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Coronavirus Will Be Deadly To Your Liberty
Reason ^ | 3.5.2020 | J.D. TUCCILLE

Posted on 03/18/2020 8:33:43 AM PDT by TBP

Nothing makes government grow like a crisis. People get scared, politicians respond to that fear with promises that the state will step in and make everything better, and government ends up larger and more powerful. The pandemic of COVID-19 coronavirus threatens a world-wide wave of sickness, but it's the healthiest thing to happen to government power in a very long time. As it leaves government with a rosy glow, however, our freedom will end up more haggard than ever.

During Senate testimony, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Robert Kadlec, who coordinates the department's COVID-19 efforts, floated the idea of treating virus patients as disaster victims eligible for federal funds.

What else can you do "in the face of an outbreak, a pandemic" that has, so far, resulted in an estimated 94,000 cases and 3,200 deaths worldwide (though the numbers continue to grow)? You could, I suppose, rely on the same not-yet-entirely government-dominated health system that deals with influenza outbreaks every year. In the 2019-20 flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention our long-time viral enemy has, so far, infected 32 million Americans, sent 310,000 to the hospital, and killed 18,000.

That's not to say that COVID-19 isn't serious, or that people aren't suffering from its effects. But we forget about our annual wrestling match with a deadly disease, the flu, while freaking out about the emergence of a virus that is frightening mostly because of its novelty, despite any evidence that we're inadequate to the challenge.

Or, as Rahm Emanuel put it in 2008: "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before."

(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: biggovernment; chinesevirus; coronavirus; liberty
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I think it has been already.
1 posted on 03/18/2020 8:33:43 AM PDT by TBP
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To: TBP

Reason rag is also pro open borders which is one of the reasons this.

1. Propagated so quickly

2. Led to shortages due to dependency on China

3. Is being used as a tool by erdogan against Europe

Reason ragazine can go suck eggs.


2 posted on 03/18/2020 8:36:52 AM PDT by GraceG ("If I post an AWESOME MEME, STEAL IT! JUST RE-POST IT IN TWO PLACES PLEASE")
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To: TBP

bmp for later


3 posted on 03/18/2020 8:37:03 AM PDT by gattaca ("Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives." Ronald Reagan)
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To: TBP

Correct. Apparently, a ‘health director’ I had no hand in electing - or even being able to vote for - has absolute power in all things whether they relate to health or not.


4 posted on 03/18/2020 8:38:48 AM PDT by relictele
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To: GraceG

Is there something in the article you disagree with?


5 posted on 03/18/2020 8:40:14 AM PDT by FreedomNotSafety
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To: TBP
This map shows where Liberty will be coming under the greatest threat: https://www.coronainusa.com
6 posted on 03/18/2020 8:40:26 AM PDT by Sirius Lee (They are openly stating that they intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live.)
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To: GraceG
"Reason rag is also pro open borders which is one of the reasons this."

Yet on this matter Reason is right. You can't throw out the baby with the bathwater.

7 posted on 03/18/2020 8:42:30 AM PDT by circlecity
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To: TBP

Powers the government assumes during a war or crisis are never relinquished.


8 posted on 03/18/2020 8:43:06 AM PDT by circlecity
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To: Sirius Lee

Thanks for the link.


9 posted on 03/18/2020 8:45:09 AM PDT by gloryblaze
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To: TBP

Hey the other day I posted a thread saying “You have a RIGHT to peacefully assemble”.

There were a few diehard patriots who stood by me, but most folks (about 80%) said that I was wrong, that public safety required quarantine, etc. etc. etc.

Nobody questioned about governors or Presidents being able to shut us in.


10 posted on 03/18/2020 8:52:13 AM PDT by djf (When entertainment becomes violent, then violence becomes entertainment.)
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To: djf
Nobody questioned about governors or Presidents being able to shut us in.

I wonder how FR would react if this was a president obumber that was shutting down the economy over a couple hundred flu deaths in America or less then 10k in the whole world. Especially when the normal flu kills almost 100x that. I for one would be outraged, just like I am now. Trumps not alone in this, but it is unbelievably stupid what they are doing.
11 posted on 03/18/2020 9:05:10 AM PDT by JoSixChip (I no longer support this government)
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To: TBP

The originators / propagators will be ruinous to your life. liberty, FAMILY and pursuit of happiness. WHO let the germs out...CONgre$$, UN, L4 “scientists”, 5 eyes, “intelligence” agencies, foreign enemies, domestic enemies, propagandists, Bueller, Bueller, Bueller? Crickets. There was more traceability, chain-of-custody safeguards inside the automotive lab I worked in years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4zyjLyBp64


12 posted on 03/18/2020 9:06:57 AM PDT by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization?)
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To: FreedomNotSafety

No, the are correct, but they better learn from this that open borders is not equivalent to internal liberty.


13 posted on 03/18/2020 9:07:18 AM PDT by GraceG ("If I post an AWESOME MEME, STEAL IT! JUST RE-POST IT IN TWO PLACES PLEASE")
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To: circlecity

Yes, but I can scold the petulent child sitting in the filthy bathwater.


14 posted on 03/18/2020 9:08:05 AM PDT by GraceG ("If I post an AWESOME MEME, STEAL IT! JUST RE-POST IT IN TWO PLACES PLEASE")
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To: TBP
President Trump sees this situation as a winnable war that requires our help.

The President has asked me and my family to make sacrifices to help him win this. I trust the President. I will do what he asks of me.
15 posted on 03/18/2020 9:11:30 AM PDT by Spruce
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To: GraceG

‘Yes, but I can scold the petulent child sitting in the filthy bathwater.’

uh, yeah, sure; whatever...


16 posted on 03/18/2020 9:18:00 AM PDT by IrishBrigade
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To: JoSixChip

When I first heard about restrictions on assembly, I thought “Forget about going to church...” and then I thought No, they won’t do that.
It was at that time gatherings of people over 250.
Then, yesterday Inslee actually said no meetings more than 50 people and he INCLUDED worship services.
So I was wrong... they did it anyways.
I do not go to church. But the ability and preference for church is something I strongly support.


17 posted on 03/18/2020 9:18:55 AM PDT by djf (When entertainment becomes violent, then violence becomes entertainment.)
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To: TBP

I am against our government giving out money to people when many don’t need the money. I think a crisis like this is a good time to let families build bonds again of helping one another first. I’m talking extended families.
I also think Churches could step in and help in their community. It was during the LBJ years that churches stopped being revelant to the poor and needy. The government became the caretaker instead of family and the local churches...we need to return to small people helping people.
Christian people in small communities were the pier group at one time in America. Letting it slide to movie stars and sport icons was a big hurt to our way of life.


18 posted on 03/18/2020 9:23:33 AM PDT by Cottonpatch
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To: TBP

Bmk for later...


19 posted on 03/18/2020 9:25:09 AM PDT by Deplorable American1776 (Proud to be a DeplorableAmerican with a Deplorable Family...even the dog is, too. :-))
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To: djf
“You have a RIGHT to peacefully assemble”

Spreading infectious diseases does not meet my definition of peaceful assembly, and I would suggest you stop trying to label those who agree that public health is a legitimate function of government as unpatriotic.

20 posted on 03/18/2020 9:33:03 AM PDT by AndyJackson
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