The Free State of Iowa
It becomes official later today…Iowa remains a free state.
That used to mean something quite different, of course, more than 150 years ago. But Gov. Reynolds’ public health emergency orders expire today, 23 months after the COVID pandemic shutdown…and that makes Iowa a fully free state once again.
Obviously there are pockets where those who want to exert power and control still insist on worthless mask rules. But generally, the worst of all this is over and common sense will again guide our actions.
At 11:59 p.m. tonight, the COVID disaster proclamation expires. We’ll no longer have a public health emergency officially…understanding, of course, that for the vast majority of us, we haven’t had a real emergency for many, many months.
Nothing I’m saying today is intended to diminish the ravaging effects of the disease itself on many of you. I’ve been lucky enough to not have COVID affect me or those to whom I’m close. Many of you have a different story, and I fully respect that.
I’m talking here about the government overreach that started as well-intentioned, but has drug on far too long by those who see the crisis as a way to impose their will and throw their power around. Their hypocrisy—do what I say, not what I do—has been rampant and is disgusting. It completely undermines credibility in government.
We’re fortunate here for so many reasons, but not the least of which is the fact that this state kept going, striking on the whole a good balance. Too many people got sick and died, but not due to Iowa government officials’ fault. Too many businesses suffered, many having to close. But again, hardly attributable to the state abusing its power.
Again, all these clampdowns were understandable initially. But we’re well past that point. And well past the point here of an emergency. Glad to see freedom fully return before the clock strikes 12 tonight.
