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Gov. Inslee announced this week that Washington State will do most anything to get a needle in people's arms---including giving them a free marijuana joint. The Governor is calling it "Joints for Jabs."
This comes on the heels of trying to persuade people to get the COVID shot by giving them money and other stuff, like free sports tickets.
One state senator says the "jabs" campaign is "idiotic."
Other left-wing governors are doing the same.
But not everybody is on board.
Washington State Senator Phil Fortunato says Inslee's plan is "idiotic" and Rep. Jesse Young has deep concerns.
Some thoughts on giving people pot if they'll get a shot---a shot they apparently don't want.
Be informed, not misled.
The great big give-a-way.
Washington State announced this week that the state will provide a marijuana joint to each adult that receives the COVID-19 vaccine.
It was national news.
The Seattle Times says,
"The idea is to persuade more people to become vaccinated, helping to control the deadly virus and helping Washington to fully reopen more quickly. Gov. Jay Inslee intends to lift all COVID-related restrictions at the end of the month or when 70% of those over 16 have received at least their first vaccine dose, whichever comes first."
The Liquor and Cannabis Board said Monday that the "Joint for Jabs" promotion would run from June 7 to June 12. The board is allowing for dispensaries hosting an "active vaccine clinic event at the retail location" to give only 1 complementary joint per customer.
Inslee is pretty enthused about his campaign. Republican state senator Phil Fortunato is not.
In fact, he doesn't like it at all.
Fortunato says, "I don't know where in the heck they get authorization to give out free joints."
He says the state is moving further and further away from its original reason to encourage vaccinations, which was to keep people safe from COVID-19, and is now just being "idiotic."
"I think this is idiotic. We are moving away from a medical reason to do this and now you could win a lottery, you could win a million dollars, you can get free booze, you can get free weed," he says.
And he calls the program more evidence of government over-reach.
And speaking of government over-reach.
Republican state representative Jesse Young (26th legislative district) is also concerned about the governor's gimmicks.
All this, he says, is a "distraction from ongoing healthcare problems."
And he is expressing concern that the emergency proclamation from Gov. Inslee does not lift once the state reopens.
Young says,
"This is a promotion that Inslee has given himself. He's basically elevated himself from King to now Caesar...to distract him from the serious healthcare problems that we have right now by trying to promote a lottery with taxpayer funded dollars. I think it's a waste."
He says the state vaccine lottery is a distraction---if Inslee really wanted to improve vaccine rates, "he would try to unite us around science."
Young is also very concerned about accountability. The governor says the state will reopen if 70% of those aged 16 or older have at least initiated vaccination, or on June 30, whichever comes first. But why the 70% figure?
He says, "That's the problem." No one can specify based off of statistical data that either the health community has put out there or the governor himself has put out there a measured threshold to pass."
"The problem," Young says, "is that the governor is making these decisions based off of polling data that he thinks will keep him from going further into the negative with the opinions of the people of Washington That's what really is the story here. And the governor is just unwilling to address the fact that the people are frustrated that he's thrown away science as of last November. And is basically shooting from the hip with his polling stats on how to manage this crisis."
And he notes that the majority Democrats have taken away any methods the minority Republicans had in the Legislature to control the governor and his management convulsions.
As a result...Young says, "the rights of people are being trampled."
Indeed they are.
The takeaway.
The real issue here is essentially neither pot nor shots. It's a glaring example of the difference between the mindset of a progressive and that of a conservative.
Nowhere is it more obvious and elevated than in political leadership.
Let's look at three examples.
1. Conservatives and progressives have different views about individuals and communities.
Conservatives ask: "What can I do for myself, my family, my community, and my fellow citizens?"
Progressives ask: "What is unfair? What am I owed? What has offended me today? What must my country do for me?"
The traditional American ethic of achievement gives way to the progressive ethic of aggrievement.
As opposed to a variety of individuals making up one American community, progressives seek to place individuals in a variety of competing communities. The first creates unity. The second, identity politics.
2. Conservatives and progressives have different views about diversity and choice.
For progressives, different ethnicities and gender identities are welcomed but a variety of opinions and ideas are not.
When it comes to choice, progressives love the word, but hate the consequences. They want no one to be able to choose regarding education, health care, or even what they believe spiritually, nor do they want anyone to be able to express those religious views publicly if they differ from the progressive narrative.
Conservatives say people should have choices. Progressives say one political solution fits all.
3. Conservatives and progressives have a different view of "We the People."
Whether its the Second Amendment, immigration, marriage, abortion, human sexuality---you name it; if we the people don't pass laws progressives approve, they turn to judges, executive orders, and government bureaucrats behind closed doors to overturn the will of voters.
Conservatives believe in individual rights, not special rights.
Conservatives believe in virtue, based on fixed values and principles---biblical principles.
Progressives believe everything is in flux and change. Things are not objective, but subjective. There is no fixed truth. Truth is what you personally believe.
Biblical Christianity is the basis of true conservatism. Fixed biblical values are the foundation upon which this country was built upon.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Prayerful.