Charlotte, NC – Across the country, states are following through with plans to reopen. Americans have been struggling and they finally see the need to get them back to work. While each response plan is different, there are two plans that I think are worth looking at. It’s a tale of two completely different responses.
The first plan is that of North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. On April 23, Roy Cooper extended the stay orders in North Carolina until May 8th and announced a 3 step plan to reopening the state.
In phase 1, which Cooper states will take 2-3 weeks, not much changes. Essentially, you can go to a state park or shop at a few retail stores that will be allowed to reopen. Restaurants will still be unable to serve dine-in guests. Barbers and hair stylists, gyms, theaters, playgrounds and churches will all be required to remain closed.
States that have been hit much worse that North Carolina are taking measures to reopen their economies while Gov. Cooper continues to force his state into draconian closures. As of Wednesday morning, North Carolina ranks 20th in the country in total coronavirus cases. But that hasn’t stopped Cooper from feeling the need to oppress the people of North Carolina into submission.
The second plan that is worth looking at is Gov. Kristi Noem from South Dakota. Noem refused to panic over the coronavirus situation. Sure, she took the step of declaring a state of emergency, but that’s about the extent of her government reach.
It certainly has not come without attacks. The press across the country has attacked her for not forcing draconian measures on her people. She was attacked by multiple other media sites, even while the state had experienced a low amount of deaths.
As a result, her state has the lowest percentage of unemployment claims in the country. Through common sense measures and encouraged social distancing, Noem relied on her people to take care of themselves through this crisis, rather than forcing them to let her take care of them in the crisis.
North Carolina’s unemployment claims have continued to rise. Over 20% of the states workforce has now applied for unemployment. People across the state are suffering because of a Governor who is more interested in power.
In my former jobs, I once had a supervisor that told me that every example of leadership needs a bad example. That is exactly what Roy Cooper is displaying, a bad example of leadership. He is more interested in leading through feelings and flawed data, than concern about the best interest of his state and people.
While some states allow people to enjoy their constitutional rights, Governor Cooper continues to override the rights of the people. The ability to worship and to assemble in North Carolina will continue to be restricted under his stay measures. You’re free to go to Wal-Mart or Target, but do not practice any social distancing measures in a house of worship or you may be arrested.
This is not a time for politics and games as Cooper would like to play. He is playing with the livelihood of North Carolinians. Those who elected him into office.
He continues to fear monger with the rest of the left. Even as the data continues to show that coronavirus is not as deadly and was more widespread than we thought, he continues with the same game plan.
Governor Cooper knows exactly what he is doing. It’s all about his election. He’s in one of the top swing states in the country and in a reelection battle with Lt. Gov. Dan Forest. He needs this fear-mongering position to linger to help him win his election.
Cooper will be one of the first to push for vote by mail this year. He will probably be the last to lift stay orders. All because he is playing politics with the people of North Carolina.
It certainly is the tale of two responses. One where a Governor is interested in people and safety, but realizes that government is not best suited to take care of everyone. Another where a Governor believes the government better than anyone how to keep people safe. Government is never the answer to life’s problems.
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