The COVID-19 pandemic has in just over three months brought out power plays that most people never thought they would see in this country. Arbitrary definitions of essential vs non-essential, fining people sitting in their cars in church parking lots for unlawfully assembling (the Wal-Mart parking lot is OK, though), and discussing whether people might eventually be required to carry papers to "certify" that they have had the virus are making many Americans wonder out loud, "What in the world is going on here?" (Well, maybe not out loud since legitimate questioning is too often met with "You just want people to die.") The early unknowns about the virus certainly warranted precautions. The ratcheting up of restraints when things are getting better, however, looks suspicious. And when the CDC encourages physicians to falsify death certificates, being careful makes a huge jump to being dangerous. Reprinted with permission. Pat Daugherty, Ed.D.

April 15, 2020