Covid-19 and the Branches of Government

The Covid-19 pandemic has done a lot more than just spread disease, it transferred most of the governing power in California to the executive branch. The constitution of both the United States and California is meant to be followed and was explicitly made to be followed during an emergency. Now, over a year after the executive branch took power, the executive branch refuses to give up the power. They have effectively changed over 400 laws without the consent of the legislature, nor the people. Furthermore, these laws don’t have anything to do with the pandemic.

This cartoon shows the amount of power the executive branch has over the legislative branch and the judicial branch, and the people that elected the officers to their seats. This power has seemingly been justified by a singular party while opposed by many other parties. However, as the science clears, it becomes apparent that the California government has taken power with no positive outcome for the people, as Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) said.

I would say (Gavin Newsom) needs to remember that we're a system of checks and balances. The design of our constitution is that we don't want too much power in a single branch or a single person. When you see some of the Governors Executive Orders; Such as changing the rules for an election that's six months down the road; Or overhauling our Workers' Compensation system; Those are things that are policymaking that's supposed to go through a policy process; Where we can all deliberate, where we can think through the consequences of our actions where different interests and different values can be heard and can be balanced; And when the Governor simple decides to do those things on his own with the stroke of a pen, sure that's a lot easier; You can snap your fingers, and it's done. But our Founders made a very specific choice, that making new laws should not be easy. It would be a great tragedy if our constitution design, our system of checks and balances, was a casualty of this virus.

During this pandemic, California made the first choice to lock down the state. The Governor shut down schools and non-essential businesses, implemented mask mandates and lockdowns. These measures appeared to be helping slow the spread, or to "flatten the curve." However, in July the curve flattened. The Governor of California did not relinquish his power nor bring the Executive Orders to a vote in the State Legislature. Instead, closing down the legislative branch and continuing the lockdown. NBC and CNN imposed hate on the State of Florida for not implementing the same measures as California, however, I was exploring the state of Florida to avoid the measures. NBC and CNN's claims were just plain false in the places I went. Mask mandates were in place, social distancing of 6 feet was required, 50% capacity in restaurants. In my non-expert opinion, this seemed like enough. Businesses could keep running while keeping the vulnerable safe. These media sources still kept pushing through the minds of the public that Florida was evil and was killing off its citizens as most of its population is older. Their Governor, Ron Desantis, even got the nickname "Deathsantis" because of this. As we reach almost 13 months since lockdown began, we are "now" finding out that Florida had performed significantly better than California when it comes to Covid case, death, and hospitalization rates. NBC said that scientists are "scratching their heads," when it's been evident since July of 2020. Lockdowns are hurting people financially, emotionally, and physically.

After this "revelation," did the Governor of California appeal to this and lift restrictions? No. Instead, he put in hope saying we would open in 2 months. This is not the way. When the legislature convened the Education committee, public comment opened for 10 minutes before the chair closed it. I can only speculate as to why. The delaying of public opinion is not the way to help the people, it is simply the government not wanting to give up the power we entrusted them with to protect us. The government should be "by the people for the people," however, the Covid-19 pandemic has killed this saying too along with the life, liberty, and happiness of the people.

On a good note, the United States and California have been vaccinating people rapidly. Soon, our Governor will be either forced to give up the power he took from the legislature and the people or be kicked out of office. Have you noticed the news stopped talking about deaths and hospitalizations? They are now only talking about cases to instill fear in the citizen. That explicitly brings up covid-19 cases in children. But, surprise, covid cases in children don't matter. Most children, if not all, will not feel symptoms, more or less be hospitalized. Most people at my school that I attend have concluded before I have even thought of writing this post. One student saying "Getting covid (as a child) is just like getting an early vaccine." This is absolutely true, we have flattened the curve already: we have vaccinated the elderly and the immune-compromised. We should be opening up businesses while we pass, hopefully, the final welfare check to those in need. The stimulus is to hold the people over as they get their jobs back and open up their businesses, not to keep people locked down not producing for society. We should be allowing the people who statistically will not die from the virus to spread it and allow for antibodies to build up that way. The fear in you, the citizen of this great country, is the power they hold. They hold the fear of death over a year when in reality the fear of economic decline should be mainstream. We need to increase the value of our dollar rather than printing more and more. As much as we want to open now, at the worst we have a few months. I urge all of you who believe in life, liberty, and happiness to present to your respective counties who have not passed it already to pass the Healthy Community Resolution within your county board of supervisors. You can find the sample one from Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) here.