Reflections on Governor Walz's Covid-19 Response

Initial Observations

As someone with over twenty years of experience in laboratory science, I watched Governor Tim Walz's management of the Covid-19 crisis in Minnesota in 2020 with growing unease. What began as a seemingly sensible two-week halt rapidly morphed into a series of policy decisions that appeared to defy scientific logic, constitutional rights, and fiscal prudence.

Dependence on PCR Test Results

Walz's decision-making process was heavily influenced by PCR test results. With my background, I was aware that the high-cycle thresholds employed could result in false positives. Each cycle doubles the genetic material, potentially amplifying insignificant viral loads to falsely positive results. This could seriously undermine the accuracy of mass testing, particularly among asymptomatic individuals—a strategy Walz relied heavily on.

Lockdown Measures and Business Classifications

As the lockdowns extended from weeks into months, the arbitrary nature of Walz's "essential" business categorizations became glaringly obvious, revealing clear biases within his administration. Churches were forced to close, while liquor stores and casinos remained open. This selective enforcement was not only illogical but also a direct violation of our First Amendment rights, especially the right to freedom of religion.

While small businesses were forced to close, large retail chains were allowed to stay open, creating a stark disparity with significant impacts on Minnesota's small businesses. In the pandemic's first year, these businesses lost more than 72,000 jobs. Minnesota is now lagging in new business creation, a clear sign of economic stagnation and leadership failure.

Excess Deaths and Disproportionate Impacts

During this same period, Minnesota saw a sharp rise in excess deaths. The Mayo Clinic reported a 17% increase in "deaths of despair"—including suicides, drug overdoses, and deaths from malnutrition. These deaths, which disproportionately affected ethnic minorities, were deemed preventable.

The policies enacted during this time had negative effects on all Minnesotans, but they were especially harmful to the Black community. This outcome is in stark contrast to the Governor's stated goal of protecting citizens, which was used to justify the response to street protests in Minneapolis. These events and their aftermath suggest a significant leadership failure.

Education Policies and Impact

Perhaps the most damaging policies were those related to education. Walz's decision to close schools and mandate online learning disregarded children's developmental needs. As a grandmother, I witnessed this firsthand. Fortunately, my kindergarten-aged grandson was able to attend a private Christian school that balanced safety with practicality, unlike most public school children under Walz's policies. These closures ignored evidence that children were at minimal risk from Covid-19. Walz, a former teacher himself, faced embarrassment when Minnesota's fourth graders' reading scores fell below the national average in 2022, indicating the lasting impact of his policies.

Fraud in Federal Covid-19 Nutrition Aid

At the same time, Walz's Department of Education overlooked widespread fraud in federal Covid-19 nutrition aid. By September 2022, 48 Minnesotans from Feeding Our Future were charged in what US Attorney General Merrick Garland described as the nation’s largest pandemic-related fraud, involving $250 million. Walz was aware of these irregularities by November 2020 but continued reimbursements, citing judicial mandate, even though court records suggest otherwise.

An audit in June 2024 criticized the Department of Education's oversight, leading to Walz receiving a congressional subpoena for related communications. While 26 individuals from Feeding Our Future have been convicted, no state officials have been charged, pointing to another administrative failure.

Fiscal Irresponsibility

In the 2024 legislative session, under full Democratic control, Minnesota's staggering $17.5 billion surplus was completely depleted, along with an additional $10 billion in new taxes imposed on its citizens. This financial strategy led to a massive 40% growth in government, placing a significant burden on the state's small businesses, which make up 99% of Minnesota businesses, under the highest corporate tax rate in the U.S., at 9.8%.

Despite these events, local media has consistently ignored Walz's failings, even as tens of thousands of residents choose to leave the state each year.

Bottom Line

Walz's tenure during this crisis serves as a stark lesson in governance overreach, lack of accountability, and fiscal irresponsibility. It has prompted many Minnesotans to reevaluate their understanding of civic rights and the role of government, especially in light of the upcoming election. This legacy should serve as a warning to all.

As we move forward, it's crucial that we remain vigilant. We must question narratives, scrutinize data, and hold elected officials like Governor Walz accountable. The pandemic revealed how fragile our liberties can be when fear takes hold and when leaders overstep their constitutional bounds by imposing emergency orders. Let this be a lesson: knowledge of our constitutional rights isn't just academic—it's our best defense against future encroachments on our freedoms.

The Covid-19 crisis may have tested our resolve, but it also reinforced a fundamental truth: an informed and engaged citizenry is the foundation of a free society. As we navigate future challenges and elect our leaders, let's carry this lesson forward, ensuring that our rights are never again so easily set aside by executive order overreach.

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