Posted on 03/27/2020 8:32:38 AM PDT by Liberty7732
Ignored or buried in this global pandemic panic is the giant risk we have already taken not to the economy, as horrible as that is, but to our essential liberties. This is not theoretical anymore.
Forget the President. Since when does every governor, mayor, county executive and dog catcher in the country have unlimited powers over peoples’ lives in a time of crisis? Since never, at least if the Constitution has any relevance anymore.
But in this crisis, in which fear has driven public policy, they are all acting as though they do. And the question is whether the American people, once hearty, self-reliant and freedom-loving are now willing to bend the knee to every dictate from the local overlord or not.
Do I overstate? I hope so. But read the headlines.
One from today is that L.A.’s mayor is threatening to shut off water and electricity to businesses who are staying open after HE ordered them to close. Where does his authority come from to do that? I doubt it’s in the L.A. city charter. The City Council has not voted to make him a little despot. He’s just doing it, with the power of the police force behind him.
At a press conference, Garcetti was frustrated some businesses did not obey his order. “You know who you are. You need to stop it. This is your chance to step up and shut it down, because if you don’t, we will shut you down.”
How far away from an overlord is that? Will he cede it all back when the crisis is past? Just think of the apocalyptic language used around climate change. It gets real sobering in a hurry.
Governors are shutting down whatever they want, whenever they want, without even pretending to show their homework — almost one-upping each other even as the evidence is now coming in that the virus apparently is not nearly as deadly as we thought two weeks ago. Yet several state’s are on lock-down, based on one person’s orders. (Side note: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been very cautious about doing so, and he’s been pilloried in the media and by Democrats. But he’s been right to not jump to such autocratic control.)
Governors do not have unrestrained powers even in quarantine situations. They have the power to quarantine those who are sick, because they do need some authority. But do they have the authority to tell every person in their state to stay home — except the ones they say can go to work? When they limit gatherings to 10, or even less, do they have the authority to abrogate the First Amendment’s right of freedom of assembly?
Beyond governors, it gets much more threatening. Mayors and county executives are acting in much the same way. We see it in New York and LA. Before that in San Francisco.
In Florida, there is an interesting mix because of DeSantis’ correct reticence to issue blanket orders. Miami-Dade and Broward and many other counties have issued stay at home “orders” through their county commissions. (Florida counties are run by elected commissions with a hired chief executive.)
But interestingly, the County Attorney’s Office here in Sarasota County, Florida has ruled that County Commissioners do not have the legal authority to issue a stay at home order with any further restrictions than those already ordered by Gov. DeSantis. Perhaps being a charter county makes a difference. Or being a very red county.
This is not a case against restrictions per se, but who orders them and with what authority. Because the risk is that many of these potentates-in-training may be reluctant to give up all of that power after the crisis — or simply label the next issue a “crisis.” And an even greater risk is that we the people may not force them to.
As Benjamin Franklin famously said: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
That’s a truism through the ages.
I’d sure like to know the solution to all this. Because, as I think and ponder over the situation, there is nothing I can come up with that doesn’t eventually go to mass shooting or hanging.
And if anyone actually thinks THAT’S gonna happen, they’re delusional. There...I said it.
If they shut off water and sewer to businesses who are trying to survive, then the mayor should have his water and sewer shut off.
Stupid and idiotic article by a moron.
This is the type of nonsense that damages conservative ideas for years.
The mayor of Sandpoint, ID tried to get the city council to grant him Super Grande Emergency Powers extending out 5 miles from the city boundaries this past Tuesday. He’s an obnoxious soi boi who is constantly trying to fill his pockets with marginal schemes. Surprisingly to all the local conservatives the city council voted him down. Even the council libtards voted against him! Freedom still lives in Idaho.
Because individual liberties and limited government are not conservative core ideas.
What the hell are you even saying?
I'm not in the least surprised. This is the same guy whose first priority in office was to settle Syrian refugees in the county so he could virtue signal.
In Washington yesterday, I was disallowed from fishing on a lake in the open air.
By what authority? From a governor who recommends people go for a walk or bike ride. But no fishing for you!
Fing tyrant.
Correct! The sheep are demanding to be enslaved.
The Governors [Government] is not taking anything. The sheep are voluntarily surrendering their freedom and birthrights.
Nay surrendering, the sheep are demanding that they Government own them.
OMG!! The Governors are OUT OF CONTROL!
What are you talking about?
And look how EASY it has been!
In lockdown, Colorado. On day one, we traveled two towns away to sign docs for a real estate sale and got some take out on the way home. I also went fishing which is allowed. Went for a walk, which is allowed. Kids were playing the park, which is supposed to be closed.
Reading the guidelines the reality is much different from what I thought. The only things we really can’t do are, go to businesses that aren’t open anyway and gather in groups of people. You can just drive around and walk wherever you please. There are so many reasons you are allowed to be out there is no way they are going to bother randomly stopping people.
The only place overrun with people was the local pot shop. Big line of cars there, they must have the toilet-paper-itis.
Actually the local health department has had this power since the 1640’s in the US.
Emergency Management has ALWAYS been the purview of the States since, well forever. The states control it and the Feds back it up. That is why Trump cannot declare shit. He can establish rules, but cannot enforce them.
And, the local health commissioner can through you in jail without a warrant for breaking quarantine. And you will stay there until the emergency is over. They are literally the most powerful force in your area now—exceeding even the Sheriff.
So, yeah. They can tell you what to do.
IDIOT! many are the suppliers of the ESSENTIALS. IS HE GOING TO MOP HOSPITAL FLOORS?
I know. Sickening isn’t it?
That would be him. Shelby Rognstad. WTH kind of name is that?
In emergency situations everyone temporarily gives up liberties to some extent in order to protect society. Anyone that doesn’t recognize tht is an uninformed idiot. Pretty simple and straightforward.
At the Lowe's, the outside entrance to the garden center was closed. There was no cashier in the garden center. I couldn't buy soil.
While I was originally going to split it up, I ended up getting 100% from Home Depot. I hope the Lowe's shareholders are happy.
What are feral flashmobs doing, now that they can’t gather in groups to mug and steal?
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