Enough is enough

Elected officials tend not to be leaders. Their decisions are often based on avoiding criticism and seeking the continuing approval of the majority of their constituents. It is typically more important for these officials to be re-elected and maintain power than it is to make tough decisions that produce a greater good for their citizenry.  

The current pandemic is an excellent example of this observation at play. It is easier politically to order people to close their businesses and stay locked in their homes than it is to take a more balanced, thoughtful approach to addressing the challenges this pandemic presents and risk being criticized by Monday morning quarterbacks. After all, few are likely to criticize a public official for placing life ahead of the financial well-being and the personal freedoms of the citizens they have pledged to serve. Even if it means offending our Constitution and trampling on the Bill of Rights. 

But wait, does not prolonged isolation, financial ruin and the loss of personal freedoms also cause risk to life? Aren’t such stressors producing higher incidents of suicide, spousal and child abuse, alcohol and drug usage, depression and anxiety? And, given the prospect that our critical industries (i.e. farming; energy; transportation; etc.) have been so badly compromised by the extended shut-downs ordered by these self-interested politicians they might not come back for years, are we really achieving a greater good? I submit to you we are not!  

As we hemorrhage billions of tax dollars which future generations will never be able to pay back, while trying to put a Band-Aid on the consequences these misguided public officials have brought upon us with their overreaching public orders, throwing huge amounts of money at the problem is likely to produce a plethora of unintended consequences. And, just printing more money falls hopelessly short of really fixing the problem as it adds inflationary pressures which can produce their own damages to the economy and our financial well-being. 

One cannot help but note those same politicians that caused the problem, are insulated by the very misfortune they have brought upon us. They continue to collect full pay checks; they continue to receive healthcare benefits; they are not locked up in their homes because they are “essential workers” by virtue of their own orders.  

Life is full of risks, and while we can seek to mitigate how those risks affect our lives, we cannot let fear, misinformation and/or a herd mentality color the choices we make. Nor can we allow those politicians who are only thinking of themselves to make those choices for us, especially when those choices offend common sense, constitutional law, personal freedoms and the greater good. 

So what is the solution? I humbly submit the first step seems clear. Let us take back our cities, counties and states from the elected officials we have empowered to make decisions for us. We should insist that all public officials actually serve their constituents and suffer alongside them by bearing the same consequences their draconian orders have forced upon the people they have promised to faithfully serve. Political officials should not receive any compensation for performing public duties during this pandemic. Instead, they too should be anxious about paying their bills and losing their personal financial well-being. While this may appear to be wishful thinking, at best, if citizens were to really stand together and demand withholding politicians pay anything is possible.

Second, we should insist on term limits and end the reign of career politicians. Let us go back to the days of citizen politicians who give up a few years from their chosen professions to serve their country without designs to exploit its people and capitalize on its riches. It would hopefully mitigate the motivation for self-interest to maintain power and the constant need to seek re-election at all costs. Let us not forget this is a “government by the people for the people.” Not a government where the political elite get to tell the rest of us how long they should serve and how much they should be paid for that service.

Third, we should empower the public, with reasonable guidance and available information, to reopen their businesses on their time schedule, not the government’s. While this may likely create some additional risks to public health, the alternative is to continue destroying what is left of our way of life and producing deaths that will not likely be counted as having been caused by imprudent political decisions. This is not to suggest businesses should make the decision to reopen without due consideration for protecting their employees, customers and others. Quite the contrary, we all have a responsibility to look after each other. 

Let us face it, we cannot avoid our own deaths. When it is our time to go, we are going to die. So rather than letting irrational fears and emotions control how we choose to stave-off that inevitability we should take control of our own lives and not let others dictate to us how our lives should be lived. 

For those in the public worried about their own health, as we should all be, they can take the precautions they deem necessary and reasonable, based upon the information available, rather than being forced by unaccountable demigods acting under the color of authority to do that which inures to their political benefit and not the greater good. 

Ultimately, it is about taking control of our own lives and the risks and responsibilities encapsulated therein. If you choose to walk outside without a mask (Oh wait, didn’t the CDC first tell us we should not be wearing masks because they were ineffective except for healthcare workers?) you should be able to make that choice. If others feel wearing a mask while walking the dog outside is a prudent way to guard against catching the virus then they should wear a mask. And while some will say the masks are really only to protect others from you coughing or sneezing, then why do healthcare workers who are already treating patients inflicted with the virus wear masks (it is clearly not to protect the patients only)? It seems obvious, the masks are intended to create a barrier against the virus going into your respiratory system or coming out.  

However, criticizing those who decide to take a personal risk they deem prudent, by claiming they are somehow jeopardizing the safety and lives of others ignores the entire point. We are each responsible for our own safety. Again, that is not to say we should not be mindful of the safety for others, but such decisions should be made by the individual, not the government. If you see someone without a mask, avoid them; maintain social distancing (if someone sneezes or coughs Dr. Fauci has suggested the maximum distance the virus can reasonably be expected to travel is 20-25 feet); wear your own mask and gloves; stay at home. But do not seek to impose your intolerance for risk on others, nor seek to restrain their personal liberties because of your own fears whether rational or not. 

If you feel it is too dangerous to eat in a restaurant, then cook your own meals or order in, but do not deny others the choice to eat out. 

If you believe elective surgery is too risky because of the virus, then do not get it. But do not prevent others from getting a torn rotor cuff repaired or a mastectomy performed if they deem it appropriate and necessary. 

If you are convinced going to the barbershop or beauty parlor is too risky do not go. But do not seek to prevent others from attending to their personal grooming if they feel the risk is acceptable. 

If you think going to church services is safe, then go. If you do not, then stay home and watch the services on television. 

Enough is enough! Let us try to get back to the principals this country was founded upon, individual liberties! Let us stop the madness our political elite have brought upon us and take control of our lives again.