Traffic on some roads was reported to be heavier than usual, with citizens ignoring health officials’ pleas to stay indoors and avoid spreading (or catching) the COVID-19 virus. The warming weather was certainly a contributing factor — in normal times, who can resist the siren call of blue skies and spring-like conditions? Add to that the experience of being cooped up for nearly a week out of fear of perishing from a mysterious malady that has already claimed numerous lives.
As a result, those who are fortunate enough to possess those motorized vehicles you 21st century folks call “cars” took to the highways and byways for a breath of fresh air, violating government mandates to remain indoors. In more extreme cases, multitudes of college students were seen descending upon beaches in the state of Florida in a foolhardy effort to observe their “spring break” tradition, while ignoring the serious risk of contracting the virus.
Ben’s advice on this run for freedom
What’s my take on this alarming trend? Well, dear readers, whilst you know I am one of the foremost advocates for personal liberty (being a Founding Father, this comes with the territory), when it comes to jeopardizing the health and welfare of the general public, I have to side with the well-meaning authorities who have imposed curfews, lockdowns, and shelter-in-place rules in an attempt to preserve our country’s safety. Germs can be a formidable foe — I know from personal experience, since I lost my own son to the terrible smallpox epidemic in the 1730s.
Of course, I would also be the first to reconsider my opinion should the government authorities attempt to take advantage of these quarantine conditions by taking away our constitutional rights or trying to profit from the crisis by indefinitely prolonging their time in office beyond the usual term limits...or, worse yet, padding their pockets with ill-gotten gains from things like insider trading or profiteering.
But, in the meantime, in spite of our qualms, or our distrust of blundering, corrupt politicians, we need to temporarily put aside our desire to fly the coop and try to abide by the policies being put forth for our own good. As I once said a few centuries ago, ”we must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall hang separately.”
Above all, keep an open mind about what has been transpiring these past few weeks. Use your common sense and don’t jeopardize your health or the health of others. But also remember this: (another one of my old sayings), “don’t make yourselves sheep, or the wolves will eat you.”
Your humble servant,
B.Franklin