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Fear: The Fuel of Government Power—Coronavirus Panic | Mary L. G. Theroux and Graham H. Walker
Posted: Thu. March 19, 2020, 10:19am PT

In response to 400 known cases and 5 deaths from coronavirus in the San Francisco Bay Area, on March 16th Bay Area city and county governments panicked and overreacted by ordering a "Shelter in Place" mandate that compels work from home, restricts free assembly, and imposes rules on residents and communities in which only "essential businesses" can operate. The order was proclaimed after private events were already and voluntarily being canceled, prudent telework arrangements were becoming common, and proper health precautions were being widely adopted.

The original order extends until April 7th and involves San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda counties—a combined population of more than 6.7 million. Since then a total of 16 counties have joined in the edict, and California Governor Gavin Newsom has warned of declaring martial law.

[3/19/20 Update: "Progressive" Gov. Newsom has extended the edict to all Californians statewide affecting 40 million people, and he claims the right to announce more drastic measures as he sees fit.]

In this video, Graham H. Walker (Executive Director) and Mary L. G. Theroux (Senior Vice President) at the Independent Institute examine the folly and hypocrisy for this edict, which falls just short of a full lockdown. As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, "The orders call for county and city sheriffs and police chiefs to 'ensure compliance,' and local authorities said they would not 'rush to enforce' the directives as residents adjusted to understand what activities are no longer allowed. Violation of the orders is considered a misdemeanor punishable by a fine or jail time."

Meanwhile, the strict monopoly control by the CDC (the federal government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) over coronavirus test kits, as an example of the failure of "single-payer healthcare," produced faulty kits, bureaucracy and massive shortages. In contrast, private firms in South Korea and Taiwan have been free to innovate and make effective kits widely available, and cases of coronavirus are declining there.

This edict along with the threat of extensive, new federal and state government restrictions, spending and debt have already sent the U.S. economy into a recession, which will only deepen if continued and create enormous social and economic hardships far greater than the epidemic itself.








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