WE ARE RIGHT TO BE ALARMED.
Probably the combined sum of the integrity and intelligence of our present day Congressmen and women (Democratic members have nothing to contribute) would not amount to that possessed by, Founding Father, Father of the Constitution and fourth President of the United States James Madison. Madison had some words of warning for his and future generations of Americans. He said, “We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties.”
There have been many “experiments on our liberties” over the last five to six decades. Our basic rights have been under constant attack and nibbled away one by one until soon, for all practical purposes, what rights we have as outlined in the Bill of Rights will be able to be written on the back of a postage stamp. But, never has there been such an all out “experiment with out liberties” involving so much, so quickly, as we are seeing now under the auspices of waging war with Covid-19.
Governors and Mayors and other elected officials are now going way outside the boundaries of what is legitimate and necessary even in a state of emergency. Many are, and many more are beginning to, restrict personal rights in the most highhanded ways and with the most ludicrous explanations (if they bother to offer an explanation) for why they are doing it. Individuals are being arrested and/or fined for being in a boat alone out at sea, for walking in an empty park, or for being in a parked car participating in a drive-in church service, etc., etc. Typical of this, the Governor of Michigan just announced that, "All public and private gatherings of any size are prohibited." (This governor is a Democrat as are almost every one if not every one of the governors and mayors, etc. who are announcing these lawless, over-the-top dictatorial prohibitions).
It is common sense and good that Americans, in times of national emergency are willing to suspend some of their own freedoms. But American’s mustn’t allow government to take advantage of this willingness. American mustn’t allow government at any level anywhere to go too far or stay too long beyond its Constitutionally imposed limitations for the sake of any emergency. Government anywhere, of any size, mustn’t be allowed to become too nanny-like and oppressive. It must be remembered that the people, holding these offices, are not all the brightest bulbs in the lamp or the most honest and to-be-trusted people in the world. We mustn’t let them get an unbreakable stranglehold on our liberties and our lives.
Make no mistake none of us are a “conspiracy theorist,” or a “nut job” because we take alarm when government anywhere oversteps its bounds to impose unnecessary, nonsensical, humiliating restrictions on us. Neither are we “conspiracy theorists,” or “nut jobs” because we take alarm when our sons and daughters in police uniform are ready and willing to enforce the nonsensical, unconstitutional, tyrannical whims and dictates of elected officials against their fellow Americans.
“Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when
the Government’s purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greatest dan-
gers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning,
but without understanding.”
—Louis D. Brandeis (1856-1941), Supreme Court Justice
“Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
—John 8:32