Has Science and Reopening Worship Centers Become Too Politicized During the Covid-19 Pandemic?

By Porscha Maurer-Cordova

 

As the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks the U.S Covid-19 cases in an open study, the amount of cases has surged over to 3.5 million affected and over 141,000 deaths. However, the Trump administration has denied scientific knowledge and massively politicized the reopening of worship centers within the United States Government through a process known as truth decay.

 

What is Truth Decay?

Truth Decay, an idea endorsed by the Rand Corporation describes the idea that facts about everyday American life are corrupted. This impacts public policy and has four main characteristics.

These characteristics include:

• disagreement about facts and interpretations of data
• blurred lines between opinion and fact
• opinions influencing the public more than facts
• declining trust in formerly respected sources

 

How does Truth Decay Relate to the Politicization of Scientific Knowledge?

Truth Decay relates to the ideas of public mistrust are brought up under very different circumstances.

Misinformation and disinformation are separated by the intent of the entity. Misinformation is information falsehood without intention while disinformation is purposefully false.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the CDC, and WHO provided misinformation about the pandemic because it is so new, and occasionally contradictory, information and these organizations are learning about this disease every day.

Disinformation is seen when Trump uses the misinformation that the CDC and WHO published to denounce the scientific knowledge received and politicize those who listen to these organizations.

 

How Does the Trump Administration do This?

In the article, “American’s view the Coronavirus Pandemic through a lens of Media Trust and Politics”, author Clark Merrifield discusses how Americans look through a political lens at the Covid-19 situation. Supporters of President Trump will focus on the information that fits Trump’s narrative and priorities.

So, what does this mean for the CDC and WHO?

On May 20^th, President Trump threatened to leave the WHO because they were not supplying significant information about how to stop the Covid-19 pandemic. President Trump has claimed that the government will no longer fund the WHO and therefore does not support science-based Covid-19 information presented by the organization.

The politicization of scientific knowledge released by these two organizations mainly falls under the truth decay phenomena of declining trust in formerly respected sources. Trump uses societies newly created distrust in these sources to build his persona as the head figure to trust about the Covid-19 pandemic. Especially because for the 2020 presidential election, Trump is trying to gain more support to win his second term as President.

 

What Does This Mean for Reopening Worship Centers?

The Trump administration needs as much support as it can get for the 2020 presidential election.

Trump’s original campaign, before the Covid-19 pandemic, was largely based on the booming economy he created within his first term. The United States had a good economy that President Trump could take credit for and build his new campaign from. However, Covid-19 caused a large recession in the U.S economy which caused many citizens to doubt Trump’s ability to revive the economy.

On May 18^th, “The Daily” podcast by The New York Times discussed “Can Government Spending Save the Economy?” focusing on how the government will fix the receded economy. The public is no longer buying items and the economy has greatly receded, but the government has released no plan to fix the problem.

Instead, Trump is attempting to gain more religious support by opening worship centers amid the Covid-19 pandemic. On May 22^nd, Trump’s administration released a press briefing explaining how the United States viewed all religious worship centers as essential. Trump has said, “I call upon governors to allow our churches and places of worship to open right now.”, claiming that it was unjust to keep liquor stores open but not worship centers.

 

Why does Trump do this?

Trump will gain more support by using the truth decay idea that opinions have a greater influence than facts.

Because of the politicization of science, citizens distrust the science-based idea that wearing masks and social distancing will prevent infection. If Trump opens churches, he not only continues to show is distrust in the CDC and the WHO but gains the support of religious citizens who are thankful for the opportunity to go to their worship centers.

Trump does not know if he can stick to his economic political campaign. He needs a backup plan to convince sway voters to support him in the upcoming election.

The truth decay phenomenon comes into play for his new campaign strategy. If Trump allows people to gather in large groups, despite recommendations not to, they will be inclined to continue supporting him.

 

How has it been politicized?

One of the main factors is the political divide between government branches on the issue of reopening worship centers.

Trump fully endorsed reopening worship centers, saying they were essential to open. He demands states to reopen all churches, synagogues, and other worship centers.

However, an article by The Conversation, describes how the U.S Supreme Court gave states the right to keep worship centers closed based on their Covid-19 situation.

Reopening the worship centers caused a major rift in information from the Executive Branch in the U.S government and the Judicial Branch. And since Trump endorses reopening worship centers, those who support them reopening would naturally be against the opposing side.

 

What does this all mean?

The politicization of scientific knowledge and reopening worship centers caused a 3-way split in society.

Not only is there a split between Scientific organizations (WHO and CDC) and the Trump administration, but it is causing the Covid-19 pandemic to spread. Those who disagree with science, and follow Trump tend to follow his lead and do not listen to the precautions that the CDC gave society.

There is a fracture of trust between the 3 branches, and this causes citizens to be confused about who to follow. It also creates miscommunication between the plans of each branch during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This politicization is not effective for running the U.S government during this pandemic. As the economy recedes, U.S citizens are looking towards the government for stability and unity. However, they are greeted with miscommunication, mistrust and the politicization of science and religion right before the 2020 presidential election.