What is a state of emergency? Given how often our leaders have used a so-called state of emergency to abuse their powers, we should be surprised that expression is not more mysterious. When it is relatively simple idea, how is it that declaring a state of emergency is such a easy way to fool us and deprive us of our rights?
Consider what Wikipedia has to say.
A state of emergency or emergency powers is a situation in which a government is empowered to be able to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of their citizens. A government can declare such a state during a natural disaster, civil unrest, armed conflict, medical pandemic or epidemic or other biosecurity risk. Justitium is its equivalent in Roman law—a concept in which the Roman Senate could put forward a final decree (senatus consultum ultimum) that was not subject to dispute yet helped save lives in times of strife.
States of emergency can also be used as a rationale or pretext for suspending rights and freedoms guaranteed under a country’s constitution or basic law, sometimes through martial law or revoking habeas corpus. The procedure for and legality of doing so vary by country. (continued)
State of emergency – Wikipedia
What does declaring a state of emergency look like? Here are several examples.
- Whitmer – Executive Order 2020-165: Declaration of state of emergency and state of disaster related to the COVID-19 pandemic (michigan.gov)
- Virginia Governor Ralph Northam – March
- Governor Newsom Declares State of Emergency to Help State Prepare for Broader Spread of COVID-19 | California Governor
Any surprises there? Doubt it. There is actually a clause or two for a state of emergency written into some constitutions. In all constitutions, when they don’t want to let a crisis go to waste, there are unwritten clauses that would be tyrants point to. Yep! Whether we like it or not, good-hearted, well-intentioned tyrants have to save us.
What got me to thinking about the refusal of politicians to let a good crisis go waste? A post over at Victory Girls Blog, Ilhan Omar Wants to Take Your Rental Properties got me to thinking about the problem that our government has created for the owners of rental properties. Consider some of these articles.
- National Eviction Moratorium | National Low Income Housing Coalition (nlihc.org)
- HHS/CDC Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of Covid-19
- Renters: How to Get COVID-19 Rent Relief (investopedia.com)
The government, supposedly, created a boon for renters, but any landlord with half a brain now realizes that rental property is an awful investment. If no one wants to invest in rental property, doesn’t that create a problem for renters? Do we really want Uncle Sam to become our nation’s landlord? A monopoly like that would be a good idea? Socialism works, right?
Consider the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
The Bill of Rights: A Transcription | National Archives – Fifth Amendment
Imagine you are a landlord. You are renting a house to someone. When the government tells the person you are renting that house to that they don’t have to pay the rent in accordance with the lease, have you not been deprived of the value of your property? But that is okay because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)? Why?
If we cannot trust our leaders to obey the Constitution, a document they have sworn to uphold and defend, do we really want to put them in charge of things, like rental property, that they don’t need to be in charge of? If the obvious answer is no, then we need to hold the leaders who abused the powers of their office during this so-called COVID-19 state of emergency accountable. We need to either remove them from office or vote them out.
Citizen Tom 
We should really be cautious with governmen’t emergency power afterall this..
@SLIMJIM
Our laws anticipate emergencies, but we did not REMEMBER why we make our laws when there is no emergency. Then our legislators can calmly ponder the consequences — that is, the tradeoffs — between giving and not giving the powers that they need to deal with an emergency.
If a governor, for example, starts grabbing power using an emergency as an excuse, we need to immediately demand his removal office. No emergency, certainly not COVID-19, justifies the seizure of dictatorial powers.
👍👍👍
Tom,
I have empathy for both renters and property holders who through no fault of their own have become victims of the two biggest crises of the pandemic.
The renters who government mandated a worker could not work.
The property owners who government mandated could not evict renters for nonpayment of rent.
What should have been mandated during the crisis in retrospect is for government to subsidize the property owners mortgage payments for their properties, taxes, and utilities along with requiring e renters to provide proof they lost their jobs because of the government mandates.
The cost to government is ‘peanuts’ compared to the 1.9 trillion just approved and would be more fair, just, and equitable during the pandemic.
The left politicians like Omar just plain do not understand what they are proposing is incantational, inequitable, and in my opinion, actually hates the concepts of Capitalism, or to understand that every Nation that tried Socialism has already failed in history.
In other words, Socrates was right when he said about Democracy 2500 years ago is relevant today.
“What Socrates is trying to say is that voting in an election is a skill. And like any other skill, only those who have been systematically taught should have the right to vote. Allowing citizens to vote without properly educating them is like putting them in charge of a ship in a storm. “
https://visiontimes.com/2020/07/10/why-socrates-hated-democracy.html
A National Debt is 30 trillion which is a very strong indication that both voters and the legislators they put in office have never been properly educated in Democracy, or Accounting, in my opinion, in addition to wisdom of fairness, justice and equity in governing.
Regards and goodwill blogging.
@Scatterwisdom
Spot on! Putting politicians in charge of the education of children is just plain irresponsible. NOBODY thinks the public schools teaches civics properly. Anybody who claimed that the public schools teaches civics well would be laugh at.
Reblogged this on boudica.us.
Thank you!