Closing Churches, Barbers, Hair Salons, Bars And Gyms: What Problem Is Newsom Trying To Solve?

As I said in my last post, I'm disappointed to find almost no insightful commentary on Gov Newsom's reversal of reopening, even though it represents a clear indication that the State feels able to override constitutionally guaranteed freedom of religious expression and assembly, as well as the natural right to earn a living, at its whim.

But one thing did occur to me. Although all the now-proscribed activities vary in potential exposure -- huffing, puffing, sweating, and showering at a gym isn't the same as having someone cut your hair, which aren't the same as tossing back some shooters at a bar, while none of those is much like sitting prayerfully on a sanitized pew while refraining from exchanging the peace or singing. But they all do have something in common: they are, or at least used to be, the focus of informal social networks.

Barber shops and hair salons continue to be major social centers in the black community. Churches are major social network centers as well as houses of worship. Bars, of course. Gyms, apparently too. The authoritarian state has, for whatever reason, suspended the effective operation of all these, for an indefinite period. The medical reason for this is at best unclear, since churches in particular have maintained thorough social distancing policies.

At the same time, BLM protests are permitted to continue.

When asked if the closure order included protests Newsom said, “We have a framework around protests,” indicating that the new restrictions would prohibit indoor, but not outdoor gatherings of that type.

"Outdoor protests" (is there any other kind?) are extensively covered by the media and tend to be highly demoralizing to ordinary citizens, since they often feature demands to defund police, glorifying criminals, and such, not to mention the potential that they'll erupt into looting and violence. But venues where anxiety might be reduced via ordinary social networks are now proscribed. This isn't good for mental health.

So far, I'm seeing very little in the nature of planning or ideas for proactive response to these new conditions on social media, possibly because people are stunned. I hope this begins to change.

It seems to me that the pretty clearly arbitrary nature of the restrictions leaves them open to constitutional challenge: the State looks the other way over mask wearing and social distancing at "protests", but prohibits normal assembly, even observing social distancing.

But even beyond that, these things tend to backfire. The normal social venues have been under severe restriction since March. People have already formed their opinions and are more and more likely to act on them at the next election, no matter they can't chat with their neighbors much in the meantime. Newsom's rollbacks simply amplify existing resentments.