The Pandemic and The Constitution
I understand the wisdom of interacting with others less. The concept and practice of social distancing, self-isolation, Mask wearing and so on are effective strategies for limiting the spread of any desease. In the context of this forum, think of STDs. If one practices "safe sex" the risk is mitigated. If one practices abstinence the risk is reduced to near zero. In the context of this forum, everyone is free to choose their level of risk.
This past week the we saw an end run that erodes every one of the first ten amendmentsof The Bill of Rights and by extension every enumerated right in the Constitution.
Many jurisdictions forbad religious gatherings this past week. This potentially affects all Jews, Christians and Moslems across the Nation. Wether you have a strong faith tradition or not, this affects us all. the first amendment is much more than Free Speech.
"The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext, infringed. The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable. The people shall not be restrained from peaceably assembling and consulting for their common good; nor from applying to the Legislature by petitions, or remonstrances, for redress of their grievances."
If a state governor, County official or mayor can shut down your church synagogue or mosc, they can shut down your newspaper, radio station or TV station. In places the general population is under what can be construed as house arrest.
think about the above for a bit, then go on to the amendment that everyone skips over as irrelevant today; the Third Amendment forbidding the government from housing troops in your house. In this pandemic psychology, someone might decide to take over your property to house the national guard sent out to help with the pandemic.
Sound far-fetched? In California, they are housing the homeless in hotels to get them off the street.
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