Neighbor,
Minnesota has been crippled by the governor’s executive orders. Disappointingly, guidance the governor issued this week is a slap in the face to anyone hoping a clear path to re-opening our state would be provided.
The saying the cure has become worse than the disease has surely come true. Not a day for me goes by without calls and email from angry Minnesotans. A while ago, I observed that people’s emotions had started with frustration, moved to anger and then became despair. They have now seem to have reverted to anger after Gov. Walz announced guidance for the next phases of his Stay Safe MN plan. This includes:
- Restaurants: Outdoor service only, maximum of 50 customers, masks required, six feet distance.
- Personal Services (salons, tattoos, barbershops): Six feet distance, maximum 25% of capacity, masks required.
- Churches: Services of 10 people or less indoors and outdoors, drive-up services allowed.
- Campgrounds: Open with guidance
- Gyms, personal fitness, yoga: CLOSED
- Entertainment (bowling, movie theaters, arcades): CLOSED
The governor’s shutdown has caused irreparable damage to businesses as well as families. Many businesses already have shut down and many more that are still hanging on simply will be unable to survive until June 1when these new provisions kick in. There is a rebellion growing across Minnesota. Cities are making the decision to open, despite the orders.
The inconsistencies in the governor’s guidance are ridiculous. It doesn’t make sense to allow hundreds of people in the aisles of big-box stores while limiting churches to 10 people, or that salons are allowed to reopen but restaurants are restricted to outdoor service. We must trust our businesses to protect the health and safety of customers and employees.
Many people have heard of the establishment in Albany. The owner made the choice to open his business rather than face bankruptcy. In response, Minnesota Attorney General Ellison threatened him with huge fines. When that did not work, he got a cease-and-desist order preventing the opening.
This is tyranny. These are actions we expect to see in communist nations. Not in America. It must be not allowed to stand.
In a few days, we will celebrate Memorial Day, a day set to honor those who gave their lives to protect our freedom. What would they think of us today? How would they judge us? How will future generations judge us?
The business owner in Albany took a stand. He was not wrong. But he did make a mistake: He stood up to an out-of-control government by himself. People must demand cities and counties stand together with their citizens and oppose a tyrannical government.
I have said many times “a government for the people, by the people will not stand unless the people are involved in it.” This may be our next great civil unrest. We can do it peacefully, but we must do it now. Talk to your city councils and county commissioners. Let them know you want to open and will stand with them.
We owe it to those who paid the price for us. And those we leave it to.
Let me know if there is anything I can do to be of help. And please join me in honoring the men and women of our armed forces who have fallen as we approach this Memorial Day weekend. Let’s thank them deeply for the sacrifices they made to protect us and in defense of liberty.
-Steve