Sunday, June 14, 2020

Governor Murphy Doubles Down on his Double Standard


In case anyone thinks my last post was an exaggeration, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy dispelled any doubt. In Gov. Murphy defends decision to attend Black Lives Matter events despite his ban on large gatherings, Matt Arco reports for NJ.com:

Gov. Phil Murphy defended his decision to take part in two Black Lives Matter events over the weekend that defied his own order against public gatherings limited to 25 people and guidelines for social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Although Murphy, his wife Tammy Murphy and other protesters pictured holding a sign in Westfield wore masks, they could be seen standing shoulder-to-shoulder with one another — something else Murphy has repeatedly told people not to do while in public. Public gatherings of more than 25 people are prohibited under his executive order, which has spurred some New Jersey Republicans to criticize Murphy for violating his own order.

But Murphy said Monday he stands by his decision to attend the events. 

“This may be one of the most profound moments in the history of our country,” Murphy said at his regular COVID-19 briefing in Trenton. “This is the moment that I think is bigger than any of us right now.”

This is a "profound moment," alright. Under Phil Murphy, we're seeing perhaps the most egregious abuse of power by a state government since the defeat of the Confederate slavocracy. Murphy rules by arbitrary dictat, but enforces his dictats unequally, depending on which people are in or out of his favor. 

He allows people to defy his orders with impunity, as long as they are protesting in a cause he favors. Never mind that these”peaceful” demonstrators are blocking streets and commerce, violating the rights of others to use the public streets and shop in the stores or get to work. He clamps down with police power on those who defy his orders in protestfor causes he disfavors; who are opening their businesses to anyone who chooses to patronize them but violating no one’s rights, merely exercising their right to earn a living. 

Worst of all, as dictators usually do, Murphy declares himself not only above the law, but above his own dictats that he expects other people to abide by. Apparently, "this moment" is bigger than everyone . . . except Phil Murphy. 

In an inversion of America’s ideals, Murphy fosters rights-violators, while punishing non-rights-violators for exercising their own rights. To anyone who still takes rationality seriously, Murphy's actions have become completely indefensible.

Related Reading:



A New Textbook of Americanism — edited by Jonathan Hoenig




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