EXECTUIVE ORDERS

A few weeks back I wrote that I didn’t believe the American people would put up with dictators for a very long time. I was talking about Governors, Mayors, City or County Managers, etc. who decided for themselves they would close down the economy of this great country. And, they didn’t use the accepted route of enacting laws, no, they issued “executive orders”. Some have called this instant law. 

Well, there’s a problem here. First of all, it isn’t law. There is no Constitutional basis for executive orders. Laws can only be made by legislators. If a governor or a mayor wants to make a law, they should get elected to a legislative body where laws are in fact enacted. Executive orders are, at best, suggestions. 

Consider the case of the beautician in Texas who defied an executive order and reopened her beauty salon without official permission. She was arrested, and by the way she had broken no law, brought before a judge who was hearing this non-case. The judge decided that not only would he adjudicate this matter, he would show judicial wisdom. He told the owner of the salon that all she had to do was apologize. My question and hers was to whom? And for what? Bless her heart, she refused. She refused to kowtow to politicians who had illegally closed down her business. The same for the judge who obviously had no knowledge of Constitutional law.  She was sentenced to seven days in jail. 

Fortunately, the Governor had her released immediately and the American people, upon hearing about this nonsense, sent tons of money to her for her trouble.

That was not the end to this. All across this country various politicians have taken on dictatorial powers, not granted to them by any law by the way, and issued “executive orders” closing businesses, beaches, parks, sports venues, bars, restaurants, churches, and anything that pleases them to do so. At the same time they closed mom and pop stores, they left Walmart and Costco alone. What's that all about? How is it safer to be inside Costco than to be on a public beach or a golf course? 

Now the obvious has happened. All across this great land people are defying these illegal orders and returning to their normal lives. This movement is going to continue. There will no doubt be more virus-related sickness and death, but at least the people will get their lives back. Oh, and by the way, the death rate from coronavirus infection is less than a fraction of one percent. 

Sadly there is a political element to all this. A very cursory examination of the most strict dictatorial orders are in Democrat states. Is this just another conspiracy theory? I think not. If the Dems can continue to destroy the economy up until the election, they must believe America will look to them to bail us out. 

First of all, I doubt this will last until the election. The American people won't allow it. We are not too fond of dictators. Gestapo-like tactics will not fly here. Asking people to spy on each other and "report" them to the authorities is ridiculous. Sorry Mayor De Blasio. No, we will return to our lives, smarter, better prepared, and less pliant. Dictators need to find another country.

Ron Scarbro May 20, 2020