Since the USA has no effective federal leadership, saving us from COVID-19 is now up to the states. So we have 50 experiments in progress; more, really, with many cities setting their own quarantine or “opening” rules. By mid-July, we’ll be seeing graphs of preliminary results. The numbers will still be shaky. No one besides Trump projects that enough testing will happen by then to show us who has the virus. Most likely, given our dangerously idiotic President, the USA will still be #1 – in COVID cases as well as military spending.

There are many things states simply cannot do on their own. They can’t get good prices buying masks and tests, since the federal government refuses to use its massive power to bargain for all; instead, the feds are forcing states to compete with them and one another, and then stealing state supplies. States can’t get food dumped by farmers unable to access their usual markets to the hungry people who need it in other states. They can’t set firm guidelines for the American people to follow and believe in. They can’t raise enough taxes from the richest to keep their people from starving, being evicted, or getting their utilities shut off.

This patchwork of state experiments is bound to cost a lot of lives. States will open too soon, see deaths skyrocket, and have to go back to quarantine. According to new data from the University of Pennsylvania, relaxing lockdown orders too soon could cost 233,000 lives.

If some people insist on their freedom to ignore safety precautions, other people will be free to die.

A rational, science-based nation-wide plan for re-opening safely would save much confusion and many lives. Wouldn’t it be great if the states could unite somehow? If we could form a union across the US? Like create a United States of America?

Oh…right…