The View from the Hermitage, Day 10

The Editorial Board of The New York Times last night, in a rather lengthy op-ed piece, reported "Coronavirus is Advancing. All Americans Need to Shelter in Place." If that wasn't enough, there was this subtitle: "The worst of the pandemic is yet to come. Listen to the medical experts. It's time for a national lockdown." The Board conceded that the President may not have the authority to order a national lockdown, but noted that he can "use the bully pulpit" to pressure 50 governors into declaring 50 state-wide lockdowns. This sounds good to me, though for this to work, I would think that the states that have already locked down would likely need to stay locked down so that the country as a whole can emerge after two weeks.

There is news this morning that the first-in-line heir to the British throne, Charles, has tested positive for covid-19. He had not been with the queen in two weeks, so she may be safe. She has been self-isolating anyway since her age, 93, puts her in one of the highest risk categories. Charles, after all, is 71. I noted to older son that there were likely Brits secretly hoping that Charles would pass so that William would become heir to the throne. I wonder what he feels like right now. Does he feel ready to be the heir were his father to die? Would he be ready to be king? Those are not questions I would want to be asking myself. Older son wondered if Harry might want to return to the royal fold were his father to die. My vote was that he would not. I do hope, though, that he would return to England for the funeral.

Older son and I also discussed the value of royalty in times such as we live in today. The Royals have no real legal authority, but are the absolute champions when it comes to saying "keep strong and carry on." They can lead by example as well such as when the king did not evacuate London during the Blitz. The queen may be isolating herself and not making public appearances, but that may make it easier for some Brits to isolate themselves or just maintain social distances. If the queen can do it, so can they.

The husband and I have, though not during the pandemic, discussed the value of a nation's having a figurehead such as a queen or king. Criticize the president as the elected head of state all you want, but the ranking royal represents the heart of the country and is sacrosanct. In the deep past, husband and I discussed whether Ronald and Nancy Reagan might be good American royalty. In their days, they may very well have been the best example. Today? I have no idea whatsoever. And given the divisions that have arisen here in the last five years, no one does.

Here in the Hermitage, we would have no problem with a nationwide lockdown. At least, I would have no problem with one. The husband often surprises me on the opinion front. We've essentially locked ourselves down. If we gave older son a grocery list, we could have the provisions needed to be totally on our own for two weeks. Son could do his own grocery shopping and then isolate himself.  Much as the President who shall remain nameless wants to see the country "opened up and raring to go," that ain't gonna happen. And if it did, the months ahead would be worse than the month in which we now live.