After having lived together through the lost year of 2020-21, many of my long-held beliefs regarding this country have sadly slipped away.
Like many of us, when the lockdowns first began, I believed the directives were basically suggestions from the government that, for our own protection, we needed to close everything down for 15 days. Let’s face it, nearly everyone was scared out of their minds listening to the “experts” saying this would probably kill millions of Americans in 2020, and we complied out of duty and obligation to other citizens and our families. We were only doing what seemed prudent. We were sure we would come out the other side, begin our lives again, and if things were not in a completely normal state, then they’d only be somewhat modified.
But when the state governments began picking and choosing which businesses could reopen and which ones could not—coming up with crazy and specific lists of how businesses may reopen, and demanding everyone wear masks—I realized government “suggestions” actually had teeth and were not suggestions at all.
Apparently, emergency powers supersede all constitutional rights. I did not realize before the pandemic that this was the case. Although some governors, like Kristi Noem of South Dakota, put trust in her citizens after giving them the information they needed, refusing to lock down and cripple her state businesses and citizens, too many other Republican governors followed the herd. Unbeknownst to me, we actually live in large fiefdoms called states in which you may have either a freedom loving governor, a benevolent dictator, or a medieval king doling out crumbs to the masses and telling them to eat cake when they complain.
Pre-pandemic, I also believed that the American people would never put up with such an obvious political power ploy as mandating mask-wearing outside in beaches and parks. If you’ve ever seen the poor indoctrinated souls driving in their cars alone wearing a mask (or two!) or bicycling with their masks on, then you know my prior belief was quickly put to bed.
I support local businesses, and I want them to make a living and stay in business for themselves, our communities, and the people they employ. When there is a mask mandate in businesses, I wear it. These people have little choice. Either they comply or they are shut down by the medieval kings and heavily fined. I don’t like it, but I want them to stay in business. Outside, however, I refuse to wear a face diaper. It’s the most unscientific thing ever to wear a mask when you are out in the open in the fresh air. Mandating this is absurd.
Possibly the strongest belief I had going into last year and the one I was saddest to lose when I realized it simply wasn’t true anymore, was the belief that we were still a free country.
Biden’s teleprompter speech Thursday evening paraded his non-belief in the Constitution. While claiming to be a unity president, not only did he give President Trump and his team zero credit for getting the vaccine fast-tracked and the country supplied with at least 100 million doses, he, Emperor No-Clothes, pronounced that he has decided we might be able to get outside with our close family members for the 4th of July, only if we are good boys and girls.
If the new normal means the Democrats-in-charge will have the power to dictate the nature of small outdoor family gatherings two full months after his goal of getting every willing person vaccinated, then Biden doesn’t understand the meaning of Independence Day.