OPINION:
Just a few weeks ago, America’s economy was chugging along, high school seniors were prepping for graduation, fitness clubs were rolling out their spring specials and Americans were starting to discuss their summer travel plans.
Now? Now it’s a different world.
A brave new world.
Now, masked men and women separated by six feet of government-mandated space wait their turns at the local grocery, hoping by the time they’re waved through the door there’ll still be toilet paper available for sale.
Now, local restaurants advertise take-out only — and only the few that are still serving at all.
Now, Americans stay home in the day, at night, all the hours in between, sneaking out for a quick walk, a quick breath of fresh air, because they’re unemployed, furloughed, fired and near-broke. The government check with the state and federal funds isn’t due for another week or two, at the earliest.
The movie theaters are dark. The roads are mostly barren. The churches have been closed. The jobless numbers are ticking up — and rapidly.
“Social distancing threatens social norms, mental health,” rings one headline.
“Experts Fear of ’Suicide Wave’ As The Social Fabric Of America Becomes ’Unstitched,’” states another.
“Forget about returning to jobs as usual after coronavirus,” reads another.
“Outbreak could leave lasting imprint: Masks as normal part of life,” sings yet one more.
What? Masks for the long-term?
“We may be moving gently at this point toward the Asian culture where it’s more a usual thing to wear masks to prevent the transmission of viruses,” said Dr. William Schaffner, professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, in the Los Angeles Times. “[Even post-coronavirus] it wouldn’t surprise me if we don’t encourage this some in the near term.”
Right.
’Cause nothing says ’save a life’ like a piece of cloth strung across the face that most medical professionals agree won’t really save any lives.
It’s that old “if we can save one person” line of thought creeping in — you know, the argument typically used by government to justify a regulatory crackdown, a taking, an imposition of individual right, more chipping away of the Constitution.
It’s what fueled New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s logic when he signed an executive order giving the National Guard the right to commandeer ventilators and other protective gear from private hospitals and facilities to give to others in greater need.
“We do not have enough ventilators. Period,” Cuomo tweeted. “I am signing an Executive Order allowing the state to take ventilators and redistribute to hospitals in need. The National Guard will be mobilized to move ventilators to where they are urgently required to save lives.”
It’s what spurred Hillsborough County, Florida officials to arrested pastor Rodney Howard-Brown for the crime of holding worship services during government-imposed coronavirus close-downs.
“His reckless disregard for human life put hundreds of people in his congregation at risk, as well as put thousands of residents who may interact with them in danger,” said the local sheriff, Chad Chronister, CNN reported.
Walmart is “essential;” church is not.
Target is “essential;” other retailers are not.
Has America turned a corner on the Constitution — never to again return?
In a word: Yes.
Coronavirus hasn’t just flipped over American’s civil liberties and humbled our economic greatness. It’s exposed the depths of our fears. And now the enemies of freedom know how to best use our fears to their advantage.
America, post-coronavirus, will never be the same.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter by clicking HERE.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.