Jim Bratten
In progressive blue states, and even some red states with progressive governors who identify as Republicans, the “shutdown” or “lock-down” actions of these chief executives have not been empowered by citizens, or law. These governors cannot do what they have done. It’s illegal, besides being immoral. But they did it anyway, citing “public safety” or “common good.”
Some Democrat governors are threatening fines and jail time for citizens who leave the homes where they have been ordered to “shelter in place.” Yet those same Democrat governors are releasing criminals from jails and prisons onto public streets.
A father was arrested and handcuffed while playing catch with his son, outdoors. A mom in Idaho was arrested at an outdoor playground, watching her daughters play. (Never mind that the most lethal enemy of a corona virus is sunlight.) The chief of police in Greensville, Mississippi followed his governor’s orders and fined church goers at a Baptist church $500 for participating in a drive-in service on church property. These offenses have occurred all over our nation, under the “orders” of lawless governors and local officials.
In the case of Indiana, progressive Republican Governor Eric Holcomb treats his citizens to daily directives, each containing his fatherly wisdom as to what behavioral limitations are to be imposed and for how long. He addresses 
his state’s residents as if they are children who possess no common sense. He followed the example of neighboring governors: Democrat Pritzker of Illinois, Democrat Whitmer of Michigan, Democrat Beshear of Kentucky and moderate Republican DeWine of Ohio. All violated First Amendment protections for religious liberty and freedom of association under the U.S. Constitution. Most of them also breached their state constitutions in this regard. Gov. Holcomb of Indiana ignored language in his state’s constitution which forbids restriction of religious beliefs or practice as protected by the U.S. and Indiana constitutions. Of course, the excuse used by all of these autocrats is what they are doing is for “public safety,” in order to protect their citizens who, of course, cannot protect themselves… from a virus. Sanctuaries in times of distress, houses of worship were forbidden to assemblies greater than 10 but are now opening up.
Shutting down the economy of Indiana was no hard decision for Holcomb either; he simply followed his peers – lock it down and sort it out later. Choose the “essential” and “non-essential” businesses, being careful not to alienate your most dependable donors. If you’re unsure of something, just follow your arrogance.
Now Governor Holcomb is following the example of the radical governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam: Use “contact 
tracers” to monitor and track those who may be positive for the Wuhan virus. Holcomb hired 300 of a planned 500 tracers at a cost of $43 million taxpayer dollars. This is the stuff of fascism; run surveillance of your citizens who test positive for symptoms of a viral infection. Then get their recent contacts, seek out those individuals, and find their contacts. On and on – like a pyramid scheme. The contact base gets wider and wider, exponentially, until everyone can be monitored. If you don’t respond, they’ll find you; or your neighbors can inform them. America is now a surveillance society.
A deep disconnect exists: This country operates under the principle of consent of the governed – not “consent of those who govern.” State residents who agreed to temporary lock-downs didn’t consent to arbitrary, open-ended, economic strangulation.
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