47% of the population could not afford a $400 unexpected expense before the virus threat. By denying these people the right to work for at least 2 weeks and probably months without a replacement income the government is causing these people to become more and more desperate as their available monies are consumed by the apparently never ending quarantine. I specifically am not addressing the virus threat only the fiscal reality.
When truck drivers are desperately needed the BMV has stopped giving commercial driver tests. Those who recently finished truck driving school can not work earning money as truck drivers and therefore can not deliver desperately needed supplies. Farmers are being forced to destroy crops and milk. Is this good policy? Will we be short of food after the fall harvest?
If you (as part of the 47%) were told you could not work when you desperately needed money, could not leave your house when you are worrying about being evicted, are suffering from "spring fever" and have an angry spouse, could not afford to pay either your rent or buy food and were overly concerned about eviction and hunger, were locked up with nothing to do resulting in your frustration and anger, and you were also running out of necessary supplies (food etc.) would your focus be on the theoretical risk presented by an unseen virus that only a small percentage of people die from while other people are completely immune or would your focus be on your risk of being evicted from your home and not having food to eat? Do you realize food banks are experiencing massive increases in the number of people wanting free food? Would you deny people the right to protest the government to protect their rights or their lives?
The people have the right of protest. The rights recognized within the constitution can not be denied because of changing circumstances that might make such actions seem desirable. There were quarantines, epidemics, and a war between the states prior to this case.
The Constitution of the United States is a law for rulers and people, equally in war and in peace, and covers with the shield of its protection all classes of men, at all times, and under all circumstances. No doctrine, involving more pernicious consequences, was ever invented by the wit of man than that any of its provisions can be suspended during any of the great exigencies of government. Such a doctrine leads directly to anarchy or despotism, but the theory of necessity on which it is based is false; for the government, within the Constitution, has all the powers granted to it, which are necessary to preserve its existence; as has been happily proved by the result of the great effort to throw off its just authority. [ <--- referring to the civil war ] ex parte Milligan, 71 US 2 - Supreme Court 1866
Aside from playing amateur legal scholar, quoting ex parte rulings regarding military tribunals from the Civil War era, do you have anything practical or worthwhile to offer? Obviously not. Unlike the people living paycheck to paycheck who require a public safety net you sound like an entitled "Patriot" guy sitting safely at home with too much time on your hands.
You make the remark that,
"I specifically am not addressing the virus threat only the fiscal reality." Unfortunately
, under the current circumstances the virus and the fiscal realities are so intertwined they simply can't be separated. That's the crux of the problem. As usual you oversimplify.
You make the remark that,
"the theoretical risk presented by an unseen virus that only a small percentage of people die from". You can try to claim that only a "small percentage of people die" from COVIOD-19 but as of today nearly 56,000 Americans have died of the disease in only two and half months time! This already exceeds the number of combat deaths during all of the Vietnam War between 1955 and 1975! The death rate from seasonal flu is typically around 0.1%+ in the U.S, but
the death rate from COVID-19 is 3.4% (as of March 3rd according to the WHO) And the fatality rate from coronavirus is still in a steep upward curve. Get your facts straight before making a claim that "
only a small percentage of people die" from this virus.
The situation is very difficult for a great many people. Many have lost their jobs completely and some workers have no choice but to continue working while taking huge risks. All of society is being asked to make huge sacrifices for the greater good until we can get a handle on the disease and its spread.
In many cases, there is simply no choice. Tyson Foods has just shuttered yet another meat processing facility due to the number of coronavirus cases, labor absenteeism from fearful workers, the need for testing and improved sanitary measures and community concerns. Ignoring the situation and keeping the production lines open will only guarantee a far worse outcome. Nobody wants this but the situation dictates the actions that are required. We risk our food supply if the plants remain open with no safety measures in place.
People do have a right to protest but there are reasonable and intelligent ways to go about it and ways not to in the midst of an extreme nationwide health emergency. Crowding into groups publicly brandishing assault weapons with extended magazines is NOT an appropriate way to protest. Spamming dick pics and Hitler memes certainly isn't. Attending crowded church services during stay-at-home/stay safe orders when most religious leaders are wisely conducting services online is NOT the way to protest. All this does is selfishly exacerbate the situation by spreading the very infection the rest of society is desperately trying to bring under control. Of course, ignorant, entitled, selfish people yell, "But I have a right to protest!". Suicidal and potentially homicidal mass behavior is clearly not the kind of civic protest our founders had in mind.
And then there is the fact that ALL of these protests have been incited and manipulated by the wealthy, special interest, dark money enabled, right wing propaganda outlets you are so enamored with. These protests are cynically designed as a wedge issue for political purposes by Republican operatives primarily in states with Democratic governors. Literally ALL these protests are fueled by far right anti-government and anti-vaccination groups who are so easily manipulated by online propaganda, and so there's that aspect you conveniently ignore. And then we have President Trump. Unlike every other President in our history who has put politics aside and made an effort to unify the country and protect the population during a time of national crisis, Trump goes all out in the opposite direction. He encourages these protests for his personal political gain by tweeting, "LIBERATE MINNESOTA!", "LIBERATE MICHIGAN!", "LIBERATE VIRGINIA", all states with Democratic governors. And, like the other political operatives trying to incite these protests he is encouraging people to risk their health and the health and safety of everyone around them and he cynically does so from a safe and secure location. You certainly won't see Trump or any of his right wing billionaires apparatchiks and enablers out there among the people protesting.
And finally, you ignore the fact that ALL of these emergency stay-at-home directives are TEMPORARY. Literally nobody, including and especially our elected leaders wants to keep these measures in place a moment longer than is necessary. These measures are in place for the purpose of slowing down a fast moving deadly disease to protect lives, keep hospitals from becoming over whelmed, to prevent mass infections occurring in churches, sports stadiums, music and theater venues and workplaces and to get the nation up to speed with the tools and measures to deal with a situation that is likely to be with us for some time to come.
When these measures achieve their goals, as they appear to be accomplishing, then and only then will we be able to begin restarting the economy. And this appears to already be happening as we speak. It has been said the shutting down the economy is like putting a patient in an induced coma and then slowly bringing the patient out of the coma as healing takes place. And like bringing the patient out of an induced coma it must be done scientifically, rationally, with data and observation. Political calculations should pay no role in this.
So, your entire, entitled, "Patriot" argument is completely baseless and frankly, inappropriate. You come across as just another cog in a right wing political movement who is basing your entire argument on amateur legal "scholarship" few if any facts on the ground and a complete lack of civic duty.
As I mentioned earlier, the true Patriots in this country are not the ones protesting at state capitals brandishing high powered semi-automatic weapons but the ones with all hands on deck, sacrificing, risking their lives and doing everything in their power to be of service to their nation and fellow citizens. You are not among them.