Jim Justice Next Executive Order for West Virginia (satire)

Whereas:  the state of West Virginia remains under a disaster declaration issued on March 16, 2020.

Whereas:  this disaster declaration makes the office of the Governor supremely powerful and all wise in its ability to determine the course of action to be taken by every one of the 1,792,147 citizens of this state.

Whereas: were it not for the benevolent actions taken by this office the deaths in WV would likely exceed 2 million  

Whereas:  some residents of West Virginia have begun to question rather it is right legal or ethical to wave all property rights, personal liberty and religious freedom out of existence with a stroke of the pen, and whereas some of those residents would prefer to earn a living like free men and women, despite the risk of contracting a virus, rather than face starvation and ruin while waiting on the mana sent from Charleston while the businesses that represent their lives work sit idle.

And Whereas: all rights and liberties are given and rescinded at the will and whim of government:

I Jim Justice do order and create the West Virginia Department of Muckety-Muck.

This Department is hereby charged with the regulation of all human activity in the state. This authority includes but is not limited to everything.

The secretary of Muckety-Muck shall as he/she/other sees fit  appoint as needed Under Secretaries of Muckety-Muck who shall be authorized as is the Secretary’s pleasure to regulate any and all things regarding work, worship, socialization, education, thought and opinion.

The office of Muckety –Muck’s decrees shall be final and carry the full weight of law, and may be overturned only by the order of the Supreme Governor Himself.

Any citizen, business, religious organization or other entity who fails to abide by  the regulation imposed by the Department of Muckety-Muck shall be immediately declared NON_ESSENTIAL and shall have their names stricken from all public records both electronic and paper, and shall be banished to perpetual quarantine, forever to be Social Distanced and forgotten.

I the Supreme Governor do also hereby order that the State Motto Of West Virginia be changed to reflect the “new normal” anywhere in state documents the phrase "Montani Semper Liberi"  (Mountaineers are always free) appears it shall be replaced with “facite quod dixi tibi” (Do as you are told)

I Jim Justice have spoken: so let it be written so let it be done

The Day the Church Was Deemed Nonessential… And Christians Every Where Agreed

Perhaps I should confess that sometimes I blur Christian and American Values. It’s easy to do, since the founding fathers attempted to institute the Eternal Principles of natural law into the governing institutions of the country. They did so with a great level of success, for instance the Bible doesn’t define an economic policy but free market capitalism incorporates Biblical principles of hard work and its reward, private property and autonomy of tradesmen while the governmental responsibility of enforcing contracts and ensuring a just weight and measure is also directly gleaned from the Biblical text.

However when our nation strays from its founding principles, the Church has always been there to lead the way back home. Not perfectly, often not in unison but given a little time and the prodding of the Holy Spirit we always get there. Take the fight against slavery or the ensuing struggle against segregation for instance. First Christians had to struggle with their own prejudices and cultural opinions, then decide if indeed it was the proper place for the Church to be involved. Inevitably the Lord directs us to the right decision and calls forth the leaders needed to show the way, from Johnathan Edwards to Martin Luther King Jr. the right man for the right time.   

Of course the Church’s involvement in the public policy debate is of a secondary importance to the great commission of the Christian faith, or rather is but one small part of it. The first most effective source of charity at home and abroad is the church either directly or through sponsored organizations like Samaritan’s Purse or Pacific Garden Missions. The source of hope in times of crisis, the gathering place for prayer for our forgiveness our neighbors and our needs is the Church.  The place of fellowship and diversion, the weekly chance to draw a breath and shake a hand have an occasional potluck often for those who have nowhere else to go is the Church; and yes we are the country’s moral compass not because we are snooty or pious, but because we see the real harm that rebelling against the moral absolutes can cause, and do not wish to see any one of any age race or gender suffer that harm. All of this is part of the Great Commission of our Lord who bids us to make disciples of all nations teaching them to observe and do all of the things that I (Jesus) have commanded.

Neither the Church nor the nation always lives up to its responsibilities, whatever our high calling and sincere principles we are sinful creatures, yet not one soul can deny that the relationship between the US constitution and the Christian faith has for 2.5 centuries been one highly blessed for both.

One of those shared Christian and American ides is a love of justice and freedom and a repulsion of tyranny and oppression. We weep as Christians and as Americans at the brutal repressions of Chinese citizens we are angered when we see churches burned women assaulted families broken up. We hate oppression with a deep burning hatred that I believe God himself shares; I offer the plaques of Egypt as evidence. Despite the care of our founders oppression and persecution do not sit far away even in the land of the free. Government has in recent years begun to grow past its intended limits certain of our liberties have been chipped away, and some few Americans have begun to sound the warning bells that if some freedoms are threatened all are threatened.

Most of us though rest assured government would never try to close the churches of our country and if they did Churches would never comply. Oh wait…that is exactly what happened!

I am a man of faith, I trust God through hard times and it no longer occurs to me that God won’t provide for all my needs or make a way through any cataclysm personal or global. Perhaps that’s why I never took the doomsday models of the scientists predicting that 2.5 million people were going to die seriously, a sober mind told me that decisions made in panic are seldom correct and that worst case scenarios presented in media are always exaggerated, but I also bristled as an American. I do believe in self-government and in the sovereign right of the individual to think and to reason and that on the macro level that and not micro-management from some ill-informed centralized expert is the best way  for a society to defend itself against threats, virus or otherwise.

As a Christian I saw this pandemic as a chance to show the world that God is Sovereign in the affairs of men and that His Church would be here come hell or high water to provide help and prayer and show as a beacon of hope that we have nothing to fear. I was thrilled at the opportunity to remind everyone that the door to God’s house was always open. As an American I was ready to tell Governor Jim Justice that he would close our church over my dead body, or at least he’d have to have me hauled away in a State Trooper Cruiser first. In fact it never occurred to me that any member of our Church would willingly comply with such a tyrannical order. They did, and so did every Church in our area. I have tried to find one that was still meeting, but if they are out there they are hiding like North Korean dissidents and I can’t find them.

The message here is clear, in a time of real crisis the Church needs to stand aside and let important people do important things. Jim Justice not Jesus has to determine what our role during a pandemic is or if we even have one. Meanwhile desperate souls drive past the locked doors of our churches to the far more essential liquor stores and seek solace there.

I am making no friends by the things I am saying, and I know churches are still doing “stuff”. Facebook sermons online worship has its place our church has endeavored to put together a group to help out needy or sick parishioners, these efforts are good and are proof that we will do as much good, and only as much good as Governor Justice allows.

To those who respond these are special circumstances I reply, why?  Because government says so? When this virus ends and if it is exposed as being about as deadly as any other particularly virulent strain of flu (which is where the actual data appears to be headed) are the government overlords going to say oops sorry we ruined the economy and trampled your freedoms for no reason, or will they be emboldened to do more? Seasonal Flu? Shut down the churches! Possible seasonal flu? Shut down the Churches preemptively! In fact some virus may always be lurking and if shutting down churches was so acceptable during one crisis why not leave it that way permanently and shut down all churches forever. It’s not persecution you can still have Facebook worship groups after all.

Do I want people to die? Of course not and every church and every church member is perfectly capable of doing the right thing for the situation in their community. I can say with great certainty that shutting down Churches in rural Kansas has not saved one life but has added exponentially to the hardships of the people there.

A few weeks before the “crisis” began our pastor told a poignant story about an atrocity committed against Christians in Nigeria and how days later a series of women’s conferences were filled to overflowing because those believers could not be deterred. He wondered aloud if Christians in America would have that kind of faith and courage, I guess he has his answer.

I used to close with the line from a southern Gospel classic “keep on the firing line” in closing I’ll share those lyrics, it was one of the first gospel songs I learned and I have always meant the lyrics when I sang them:

If you're in the battle for the Lord and right
Just keep on the firing line
If you win the battle, surely you must fight
(Brother) keep on the firing line

(Brother) keep on the firing line
Keep on the firing line
Time is getting short
Jesus coming soon
(Brother) keep on the firing line

There are many dangers everyone must face
If you die fighting, there is no disgrace
With the Lord for coward
You will find no place
(Brother) keep on the firing line

So you must fight be brave

Against all evil never run nor even lag behind

If you would win for God and the Right

Just keep on the firing Line

A Call to the West Virginia Legislature to Defend the National and State Constitution

                Give me Liberty or give me Death

These words are indelibly planted in the American collective memory. We study them in history and in literature and we admire the courage of the man who boldly proclaimed them in 1775. For Patrick Henry these words were no intellectual exercise, death was the least of what those early founders risked.

Today Governor Justice has forgotten that to Americans and especially to West Virginians liberty is more important than even life. We believe the governor has exceeded his authority both morally and as granted by the emergency powers in Chpt. 15 of the WV code cited in his executive orders. While the economic harm alone this is causing likely exceeds the danger of the virus, the potential harm to our liberty must be mitigated as surely as the disease itself.

We therefore urge all likeminded West Virginians to contact there state delegates and senators to urge them to support joint resolutions ending the Governors state of emergency declarations.

This does not mean we end our efforts to combat Covid-19, it simply compels the Governor to proceed with a targeted plan that accomplishes the desired goal of mitigation while respecting private property rights, individual liberty, and the right to worship.

For help locating your Senator:  www.wvlegislature.gov/Senate1/roster.cfm

For state Representatives: wvlegislature.gov/House/roster.cfm

You can also sign our petition at: https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/petition-for-a-responsible-covid-19-strategy

I’m just a guy who is deeply concerned about what is happening to my grandkid’s future JW Tabler johnbecktabler@frontier.com

A satirical letter to the Governor of WV,

                Dear Sir.

                I am truly appreciative of the care and concern you have shown for the humble peasants of WV and especially those of us in the Eastern Panhandle. Were it not for your noble decrees surely we would all be stuck hiding in our homes clutching rolls of toilet paper  waiting for some unknown day when it might be safe to go back outside and reopen our businesses and resume our lives, instead of the clear specific guidance you have provided. In response to all you have done for us it is only fair that we in some small way return the favor and be concerned for your health as well.

                There is a side effect of the Corona Virus that Dr. Fouci in all his wisdom has not publicly warned about. A side effect that public officials seem highly susceptible to, it manifests itself in delusions, specifically delusions of grandeur.

                The primary manifestation of these delusions seems to be the mistaken belief that you are Yul Brenner in the 10 commandments. Symptoms may include but are not limited to the belief that a disaster declaration gives you complete and total power to dictate every aspect of the lives of every citizen of the State of West Virginia, and to determine by arbitrary means which of those citizens is essential.

                As symptoms worsen the afflicted may begin stating “So let it be written, So let it be done!” when signing executive orders. Acute symptoms may involve envisioning the WV burial mounds as pyramids built in one’s own honor, wearing Egyptian headgear and taking a “Pharaoh Name”  

                This is already happening in two of our neighboring states as Governors “Never Trump” Ramses in MD and “Blackface” Ramses in VA are hopelessly afflicted and their insanity is no longer in doubt.

                Please take care sir we our lost without you and your divine decrees.

To governor “Redneck” Ramses from a concerned citizen of the state of WV where Mountaineers are always free, unless there is a chance of catching a virus of some kind., John W Tabler

An open Letter to President Donald Trump concerning Corona-virus Response:

Dear Mr. President,

                First let me note that you and your family are in our prayers in this difficult time, and that I do not pretend to have a comprehension of the numerous and crushing challenges that you face day by day.

                Having said that though there is a point that no one has called into question that needs to be addressed, you have often said that your first priority is the health and safety of the American people. This is not correct. Since the days of George Washington the oath of office that you and so many other great men have taken is to uphold and defend the constitution of the United States.

                Of course a significant part of upholding the constitution is the safety and welfare of the American people, but what makes America unique and exceptional is the freedoms expressed in our Declaration of Independence and codified in our Constitution. If it should come about that we succeed in greatly in mitigating the spread of this virus but we harm the very constitution that you have sworn to uphold and defend then we are unworthy of the legacy of sacrifice that has navigated us through the murky waters of history and made the American dream the envy of all mankind.

                Part of the reason our constitution is so effective is the brilliance of the Federalist system  that  allows for the differences in a vast and varied landscape and a regional subculture area by area to make the whole of our nation stronger. This unilateral response to this threat cuts at the very heart of this system. To bankrupt a barber in Smyrna Georgia and force him to accept government handouts in order to survive will not save a single life in Manhattan. To treat rural America with the same remedy as NYC to silence a million innovative businesses and individuals in one heavy handed blow is not just foolish it breaks the very oath of office you have taken.

                So much of your success has come from public private partnerships with men like Mike Lindell stepping up to help in this crisis, but how many millions of Mike Lindell’s are being squelched in their efforts to help. How many millions of small business men, inventors and innovators lack the clout and resource to have the President’s personal phone number or to have a friend in the governor’s office that would allow them to be declared essential in order to implement their innovations? Most of these ideas and innovations might fail but somewhere there are the preverbal bicycle shop owners ready to invent manned flight that your social distancing guidelines are suppressing.

                Right now governors all over this country are drunk with power, Newsome and Cuomo, terrible men whom you keep praising, Justice, Hogan and Northam, who seem to be racing to see who can get there state to resemble 1980’s  Moscow the fastest are all taking their ques from the top and you sir, could begin to halt their excesses simply by reminding them that they are no better than Abraham Lincoln and that their little disaster declarations do not give them unlimited power to suspend Habeas Corpus  any more than the Civil War did Lincoln.  

                                What may become the most damnable legacy of this crisis and of your administration if you don’t change course soon, is the harm being done to religious freedom. This is a heartbreaking irony considering that no President in history has been a stronger champion of religious freedom than you, but one crisis and you seem willing to throw that away. When you allow government to close churches for their own good, than freedom of religion becomes a technical argument rather than a principled one.  Churches now meet at the Governments discretion? Do we now need the permission of the county health department to hold services? Are we now able to be shut down during every seasonal flu outbreak? Shut down preemptively because there might be a seasonal flu outbreak?  Churches are the number one source of aid, of relief, of support, and of hope in every crisis and we should be doing the same now but we are barred from congregating. God has always worked in the mightiest ways in times of despair, when his people come together to pray (facebook prayerchats are not the same) and when they have braved every kind of danger and disease to take the Gospel to the world.  In my community not one church has chosen to defy these orders and hold services. I was stupefied when our church chose to cancel services in March and argued so vehemently with my pastor against the decision that I had to call him back to be sure we were still friends. I fear we shall rue the day for many generations to come when we sold our liberty in an attempt to avoid making waves and the risk, very slight in our rural community, of catching a virus.

                There is a very old saying that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Step away from the models and the New Yok, Los Angeles media, and the bureaucratic experts and look at the harm you are doing to Middle America, I.E the people who elected you in the first place. Our nation can survive a virus even a devastating one but I am not sure we can survive a competent Executive Branch with good intentions.  I close with the words of a famous American one far more eloquent them myself:

“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.”  Patrick Henry

                Your friend and our generations Patrick Henry, Rush Limbaugh has often said no one can separate Trump from his supporters but Trump. The longer you ignore your duty to the US Constitution the greater the danger of that very thing happening becomes.

                Sincerely John W Tabler, concerned citizen