ENDING THE “SOFT LOCKDOWN”
by Joseph DeMaio, ©2020
(Apr. 14, 2020) — Over the years, your faithful servant has offered several “modest proposals” dealing either with the Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. constitutional eligibility issue (discussed here and here) or the illegal alien issue (discussed here. It may be time for another modest proposal.
These are the difficult days of, on the one hand, battling the physical perils of the Wuhan/COVID-19 pandemic and, on the other hand, trying to re-open the country so that at the end of the day, the “cure” does not become worse than the disease by ending up killing the patient, i.e., the USA.
The “academics” and “scientists,” with blinders firmly affixed, would like to see the national and state shutdowns persist indefinitely into the future, assuring the rest of us they will let us know when their “models” project that it is “safe” or until proof emerges that the risk of the pandemic accelerating again is absolutely eliminated. The economists – weighing the effects of millions of business closures; millions forced onto unemployment or into bankruptcy; and the inevitable collapse of the economy if the shutdown persists “indefinitely” – urge re-opening of the nation for business ASAP.
The situation resembles a Hobson’s choice wrapped up in a Catch-22. And for President Trump, the problem is only exacerbated by a circling pack of yapping media Chihuahuas intent on propagandizing that, whatever he decides, it will be wrong.
Against this backdrop, here is another modest proposal – and recalling the caveat that the advice is free, and therefore, worthless – for President Trump to consider: President Trump should announce that, despite the risk of a “premature” re-opening of the nation for business – with “social distancing” and hygiene protocols still in place – thereby causing the “model curves” to again rise, the “soft lockdown” of the nation will end on May 1, 2020. The states, as allowed by the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, may either re-open for business or opt for further lockdown as they and their governors decide. Texas can go one way, New York can go another.
But either way, President Trump would in addition announce that the federal government is procuring two billion (2,000,000,000) doses of hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin to be made available free of charge to any American citizen or lawfully-present alien who, after the nation re-opens for business, either contracts the Wuhan/COVID-19 virus or is hospitalized with the virus, provided that a licensed physician, after consultation with the person, approves. This program would remain in place indefinitely until an effective vaccine is developed and clears all “clinical trials” to make it available to the general public. And if fewer than all of the doses are needed, they could be stockpiled for the future in case the virus returns. Boom.
Communist nations annually observe May 1 as “May Day.” We could celebrate it as “USA 2.0 Day.” Just sayin’….
Another Catch 22 here?
Shouldn’t ALL vaccines be covered by the Government?
Oh Wait, My Bad, then our Taxes would still increase to cover it?
Oh Wait, My Bad again, then we would be heading into Socialism?
Now What?
I like the idea. You’ve taken away most of the stress by announcing a date and offering the free cure. You’ve also, if the significance of the May 1 date is well underscored, educated citizens as to the contrast between two government models. What I like best, though, is that by leaving the choice up to each governor, we’ll be able to see – in stark relief – the difference in approaches, which is bound to produce a lot of conversation as the citizenry observes the different models in action. Granted, each state’s situation is somewhat unique, but this becomes a living laboratory which will provide many different models from which to choose the next time we’re confronted with a similar scenario.