How much control should conservative Americans cede to the government during the COVID-19 novel Coronavirus crisis? In the wake of a the limited lockdown of New Rochelle, New Jersey, and indications that the U.S. is running about 50 days behind China and 11.5 days behind Italy, are we ready to accept widespread limitations on our freedom of movement, of assembly, and of worship?
Hours after we recorded this episode of Bill Whittle Now with Scott Ott, President Donald Trump announced a suspension of flights from Europe.
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16 replies on “American Lockdown: Will We Sacrifice Liberty in COVID-19 Crisis?”
This very argument was one of the central themes in Tom Clancy’s 1996 novel Executive Orders. In the book, the President is compelled to declare and enforce a travel ban in order to contain an epidemic of a weaponized strain of an Ebola-type virus.
All the measures are design to slow the spread of the disease so it. They have only 1500 spare Intensive Care Units. If you get 2000 cases then 500 people are guaranteed to die. This is a classic case where biology trumps liberty. No people will not get shot for gathering in crowds, they will be fenced in and quarantined there. You do not have a choice. They will be fed. And their medical insurance will be void. They would probably loose priority at the ICU.
It is not an arbitrary periods its 4 – 6 weeks.
https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/sites/consumer/files/2020-03/Coronavirus_flattening_curve_1.jpg
The argument presumes that all the sick people will need hospital care; which is simply not true. Many people are asymptomatic. A large portion of others experience a bad cold for a couple of days.
The gov’t is free to suggest that people don’t gather; but to force closure of businesses is causing significant harm.
I also do not like the precedent. Next time my wonderful legislators gather in Richmond to debate gun confiscation and 20,000 citizens exercise their 1st and 2nd amendment rights, I can easily see Gov Northam declaring a state of emergency so that they can’t gather in large numbers.
The diseases of tyranny is worse than SARS-CoV-2.
The swine flu outbreak in 09 was worse and we didn’t trash the economy.
The governments are all doing it because they are legally libel if they don’t. Not all people with the disease need hospitalisation but in China and Italy and now Holland the number needing ICU exceeded the capacity in two weeks. The USA is at half way though that process. Australia is beginning week one. Compulsory action is only happening in blue, democrat run cities, its not national and not Trump policy but he will not rule it out. He can’t legally.
In Australia we have a politician that brought it back from the USA and appears to have passed it to the cabinet.
We have also shot down the Anzac parades for the first time in history. Schools are still open.
The good news is that they are now mass producing the medical technology. Two antiviral drugs, one designed for HIV and one for an Aussie corona-virus works on SARS-CoV-2. Mass production is a problem because china makes the lab chemicals and has stopped selling them to the west. At this time we have the fastest growth in new cases of any country.
OMG! The infected media are pounding on my door looking for toilet paper and I am down to my last 10,000 rounds! Good knowing you all!
Here we go on CO:
https://www.denverpost.com/2020/03/13/colorado-coronavirus-polis
Makes me want to ping 250 of my closest friends and have a get-together. I’m more concerned about the availability/efficacy of my chemotherapy drugs then contacting people.
I agree with Bill, any government choosing to deny us our first amendment right cannot be tolerated. We cannot afford to give any ground to government when it comes to our first amendment rights.
The proposal to impose restrictions upon public assembly is tantamount to the imposition of martial law, which is a polite way to say tyranny. This is unacceptable in the United States.
I’m not changing a dang thing unless I have symptoms or discover that I’ve been exposed. Should that occur, I’ll just stay home like I do whenever I get sick. I already have my groceries delivered. If I have to buy anything, it’s usually ordered online and delivered or picked up at the store.
We are over-hyping. Can it be serious if you catch it? Yep, but also no. It just depends. But H1N1 was also considered serious threat and I don’t recall this level of hysteria. And I’m certainly not going to fight over toilet paper…
There is nothing like being infected by the best! LOL
As of 10 March, the CDC reports there were 110,000 cases of covid-19 worldwide, of which 70,000 were in China. Of those infected, 80% recovered with only mild symptoms like a 2-day head cold. Less than 2% were under the age of 19, so it is mainly a threat to those over 80. In the United States, as of 10 March 2020, the CDC said were about 500 cases of coronavirus reported total and a total of 19 deaths. In comparison, A(H1N1) influenza (flu) this season has 34 million reported cases, 350,000 hospitalizations and 20,000 associated deaths. You are 1053 times more likely to die from flu than coronavirus. How is 19 deaths a national emergency when 20,000 is not? Hand sanitizer kills bacteria, not viruses. Viruses are small enough to penetrate most surgical masks and can enter any mucous membranes like your eyes. This isn’t the Black Death. The whole thing is an exercise in FEAR to control people. Period. And the fear is being used–by actors in power, namely the Deep State actors–to rip away liberty the same way that it was done with the Patriot Act. Franklin said that those who will give up liberty for the illusion of security deserve neither. Don’t be afraid and quit worrying so much. Precautions are one thing, but generating panic for control reasons is terrible. The government cannot take our rights. We can only give them up out of fear.
Another Constitutional Right being violated by the Democrats – the Right to Assemble.
Bill & Scott-
What a timely episode! The following message was sent Wednesday night to the NextDoor app by the Public Information Officer Of the Emergency Management Division of the State of Washington. (Never heard of em) But I’m sure our idiot governor, Jay Inslee, is behind it. You remember Jay, he has a failed presidential bid to his name. Anyway…
“Starting today, our state will prohibit events of more than 250 people in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties to slow the spread of #COVID19. This order applies to gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational activities. These include but are not limited to: community, civic, public, faith-based, or sporting events; parades; concerts; festivals; conventions; fundraisers and similar activities. The steps to limit the impact of COVID-19 on workers and businesses in WA are outlined on this website. The decision to prohibit large-scale events was not taken lightly – and involved discussions with local elected, business and civic leaders. This is a prudent strategy to slow the spread of the virus, reduce the number of those infected, and help prevent serious illness. We continue asking people to help – we are all part of the solution. Wash your hands. Cover your coughs. And stay home when you’re sick. We are strong and resilient – and Washington state will get through this.”
https://www.governor.wa.gov/issues/issues/covid-19-resources
What a tyrant. I’m convinced he’s trying to run this State into the ground.
….how’s he going to enforce that with churches? Not like people sign up to attend services ahead of time. Our church averages 280, but that’s just an average: could be significantly higher or lower on any given Sunday.
It’s been done before.
We have an idiot governor too (CA). Peace be with you. At least ours admitted that Trump is doing all the right things, which shocked me into orbit. Should he decide to impose similar restrictions – especially where attending church is concerned – I’ll simply not comply. Go ahead. Fine me, jail me, whatever. We’re used to it.