VIEW VIEWPOINT
Using a Crisis
Kerby Anderson
No doubt you have heard the quote: “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.” The oft-repeated quote is from Rahm Emanuel, who was President Obama’s Chief of Staff at the time.
Back then, he was talking about the 2008 financial crisis. This time, a number of progressive groups want to use the virus crisis to attack the president and a few Democratic politicians want to use it to promote their progressive agenda.
A Democrat-aligned Super PAC announced it will spend $5 million on negative ads about President Trump’s response to the coronavirus. News reports say that the group is funded by a “liberal dark money group” that will spread misinformation on the president’s crisis response. If the Twitter ad that came out the other day is any indication of what future ads will be like, we can conclude that the word “misinformation” is too soft a term for what we will be seeing and reading.
Meanwhile, politicians have been using the virus crisis to propose various progressive initiatives. Mayor Bill de Blasio has been trying to make the case for a nationalization of crucial industries in this country. Socialists like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez argue that the current health crisis illustrates why we need a single-payer, universal health care program controlled by the federal government.
A mayor in Illinois declared that a coronavirus emergency allowed her to ban the sale of guns. A few members of Congress and some mayors now argue for the commutation of sentences to release prisoners because of the virus crisis. And a few district attorneys have already announced a reduction in arrests for what are termed “low-level, non-violent crimes.”
During the next few months, we will need more discernment than ever, given the fact that these groups and politicians aren’t about to let a crisis go to waste.
Listen to this Viewpoint
Viewpoints
View All
Intelligence Gathering
Kerby AndersonOver the last month, we have been talking about China. When talking about China, we usually talk about its strengths and technological developments. But there is another side to intellig...
Freedom’s Foundations
Kerby Anderson Freedom in this country depends upon three important foundations: morality, limits, and human rights. First, freedom depends on morality. John Adams observed, “Our constitution was made...
Raise Tax Rates?
Kerby Anderson With estimates that the federal deficit will increase this year, we are once again hearing comments about making the “rich pay their fair share.” Even if we set aside the moral argument...
Take Action
View All
Support the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act
The abortion pill harms women and kills unborn children. Congress must act.
Contact Congress About the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025
Congress needs to get the job done, not run away from work.
