04/22/2020
COVID-19 -- In response to police officers arresting parents in front of their children at local parks, and citations being given to people at church services...
Im all for letting people make their own choices regarding their health and that of their children, especially when it involves constitutional rights. I believe that forced containment/confinement/control is not near as effective as education. Perhaps if we reshaped our thinking of police responsibilities, moving away from law "enforcement" to law "support," we might have less friction and more unity between police and our society. Would it not be a better world if the officers were handing out masks and hand sanitizer at the parks or church services? What about distributing educational materials on hand washing and virus facts? Their actions would have transcended the public feeling the usual "injustice" of arrests, courts, and fines, to the public experiencing an act of caring and empowerment for healthier living.
We are now willing victims due to violence and loss of personal freedoms perpetrated by our government. This is AGAIN due to fear, just like post 9/11. Mark my words, politicians will use this pandemic to expand the control and constriction of our constitutional rights by various existing and new government agencies.
Think I'm overreacting? Wait until you start to see people rounded up because they are suspected of being ill or related to (or had contact with) someone suspected of being ill. Contact tracing is an old idea that is getting a lot of new attention. We can't trace everyone, or can we?...it's where we are headed.
My contention is simply this...we should see our government and police as help, not hurt. There is enough hurt out there already.
Cheers, now go wash your hands.