Public Health - Or Power?

In early March, the corona virus was in my consciousness, but I really didn't consider it a threat.  On March 16th, the state of Louisiana locked down, and I became painfully aware that my life, and the life of much of the state had changed.

We were told initially that the lockdown was necessary to slow the spread of the virus, and to give our medical community a fighting chance, to limit our contact with others so that the medical system would not become overwhelmed and collapse.  First, it was "14 days to slow the spread", then it was 30 days.  Our governor's lockdown order expires on April 30th, three days away.  But, we in Louisiana know that April 30 isn't the end of the lockdown.

By my count, we are in day 43 of this lockdown.  Six full weeks, and we're starting week seven.  By-and-large, we've done what we were told to do. We've changed our society in ways that I can't even start to detail.  And, by any rational measurement, we've slowed the spread, we've flattened the curve, we've kept the medical community from collapse.

At this point, we have done what they asked us to do.  The government has had six weeks.  Everybody I've talked to is tired of it, and if you read the national media, the phrase "lockdown fatigue" is becoming common.  What this lockdown has taught me is the amount of control government at every level has over our lives. Churches, restaurants, barber shops, and other retail shops are closed.  On government edict.  Ministers are being arrested and we're all wearing masks, like we're ready to rob a liquor store.  It's bizarre.

Our governor says that we have to re-open slowly, so as not to experience a second wave, that medical experts tell us we are surely going to endure.  On this, the 43rd day of his shutdown, he still hadn't given us a plan to re-open. 

At this point, it's about power.  The government can couch it in whatever verbiage they'd like, but it's now about power.  They've shown that they can control us.  They've learned that most Americans will put up with whatever they say.  They can close churches, bars, lounges, casinos, barber shops, and all manner of venues where people congregate.

Fankly, I've had enough of it.