing suggestions from medical experts? Can blanket pronouncements be laid down when there are differences in vulnerability among people of different ages, degrees of relative health? The role and reliability of expertise was in question. To paraphrase Jonah Goldberg, the high priests had lately been getting a lot wrong, and the rabble was starting to notice.
Woodfin and the Council sidestepped all of this.
“Ordinance No. 20-48: An Ordinance to Establish a “Shelter in Place Order” for the City of Birmingham During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency” is collection of dos and don’ts and unless you want tos. It says practically nothing.
My favorite:
“(d) Subject to the exceptions further provided in subsection (e) of this ordinance, all travel, including, without limitation, travel on foot, bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, automobile, or public transit is prohibited. Transportation in Interstate Commerce is not governed by this ordinance.”
Sound decisive, doesn’t it. Then, under exceptions:
“(iii) Outdoor Activities. To engage in outdoor activity and recreation, provided that the recreational activity does not involve physical contact with other persons and individuals comply with social distancing requirements, including, without limitation, walking, hiking, running, cycling; use of scooters, roller skates, skateboards, or other personal mobility devices; or travel in a vehicle with household members to a location where it is possible to walk, hike, run or ride a bike, or operate personal mobility devices, while maintaining social distancing practices.”
So don’t go out walking, biking, or scooting unless you’re prepared to say that you are walking, biking, or scooting for health reasons. And don’t drive unless you prepared to say that you are driving in order to walk, bike, or scoot for health reasons. If that fib doesn’t suit you, there are others that’ll work as well. Say you’re on the way to the grocery store. That’s an exception too. Maybe you’re traveling from one location to another location outside the city or on your way to attend a public gathering of nine or less people. All allowed.
It doesn’t matter what you think of the national or global reaction to COVID. If you think governments should have reacted more vigorously to keep people safe, that saving lives supersedes other considerations, Woodfin and the Council failed you. They threw out contradictory proclamation pretending to be action.
If your a libertarian type, they didn’t just claim sovereignty over your freedoms, they did so in the name of an emergency they had to know they were doing nothing to contain. That’s just insulting. You don’t have to be a member of the freeze dried lasagna set to get mad. The question of rights likely didn’t come up as they had no intention of impinging on much with the feckless order. Oprah types and morning shows taught people socially righteous shaming so compliance on the small stuff was a given. I don’t think it was intended because I don’t think they’re that thoughtful, but the only result of the ordinance was that precedent for suspending rights went down in black and white without debate or consideration. Domain was blithely asserted so all involved could point to a useless document and tout themselves as the kind of “bold leader who acts decisively.” Woodfin and the Council failed you.
None of the incumbents who voted for the ordinance deserve re-election. These pastors don’t like Woodfin for different reasons. They seem petty. Apparently, he didn’t drop by their functions to kiss rings. My favorite part of the linked article is a quote from Woodfin campaign spokesperson that ends a response to the pastor’s accusations by saying of them, “and frankly, insulting.” For aspiring novelists out there, ending dialogue with “and frankly, insulting” is fiction writer shorthand implying “couldn’t make eye contact.” I don’t care why the pastors oppose him. We’re on the same team. Woodfin’s been a disaster.
There are eight others vying for Woodin’s office and twenty-nine candidates after nine council seats. I hope we clear the board, but figure the incumbents will sweep. There’s not a challenging name support is coalescing on. Recognition likely wins it, which would be a shame. No one who voted for the ordinance deserves your vote. Cowards, one and all.