In this, our Special Corona Episode of the Madness Chronicles, we’ll take a look at the madness and overreach of America’s response to the Coronavirus. Remember, madness is a state of being mentally ill, especially severely, extremely foolish behavior, and a state of frenzied or chaotic activity. Let’s take a look now.
Let’s start by saying we know the virus is a severe risk to Americans, especially to our elderly. That said, there are some crazy goings-on out there. The government of Vermont just announced that being self-sufficient in your own food production is a non-essential. Really? Yep! The Governor announced he is forbidding the sale of… get ready, garden seeds. His madness is blamed on the Coronavirus pandemic. At the same time in Tampa, Florida, a Federal Judge ruled that abortion clinics could remain open as killing babies is an essential service. Pardon me, but that seems like a mental illness.
Meanwhile, this week’s jobless claims come in at a whopping 6.6 million people sitting at home. And it’s a self-inflicted wound to boot. That comes days after President Trump announced the single most massive bailout in American history. An enormous 2.2 trillion dollars to ‘get us through’ the pandemic. Maddening, to say the very least.
In Houston, America’s fourth-largest city, burglaries are up 20% since the Mayor issued a stay at home order. The Mayor recently came out and asked criminals to stay put during the crisis. The ‘stay-put’ order comes after the increase in burglaries and after Baltimore’s Mayor called on criminals there to hold off during the crisis. All of that seems like extremely foolish behavior to me.
In New York City, ground zero for the virus in America, City Council Speaker, Corey Johnson, issued a statement that he found the presence of Samaritan’s Purse in Central Park to be very disturbing. You see, Samaritan’s Purse came in at no charge to the city and set up a 68-bed respiratory hospital to help the city during their crisis. But being a religious organization, the Councilman takes exception.
New York Mayor Bill DiBlasio announced that if churches defy his order not to meet, he may just close them permanently. The New Jersey Governor has done likewise and has checkpoints set up to see who is following his orders. In Kansas, they are monitoring ‘compliance’ to their stay at home and quarantine orders with cell phone data. There is lots of frenzied and chaotic activity going on.
In Montana, where there are more cattle than people, the Mayor of Billings announced there may be arrests if people don’t adhere to social distancing standards. In more curious news under the Big Sky, Governor Bullock activated the National Guard and deployed them to the state’s airports and train stations. The assignment? Check all incoming passengers and inform them they are quarantined for fourteen days. All I can think is apparently, anyone entering on the highway or via bus is immune from the virus? Go figure.
Governors in Nevada and Michigan decided they could decide what prescriptions Doctors could write. Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer declared she would revoke the license of any doctor who prescribed the malaria drug Hydroxychloroquine to treat the Coronavirus. Of course, the drug is being used around the world to effectively address the virus and save patients. Two weeks after issuing the order, Governor Whitmer is demanding President Trump send the drug to Michigan. You can’t make this stuff up.
If all that isn’t enough, we have government leaders from coast to coast calling for the release of prisoners in response to the virus. That one is curious. You have a population that has no regard for the law, or they would be where they are, who are entirely quarantined. All you have to do is control who goes in with them and you eliminate the risk. But no, let’s release them because we’re sure they’ll ‘self quarantine.’ Madness, I tell you madness.
May we wake from this madness before it’s too late. I wish you good health and until next time… have fun, enjoy life, and watch out for the madness amongst us.