I should have seen the results of the Georgia Senate runoffs coming. As a life-long resident (51+ years) of Georgia, living my whole life in one of the most conservative congressional districts in the U.S. (Georgia’s 9th), I’ve long been shielded from the left-wing wickedness that has plagued most of the rest of America and the world. Additionally, since current U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Purdue, won Georgia’s 2002 gubernatorial race—becoming the first republican since Reconstruction to hold that office—the GOP has dominated Georgia politics.
In other words, I’ve enjoyed living in a political sea of red
for many years now. Alas, the (as of this writing) likely (and perhaps fraudulent)
election of radical leftists Raphael Warnock and John Ossoff to the U.S.
Senate, Georgia has, for now, taken a hard turn to the left. What’s more, though
my congressional district is still reliably republican, real conservatism is getting
harder and harder to find in northeast Georgia. Nothing has made this clearer than
the manufactured crisis over the Wuhan virus.
I write “manufactured” because it is now clear that, whatever
health risks the Wuhan virus presents, they pale in comparison to the social, mental,
economic, and spiritual carnage wrought by the foolish political actions—and
subsequent foolish private actions—that tragically followed the Wuhan virus
into the U.S. As many warned, including President Trump, for the Wuhan virus,
the “cure” has indeed been worse than the disease.
In other words, most of the suffering in America today is
not due to the Wuhan virus, but rather to our foolish and widespread reaction
to the Wuhan virus. The shutdowns, the lockdowns, the mask mandates, and the
like have done little to nothing to stem the tide of the Wuhan virus. Instead,
these unwise measures have brought unprecedented suffering—including stress,
debt, financial ruin, depression, illness, and death—to tens of millions of
Americans.
In addition, the pervasive fear-porn frequently spread by
the left-wing media and those like-minded opened the door for mail-in voting,
ballot drop boxes, and other opportunities for voter fraud. Though the exact
extent is still unknown, a wide array of evidence has made clear that vote
fraud occurred. Thus, the election fraud—however widespread—is also greatly due
to our Wuhan virus reaction.
Nevertheless, two months after the fiasco that was the
November election, and about 10 months after the Wuhan virus fear-mongering
began, in spite of all the evidence we now have, in northeast Georgia—again,
one of the most conservative parts of America—the lockdown narrative persists. And
if it’s happening here, there’s little doubt that this is the case over much of
the U.S.
As
I recently reported, numerous school systems—including colleges—in
northeast Georgia are beginning the second semester with students stuck in
at-home learning. Of course, as a long-time veteran of homeschooling our four
children, there’s nothing wrong with this if it is what parents and students
are prepared for, but this is not the case for the vast majority of households.
Also, this attitude toward in-person schooling perpetuates the lockdown
narrative.
Many institutions—especially those that involve young
people—are taking their lockdown cues from school systems. The prevailing
thinking is, “If school is not safe, since our activity involves school-age
children/young adults, we must shut down/lock down as well.” This is happening
with churches, recreation departments, camps, concerts, and the like.
Very troubling and discouraging is the fact that school
boards in northeast Georgia are dominated by republicans and supposed
conservatives. I won’t again re-hash the mountain
of data
and science
one has to ignore to conclude that children are in any real danger from the
Wuhan virus, but I will add: shame on them! Where is the
courage?! Where is the leadership?!
Even more troubling is the seeming lack of courage and
leadership on the Wuhan virus in U.S. churches, including those in my zip code
and the surrounding areas. I realize that churches with vulnerable populations
might need to take certain measures to protect them, but months-long,
widespread shutdowns of services and activities—especially those involving
young people—are inexcusable. This is nothing more than operating out of fear
and/or laziness instead of operating out of faith.
Why in the world are churches taking direction on life and
death, health and prosperity, liberty and joy, from the faithless in secular
government?! If there was ever a time for the Church to be the Church, this is
such a time! Churches have just as much access—if not more—to expert health
care analysis. Moreover, right-minded churches (note that many churches who
have long been in shut down mode have also compromised on a wide array of other
important issues) are much more equipped to weigh health care advice from the
proper perspective, rightly balancing safety with living one’s life.
Of course, corporate leadership on the Wuhan virus has been
as bad as any other leadership. To the detriment or destruction of hundreds of thousands
of small businesses all across America, for months now, Corporate
America has enthusiastically backed mask mandates, lockdowns, and the like. As
countless owners and employees of small businesses have suffered as their
businesses have been significantly limited or shut down, Walmart, Amazon, Home
Depot, and the like have survived and even thrived in lockdown America.
Like public school teachers and other government employees
whose paychecks have continued through the lockdowns and shutdowns, those
employed by corporate America have seen little to no economic pain from the
lockdown policies that are prolific in the U.S. No amount of “stimulus” checks
from broke Uncle Sam—now approaching $30 trillion in debt—can replace the real
income generated when businesses are free to operate as they wish.
It is past time for the end of lockdown politics and policies!
Notice that I’m not saying that lockdown “leaders” must go, but that leadership
that has resulted in the general lockdown of America, must end. However,
leaders who refuse to acknowledge what science—as well articulated in the Great Barrington
Declaration (GBD)—has long made clear, should step aside, or be
removed. On the Wuhan virus, the GBD rightly concludes:
Those who are not vulnerable should immediately be allowed to resume life as normal. Simple hygiene measures, such as hand washing and staying home when sick should be practiced by everyone to reduce the herd immunity threshold. Schools and universities should be open for in-person teaching. Extracurricular activities, such as sports, should be resumed. Young low-risk adults should work normally, rather than from home. Restaurants and other businesses should open. Arts, music, sport and other cultural activities should resume.
(See this column at American Thinker.)
Copyright 2021, Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith and
Reason.
www.TrevorGrantThomas.com
Trevor is the author of The Miracle and Magnificence of America
tthomas@TrevorGrantThomas.com
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