The radical center of pandemic response

Most radical centrists accept what they see as good ideas from both "left" and "right" ranges of ideology, and wherever else they may be found, often melding them together in unique ways. Some characterize it as a range of strategies, procedures or processes to initiate or catalyze dialogue which permit new ideas to develop into viable forms of consensus among previously polarized groups. WikiQuote

At the extremes:

• Do nothing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and sit by while 4% of the earth's 7.8 billion people (312,000,000) die.
• Legally enforce extreme quarantine measures until a vaccine is created and reduce the number of deaths to as few as possible. Destroy the livelihoods, retirement savings, educational opportunities, etc. of the majority of people.

Most of us hold neither of these radical positions. Philosophically, morally, and politically, your values and mine both lie somewhere between these two polar extremes. The questions become "Where on the continuum?" and "How do I act?"

I have long been an advocate of being a "radical centrist" on any issue. I wrote about what this looks like from an educational perspective in "Change from the Radical Center of Education," Teacher-Librarian, June 2008. In the article, I suggested the following principals:

1. Adopt an "and" not "or" mindset.
2. Look for truth and value in all beliefs and practices. 
3. Respect the perspective of the individual. 
4. Recognize one size does not fit all.
5. Attend to attitudes.
6. Understand that the elephant can only be eaten one bite at a time.
7. Make sure everyone is moving forward, not just the early adopters.
8. Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know."
9. Believe measurement is good, but that not everything can be measured.
10. Know and keep your core values.

While the examples in this article are of educational practices, I believe the same strategies can be applied to our current set of social, political, and medical circumstances.

It is truly a confusing time we are experiencing. Our actions, the actions of our fellow citizens, and the actions of our governments will have serious (literally life-or-death) and long-lasting consequences for all of us. And those who are the most confident of their beliefs, may be the least informed and most dangerous.

Taking the radical center approach is the best I can do. But do remember that one doubles one's critics by maintaining the center - both ends of the spectrum will criticize you. Have at me...