by Catherine Mortensen
Joe Biden’s prediction of a dark winter is upon us as many Americans struggle under oppressive Covid lockdowns with no end in sight. How did we go from a common-sense plan to “flatten the curve” to the White House calling for continued restrictions even after Americans are vaccinated? In a word: politics. From the moment the virus arrived on our shores, Democrats used it to their political advantage. They have shown by word and deed that they care less about public safety, and more about control.
Timeline to tyranny
January 31, 2020
The Trump administration declared a public health emergency in the U.S. Foreign nationals other than immediate family of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have traveled in China in the last 14 days are denied entry into United States.
Hours later at a campaign rally in Iowa, Biden accused Trump of xenophobia. “This is no time for Donald Trump’s record of hysterical xenophobia and fear mongering to lead the way instead of science.”
February 24, 2020
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits San Francisco’s Chinatown amid concerns of slumping tourism and business over Covid concerns and invites the public by telling a local TV news crew, “Come to Chinatown, here we are.”
March 8, 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, tells CBS News’ 60 Minutes, “Right now in the United States, people should not be walking around wearing a mask on their face.” The reporter pressed him on this point, “Are you sure because people are going to be listening really closely to what you say?” Fauci responded, “Right now, people, no one should be walking around with a mask.”
March 10, 2020
Fauci tells reporters, “If you look at the curves of outbreaks, they go big peaks, and then come down. What we need to do is flatten that down.”
March 12, 2020
Vox news wrote an explaineron the idea. Barack Obama shared it with his tens of millions of Twitter followers. “Flatten the curve” became a public health meme.
If you’re wondering whether it’s an overreaction to cancel large gatherings and public events (and I love basketball), here’s a useful primer as to why these measures can slow the spread of the virus and save lives. We have to look out for each other. https://t.co/Ld7Uc8sPTQ
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 12, 2020
March 25,2020
Hollywood and sports celebrities begin releasing “Stay home, stay safe” videos. Singer JoJo belted out “Stay in, right now. Do it for humanity.” Actor Robert DeNiro urged, “We’ve got to stop the spread of this virus and we can only do it together.” Basketball player Steph Curry said, “We can all come together, collectively, to stop the spread of this virus.”
April 3, 2020
Dr. Fauci recommends everyone wear a mask. “If everybody does that, we’re each protecting each other,” Fauci said in an interview with PBS NewsHour.
April 22, 2020
The CDC urges in a video for Americans to “Do your part to slow the spread. Together we can stop the spread of Covid-19.”
https://youtu.be/QDDwXu96KnY
This CDC message is the genesis of what became the ubiquitous, “We’re all in this together,” tagline.
September 15, 2020
The CDC releases guidelines for school reopening, Indicators for Dynamic School Decision-Making. It establishes a complicated set of metrics that leads to long-term school shut-downs.
Feb. 3, 2021
The Director of the CDC said schools can safely reopen even if teachers are not vaccinated for the coronavirus.
Dr. Fauci said now is not the time for Super Bowl watch parties. He urged Americans to “Lay low, and cool it.”
Feb. 4, 2021
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki says in a White House briefing that social distancing and masking are still ‘essential’ after Covid vaccination.
Feb. 4, 2021
Democrat Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio demands Sen. Rand Paul wear a mask on the Senate floor, despite Paul having already acquired Covid immunity. “I wish Sen. Paul would show respect to his colleagues to wear a mask when he’s on the Senate floor walking around and speaking,” Brown said.
And that is the timeline for how a common-sense approach to contain a virus from overwhelming our hospitals became Big Government tyranny with no end in sight. Now, we are told by government elites, “You will wear a mask, not because science dictates, but simply the government dictates.”
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Catherine Mortensen is Vice President of Communications for Americans for Limited Government.
