While most governmental leaders in the U.S. are imposing lockdowns of one sort or another, Republican Gov. Kristi Noem is refusing to shut down South Dakota. At a press conference Wednesday, Kristi eschewed a one-size-fits-all approach to the pandemic. During this present viral threat, she’s interested in a specific kind of protection — that of individual rights:
“Our Constitution ensures the citizen’s right is protected. I agree with the role of our government as set forth in our state and in our national constitution. I took an oath to uphold these constitutions.”
I can tell you how many other Governors have said similar things – zero. And even if they were close, how many actually ACTED that way showing that they BELIEVE in their oaths? And read this emphasis:
She’s interested in public safety, AKA people’s responsibility:
“My role with respect to public safety is something I take very seriously. The people themselves are primarily responsible for their safety. They are the ones that are entrusted with expansive freedoms – they’re free to exercise their rights to work, to worship, and to play – or to even stay at home, or to conduct social distancing.”
And she is governing in a similar fashion. OH, how I bet Progressives tried (and will try to do here in NH now that I’ve posted this) to skewer her for her “controversial” stance – not following the Progressive mantra that we adult Citizens are mere children that have no idea what’s best for us so WHY isn’t she using the force of Government to lock us all down.
Similar to what the Democrat in DC are all screaming at Trump to do – use the force of Government, at the highest level they can reach, to put THEIR will above everyone else’s.
They’ve forgotten the Proper Role of Government; Noem has not. Sununu is trying to play the middle against both ends and trying to get away with it. I leave you with this:
“My responsibility is to respect the rights of people, and the people who elected me. To manage our state operations in a way that reflects the realities of what we have here on the ground in our state. On the foundation of my principles, commonsense conservative values, and the principles that we hold dear in America, the facts, the science, and the data will guide our decision-making here in South Dakota.”
It’s easy for me to say that most Governors aren’t thinking or acting in this manner. In fact, I’ve accumulated a BUNCH of examples of what Government is going to remove those Rights and Freedoms under the guise of “we have to protect you from yourselves” – it’s not a small number and I need to start putting them up.
After all, once precedent is set, it is FAR easier for Government to reassert them than not. And that old Conservative phrase of “Americans happen to have a government instead of a Government that happens to have serfs” is in the process of getting flipped when Government continues to remove basic Freedoms of “protecting” us. Noem is showing the real example: that we are responsible for ourselves. And for you Government loving Progressives (e.g., Bruce Currie with the ever present epithet of “Glibertarians”), that’s not a “your own your own” throw away – Govt was never meant to be the First Responder except in Progressive fevered minds.
(H/T: RedState)
