What Price Freedom

It should come as no surprise to anyone that the United States is
suffering a recession due to the current pandemic, and that the
economic output has dropped almost 5% in the first three months
of the year.  That is faster than anytime since 2007.  This signals
an end to the longest economic expansion - 126 months - on
record.  And as of today, over 30 million Americans have filed
for unemployment benefits since the beginning of March.

And this is just the beginning, because the first two months of the
years were not affected by the coronavirus, as the virus only began
to surge in March. Only then were the shutdowns beginning to affect
the economic outlook.  The second quarter will most probably show
that economic activity will likely drop at an unprecedented rate.  And
like ripples in a pond, unemployment is spreading out across the
economic sector.

Worse yet, economists project the GDP to drop to an annual rate of
30%, that is more than triple the drop that occurred in 2009.  So far,
Congress has passed more than $3 trillion in emergency relief and is
looking at another $1 trillion more.  This is in addition to the Federal
Reserve's trillions for lending and credit programs.  We are cranking
out money at an unprecedented rate.  But the Stock market is still
holding it's own.  Just more proof of its total disconnect to the
economy in general.

Some states are yielding to pressure from protesters and are beginning
to reopen non-essential businesses, while others are holding firm.  A bit
like having a no peeing section in the pool.  There has been no leveling
off of new cases or deaths from the virus, in fact many states are finding
more cases daily.  However, the Trump administration has said that the
increase in new cases is due to more testing.  Duh?  No, the number
of cases is not increasing with the tests, the tests are finding cases of
the virus that are already there.  It's like counting kittens in the dark,
if you turn on the light, you can see many more kittens, turning on the
light didn't increase the number of kittens in the room, it just allowed
you to count them more easily.

I can understand that people are frustrated, they are out of work and have
bills to pay. That one-time payment of $1200 won't go very far to pay the
mortgage and feed the kids.  What I don't understand is, that they would
risk the health and safety of those children to demand that the government
open up businesses so they can go back to work.  Yes, some governors may
yield to their demands, but believe me the virus will not.  The virus will not
go away because you want it to, because you are tired of staying home, and
you want your children back in school.  The virus will not back down from
your assault rifles or signs demanding it to go away.  It laughs at your chants
and the singing of the National Anthem.  It doesn't care if you say you have
freedom to do anything and go anywhere.   It will strike you down just the
same.

May I ask those of you who are demanding your right to do as you wish, when
you wish to do it?  Who are you fighting, the government or the coronavirus?
Do you think that just because you say you have rights, you should be able
to leave your house whenever you please, that you won't get sick and perhaps
die from an unseen and undetectable enemy?  An enemy that will seek you out
and follow you home to infect everyone you love and hold dear; your parents,
your spouse, your children.

You say your rights trump my fears, but your rights end when they begin to harm
other people, when what you want to do compromises the health and welfare of
the citizens in my state, I say enough!  Take your guns and your signs and go
home.  Hug your parents and your children and tell them that today you gave
up just a little of your freedom so that they could live.

                                                                                        I'm just sayin'