The Helpless, Unwashed Masses

When government officials mandated the wearing of face masks in public, they implied that we are too stupid to make rational decisions. They implied that, even if we were presented with the facts, we would refuse to make wise choices. They implied that, without public officials issuing orders, we are helpless.

Sen. Ted Cruz received harsh criticism for traveling to Cancun while Texans shivered in the worst winter storm in a century. The critics implied that only government officials could effectively deal with a natural disaster. They implied that, without public officials issuing orders, individuals and businesses would be helpless.

In February 2020, the Wall Street Journal reported that a COVID-19 vaccine had been developed 48 hours after the DNA sequence of the virus was released. Yet, Moderna and Pfizer were not allowed to provide the vaccine to Americans because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) demanded months of tests to prove its effectiveness. The FDA implied that, unless our overseers in Washington make health decisions for us, we are helpless.

The “living wage” movement wants government to mandate a wage that workers haven’t earned. The “housing is a right” movement wants government to provide housing that low-income individuals haven’t earned. Both movements imply that, unless government provides individuals with the values that they desire, individuals are helpless.

On one hand, we have a large number of Americans mistakenly proclaiming that they are helpless. On the other hand, government officials are acting as if everyone actually is helpless. Most of those who believe that they are helpless aren’t, but they are dragging the rest of us into the quagmire with them. On the one hand, many refuse to accept responsibility for their own lives. On the other hand, government officials are increasingly preventing us from being responsible for our own lives.

The more that people demand that government solve their problems, the more government will treat us all as if we are helpless. The more that we are dependent on government, whether by choice or by mandate, the more likely that we will all wind up truly helpless.