They completely locked us down, and we did nothing. They let our businesses be burned downed and looted, and we did nothing. A minority of bureaucrats shut down the economy for millions of people, and we did nothing. What will the history books say about Americans in 2020? What is the picture that will be painted about the year of COVID? Will the extreme overreach of government power be discussed? Will they provide details on the millions who suffered silently at the hands of tyrannical politicians? In July of 1776 we adopted the Declaration of Independence, in July of 2020 we were trying to recover from government imposed lockdowns. What happened to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
Thus far only a minority of Americans have challenged the unconstitutional decisions of government. But, a majority will feel the effects of their draconian measures for decades. “We the people” will pay the price while they pay nothing. Many have not said anything. As a Marine veteran, I would like to acknowledge another Marine veteran who has expressed dissent and exercised civil disobedience. Robby Dinero is a former Marine Infantry Officer and gym owner in Buffalo, N.Y. He was fined $15k for having a 50 person gathering in his gym without masks, which violated the state COVID-19 restrictions. He stated his position and ripped up his citation on national television. “They can’t shut all of our power off, they can’t shut all of our water off, they can’t drag us all away. Everybody needs to open,” he said. The American people should be united in this kind of effort and I couldn’t agree with him more. It is our right under the law and Constitution of this country to earn a living. It is our right to pursue our lives and secure our property. If this means that we must go to court to defend our position, then let it be so. Let this not be construed as a means of protest, but as a right to livelihood. If tyrants would like to define our stance as a protest, then we will justify our actions by using the law of the land and the U.S. Constitution to defend our position.
The year 2020 is coming to an end and we are nine months in on “two weeks to slow the spread”. How will we be remembered? Will we be considered lovers of liberty? As a people who believed they had a right to live their lives with minimal government interference? Do we let government define what “happy” means for us? As we approach 2021 let’s reflect on the words of libertarian icon Ron Paul, “But let it not be said that we did nothing. Let not those who love the power of the welfare state label the dissenters of authoritarianism as unpatriotic or uncaring. Patriotism is more closely linked to dissent than it is to conformity and a blind desire for safety and security”.
