Will America ever be the same again?

President Trump, a white man with blond hair stands behind a podium wearing a blue suit and a red tie.

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, giving his remarks at a coronavirus (COVID-19) update briefing on March 18. Photo Courtesy of The White House / Shealah Craighead

This article was featured in the April 29 digital-only edition of Street Sense. Until it is safe to resume person-to-person sales, you’ll always be able to find the current digital-only edition at streetsensemedia.org/Digital Thank you for reading! Please continue to support our vendors through our mobile app (streetsensemedia.org/App).


W

hether we reopen or stay shut, one thing certain, America will never be the same.  

In times of crisis, Americans get to see the difference between how Democratic politicians govern with the power granted by a state of emergency versus Republican-controlled states. And many Americans were horrified as this pandemic unfolded.  

 They also saw many of the coronavirus cases were in urban-controlled blue states. On April 28, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 14% of all COVID-19-related deaths in America were in New York.   

 For many states, what started off as a voluntary two-week “stay-at-home” order has now become a two-month lockdown where small businesses are struggling and unemployment rose 4.4 percent. What was supposed to be a temporary measure to flatten the spread now has cost taxpayers $2 trillion, with more money being proposed by the Democrats to support bloated government and the medical establishment that blew up the American way of life.  

 Behind every Democrat there is a tyrant waiting to get out. Many didn’t disappoint with their authoritarian power grabs. D.C. Mayor Muriael Bowser threatened to fine and jail people if they didn’t follow her strict stay-at-home orders. That’s mild compared to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, whose stay-at-home order forced stores larger than 50,000 square feet to close their furniture and gardening departments and only sell those items online. Police broke up a funeral and charged 15 people for breaking New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s stay-at-home order. Fox News pundit Tucker Carlson accused the governor of trying to nullify the Bill of Rights.  

 In cities such as Tulsa, Chicago and New York City, neighbors are snitching on one another at the encouragement of their mayors. In Elizabeth, New Jersey, police officers are using drones to play recorded warnings when people are observed disregarding social distancing rules. And Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo went full Mussolini when she ordered Texas residents to use face masks in public or face stiff penalties or even imprisonment. A conservative activist in Houston has sued her for violating the constitution. 

 America also saw the division between the haves and have-nots, where those comfortable with “stay-at-home” orders tended to have cushy jobs and those whose work depends on public interaction were dismissed as kooks and crackpots if they protested or complained about these questionable efforts to “flatten the curve.”  

 We also saw the hypocrisy of Democratic politicians who picked and chose what was essential and non-essential. Some states emptied out their prisons yet fined people for playing in parks. Many blue states consider having abortions essential while fining people for prayer gatherings.  

 In the end, Americans should be concerned if politicians are using this crisis as a way to destroy our freedoms and transform the nation into their vision.  

 Jeffery McNeil is an artist and vendor with Street Sense Media. 


Issues |COVID-19|Health, Physical

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