Freedom Versus Safety

We are a divided country both ideologically and geographically. There is a significant portion of our population who views government as our savior. To them, government is supposed to save us from hunger, danger, economic hardships, and from ourselves. It is governments job to protect us from this plague. There are others, however, who value our freedoms ahead of our safety. For them, the role of government is to manage the infrastructure of society and stay out of the way. Those who lean to the left generally live in metropolises while those right of center inhabit areas closer to the earth. In Washington State, the dividing line runs through the heart of the Cascade Mountain Range.

I spent two and a half decades in a military uniform sworn to defend the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution. I understand the need for granting emergency powers to our elected executives. I also see the absolute necessity to limit those powers in time as well as in scope. During extreme crises, our Governor can suspend our constitutional rights of peaceful assembly and worship. He can restrict travel and order private businesses closed. The heart of our democracy is a system of checks and balances, but there is no check to balance out the Governor’s power to declare an emergency then decide what is and what is not needed for our own good. I fought to defend freedom. I didn’t fight to defend rule by executive mandate.

I used to hunt with a good friend named Harry. When we were both young enough to hunt a full day, we would find a hill with a view when the sun is high overhead and eat our lunch. We would discuss everything except sex and politics. The need to protect the earth and the meaning of life were frequent topics. We had both made peace with our God years ago and had no real fear of death. We were, however, concerned about not being allowed or able to live our lives until it ended. Harry thankfully got this wish and died quickly and quietly after ninety very good years. I hope to do the same.

The experts tell us that social distancing and stay at home mandates will be the new normal far into the future. That may be OK for others, but I find it unacceptable. I fear loss of my freedom more than I fear the virus. I like my neighbors. I don’t want to treat them as if they might kill me. I don’t want to cower in front of my TV afraid to venture out. I have attained the age such that I am considered high risk for COVID19. So be it. I would rather catch the virus than be afraid to shake hands. I would rather catch the virus than refrain from greeting my friends in church. If I should catch the virus, odds are I’ll be over it and immune within a couple weeks. I find that preferable to permanent social distancing.

Some day in the future, the Governor will line up in his surgical mask, keeping a six-foot social distance and expect everyone to thank him for protecting us. I will be the first in line to thank him for closing our churches while keeping marijuana shops open. I will thank him for prohibiting fishing and golf while neighboring states allowed them with no ill effect. I will thank him for destroying our economic infrastructure such that grocery stores had empty shelves while farmers were unable to ship their produce. I will thank him for the failure of my son-in-law’s small business. I will thank him for over 600,000 unemployed workers in our state. Lastly, I will thank him for not allowing me the freedom to make adult decisions for myself.

Frank Watson is a retired Air Force Colonel and long-time resident of Eastern Washington. He has been a free-lance columnist for over 20 years.