OPINION
The Wuhan virus chaos has gone from bad to worse in New York.
Many New Yorkers have been ignoring calls from lawmakers to stop gathering in large numbers. Parks are packed with families, restaurants have lots of reservations and it’s standing-room-only in many bars.
In response, the governor is calling on private businesses to voluntary shut down.
“I am asking private businesses to aggressively consider voluntary closings and allow employees to work from home,” the governor wrote on Twitter. “If businesses don’t voluntarily cooperate, we will consider mandatory measures.”
The governor also wants President Trump to mobilize the military to fight the Wuhan virus.
“At this point, our best hope is to utilize the Army Corps of Engineers to leverage its expertise, equipment and people power to retrofit and equip existing facilities — like military bases or college dormitories — to serve as temporary medical centers. Then we can designate existing hospital beds for the acutely ill,” the governor wrote in The New York Times.
“We believe the use of active duty Army Corps personnel would not violate federal law because this is a national disaster,” he added.
What the governor calls prudent measures sounds a heckuva lot like martial law.
We are living in very dangerous times, my fellow Americans.
It’s not the Wuhan virus that has me worried – it’s how easily Americans are willing to sacrifice their constitutional rights for the sake of public safety.
The day the government tells you to shut down your business and your church and then enforces that order with the U.S. military is the day the Republic dies.
I am asking private businesses to aggressively consider voluntary closings and allow employees to work from home.
Reducing density is both a social responsibility & will help protect workforces.
If businesses don’t voluntarily cooperate, we will consider mandatory measures.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 15, 2020