OPINION: We Must Preserve Our Freedoms as We Fight Coronavirus

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As we all prepare for the fourth month of 2020, our nation remains collectively faced with the battle against coronavirus.

Make no mistake about it: taking on and defeating COVID-19 is absolutely imperative. However, just as we cannot destroy our economy in the process, we must also preserve our liberties and freedoms. Far too often, unsavory characters seize troubles and threats like coronavirus as opportunities to infringe upon individual rights and liberties.

Preserving Freedom in the Age of Coronavirus

Many Democrat (and a few Republican) governors and mayors across America have issued shelter-in-place orders, stay-at-home orders, and other forms of lockdowns. Of course, these restrictions are marketed as a means to stop coronavirus. However, at what point is the line crossed? Yes, we must defeat this virus, but we also can’t lose what makes us Americans in the first place.

Halting the movements of individuals is inherently authoritarian; governments forcing people out of work and citing their jobs as “non-essential” is also authoritarian. Every job that pays bills is essential and the government claiming otherwise doesn’t change the reality.