The COVID surge is a choice


Is decline a choice? Many conservatives think so. During the early days of Barack Obama's presidency, they adopted the phrase "Decline is a choice" to signal that (despite the rise of China and our national stumbles in Iraq) America isn't inevitably destined to fall from its spot as the world's lone superpower. "Decline — or continued ascendancy — is in our hands," the late Charles Krauthammer said in a 2009 speech. More recently, writers like Ben Shapiro and Jonah Goldberg have revived the phrase to excoriate President Biden and his decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan.
They should turn that logic inward, toward America's handling of COVID.
Take a look at just a few headlines and charts from recent days. The United States is experiencing more than 1,500 deaths a day from the coronavirus, and just surpassed 40 million known COVID cases overall — with four million of those cases added to the toll in just the last month. Despite a head start in producing and distributing COVID vaccines, America now has a lower vaccination rate and higher death rate than most of the rest of the developed world.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In the short term, these numbers mean that America is indeed No. 1, but only in the worst ways imaginable. Over the long term, they may also signal a noticeable diminishment of the country's capabilities — the economy is faltering, schools are closing again, and hospitals are under terrible strain. On Tuesday in Idaho, for example, officials announced that they are imposing "crisis standards of care" — a euphemism for health-care rationing, brought about by high patient counts and a shortage of available staff. We may be feeling the effects of these unnecessary disruptions for years to come. Certainly, none of these developments will strengthen the country.
It's old hat to point out that the pandemic in the United States is now driven largely by unvaccinated people, but it's true and it bears repeating over and again. The Delta variant surely has a say, but it matters that many of the conservative movement's brightest lights have spent the last few months undermining vaccines and mask-wearing while promoting unproven "cures." If decline is indeed a choice, it will be brought about by millions of individual decisions not to do the right thing. It's not too late to start choosing wisely.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Joel Mathis is a writer with 30 years of newspaper and online journalism experience. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic and The Kansas City Star. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.
-
Today's political cartoons - March 29, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - my way or Norway, running orders, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 tactically sound cartoons about the leaked Signal chat
Cartoons Artists take on the clown signal, baby steps, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Roast lamb shoulder with ginger and fresh turmeric recipe
The Week Recommends Succulent and tender and falls off the bone with ease
By The Week UK Published
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson Published
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff Published
-
Was Jimmy Carter America's best ex-president?
Today's Big Question Carter's presidency was marred by the Iran hostage crisis, but his work in the decades after leaving office won him global acclaim
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published