It was to no great irony that Ron DeSantis ventured to unincorporated Brandon, Florida to sign into law measures to eradicate Covidstan in Florida and workaround the Biden Regime’s vaccine mandate via OSHA. Under HB 1B (2021), companies must accept the following in lieu as valid exemptions for vaccinations: pregnancy (preexisting or expectant), medical concerns, religious concerns, and natural immunity. Additionally, HB 1B protects all government employees from forced vaccination and prohibits schools from forced masking and quarantining policies. Should an employer demand PPE or testing, then the employer must cover the costs of such requirements. Other laws signed from the special session focused on the creation of a Florida OSHA-type department and the removal of the surgeon general’s authority to impose vaccine mandates (a power given in 2002 following 9/11).
These are all great things and represent a decisive stand to the Covidstan and the Biden Regime. However, the heart of this article in not the legislative victory or the tactful political trolling, but the political mindset conveyed. During his signing ceremony, Governor DeSantis is asked, “Why is it ok to violate the conservative tenant of [home] rule but it’s bad when the Biden Administration does it?” (NOTE: I believe the reporter meant “Home Rule” not Whole Rule as said in the transcript. For video version, click here).
Governor DeSantis answers the following:
So first of all, this idea that somehow conservatism is about like local school boards. It’s the United States of America, not the United school boards or county commissions of America. So the states are the primary vehicles to protect people’s freedoms, their health, their safety, their welfare in our constitutional system. What Biden is doing is not constitutional. There has never been a federal vaccine mandate imposed on the general public…There’s no federal police power. States have the police power. So that’s from a constitutional perspective, it is worlds, worlds apart.
Right off the bat, Governor DeSantis rejected the premise of the reporter’s question, articulating instead that the states are the primary vehicle of the United States, almost as if it is in the name. One can appeal to the constitution without using it as a crutch for inaction. Moreover, his emphasis on the individual states heightens the significance of the governorship. In this portion, he also mentions the military policies being incongruent with those being imposed on civilians. Going further, he said:
Now, some people say, ‘Hey, these local governments wanted to lock down businesses. They wanted to force mandates. They wanted to keep the kids locked out of school.’ Yeah, you’re damn right I overruled them on that because they were wrong. And the fact of the matter is the fact of the matter is you don’t have the right to do wrong. And if I had not stepped in last year and made sure that these local governments couldn’t lock you down, couldn’t mandate, we wouldn’t let them fine. We had kids in school last year because of me not because of them. And that’s just the bottom line. And so people can say, ‘Is it the job of somebody that’s elected to look out for the liberties of everyone in the state?’
Or do you just say, ‘Hey, if someone’s violating your freedom, we shouldn’t do anything.’ The fact of the matter is if we would’ve let them lock the kids out of school last year, we would’ve paid the piper on that for years and years in this state. If we had let them lock down businesses and restrict and do all that, we would have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. So we had to stand out for people’s liberties, their livelihoods, their right to work, people’s right to own a business, and it was the right thing to do.
All too often, conservatives when in power refuse to wield the authority they have been given, which comes from God. We have seen this in Asa Hutchinson, who claimed that it is a violation of the constitution to impose bans on transgendering children, and Kristi Noem, who believes corporations have more rights than people. Another duplicitous ruse employed is to emphasize the power of local governments in the decision making. You see this in states like Maryland, under Larry Hogan, or Virginia, soon to be helmed by Glenn Youngkin, where the respective RINO’s are abdicating their authority out of their own volition. The former has allowed the Maryland State Board of Education to impose tyranny upon the schools while the latter will let Loudoun County decide, because that has worked out super well.
Contrary, Ron DeSantis argued that because he has the authority to prevent evil, he will exercise this power. The results speak for themselves: children in schools, lower unemployment, population growth, and a relatively thriving economy. Whether purposeful or incidental, Governor DeSantis understands both the constitution and God’s purpose for government.
Romans 13 reads as follows:
3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
The purpose of government is to reward good and punish evil. For this, God permits their sovereignty. They do not have carte blanche to impose tyranny nor exceed the limits of their ordained authority. Moreover, they are obliged to fight against evils imposed by other magistrates, both greater and lesser. Just like with spiritual gifts, if you have been given greater earthly authority, it reasons that more is expected.
Too many of our politicians do not understand this, so it is imperative that we support those who do and reject outright those who do not. Get involved. If you have receptive ears in local office, work them. Do not allow an ounce of complacency. After all, there are more battles in this war to fight.
