Dakota Beacon

Autumn! A beautiful time of the year to drive across the nation’s midsection after summer’s heat. My bride of 57 years and I made the roundtrip trek between North Dakota and Texas. We’ve made the delightful drive often in years past but this year was particularly poignant.

Weather was perfect. Texas not too warm; North Dakota not too cold. Fall harvest proceeded steadily from south to north. Nevertheless, we were amazed to see much corn still standing even as far north as South Dakota. It was probably destined for ethanol plants.

Still, the pandemic preoccupied people’s minds to varying degrees thus meddling with autumn’s aura. We can debate the pandemic’s origin all day long but at this point the origin matters little to our everyday life.

Evidence of pandemic population trauma, if any, was elusive. We encountered the following. Gas stations: business as usual. Some people wore masks. Others did not. None were required. There was a lot of handwashing going on in restrooms. Some restaurants maintained distance between tables. Mask-wearing by wait staff varied. Guest lodging typically maintained strict protocol for housekeeping. Those offering breakfast conducted business as usual with no undue restrictions. All establishments offered hand sanitizers and masks.

As for the people themselves, some wore masks. Some did not. Aside from that, people proceeded to live their lives as they chose.

Virtually every establishment had posted “Help Wanted” signs. If anyone wanted work, work was available. Jobs of every kind went begging. We saw two plausible responses. One, people were too deathly afraid of COVID to associate with others in a work environment. Or, two, who needs to work for money when Uncle Sam gratuitously provides living expenses plus “walk around money?” From what we see, the second option was in play. The billions of federal dollars poured into COVID relief funds were designed to produce subjects, not citizens.

As federal “change agents” seek public compliance using edicts and the White House exerts intimidation through executive actions, it isn’t working. The American people do not take kindly to being “ruled.” They didn’t in 1776, and they don’t in COVID times. Our observations confirm this.

The pandemic becomes useful to the government policy control freaks. As the saying goes, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” With the Biden administration the pandemic now stands officially endless. In the minds of our high government “leaders,” only through more control will the COVID scourge end. Lock down, close down, vaccinate, masks. The administration implies that “Zero COVID” remains the goal! Dream on. Statistically that will never happen. In any case, the feds seek a firm reign over a docile population with the hope of gaining even greater control.

Getting through the pandemic would mean going back to normal which is something Democrats, Progressives, liberals, and the media only pretend to wish for. Most of the time they silently cheer on COVID. More COVID means more mandates and there’s nothing liberals love more than a sound government mandate. Mandatory vaccines, masks, restrictions, and closings equals control enforced by punishment. The phrase “it’s worth considering” is liberal speak for, “Do it, moron.” Isolated and divided people are easier to manipulate and will result in continued breakdown of traditional institutions.

If you are wide awake (woke?), you understand that the authoritarian left is using the permanent pandemic to achieve as many ends as they can. Weakening the family, restricting faith, and undermining community in order to rule over us as they see fit. As usual, they want everyone beholden to government from cradle to grave. It grants power.

It was good to leave our “comfort zone” and travel before snow flies. We’re not foolish about the pandemic. Neither are we paranoid. Good hygiene is always in order – pandemic or no pandemic.

To enjoy autumn in our old stomping grounds was truly a morale booster. So was watching the public quietly thumbing its collective nose at federal overreach.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).