How the lockdowns look to an (unterrified) observer in the Philippines

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Mark Crispin Miller

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May 8, 2020, 7:20:09 PM5/8/20

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A very good piece, in the Manila Times, on the outrageous folly of extending the lockdowns in

the cities there by another 15 days, when various developments worldwide have recently made

clear that such lockdowns are a "colossal public policy calamity." The most spectacular of

those developments, and one on which the author is especially incisive (aside from his

unfounded praise for Dr. Fauci's good intentions), is the exposure of Neil "Prof. Lockdown"

Ferguson as a fraud and hypocrite.

To this reader cooped up in "the epicenter" of our national coronavirus crisis, Yen

Makabenta's article, from half a world away, is quite refreshing, both for its democratic

fighting spirit, and its sense that things are loosening up worldwide: "There is a feeling

of liberation in the air"—a feeling that our media and governors, along with Dr. Fauci

and the inescapable Bill Gates, are doing all they can to stigmatize as a horrendous

Trumpian delusion.

MCM

Colossal public policy calamity; ‘Prof. Lockdown’ disgraced

ByYen Makabenta

May 9, 2020

https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/05/09/opinion/columnists/topanalysis/colossal-public-policy-calamity-prof-lockdown-disgraced/723641/

First word
These are difficult times for the lockdown as a policy or strategy to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Nations across the globe are easing restrictive measures on their citizens and have commenced the reopening of their economies.

Here at home, we, too, must face the question of what to do now with our own lockdown or shutdown of our economy.

Mayors want more ECQ
Consider on exhibit first the inexperienced mayors of Metro Manila’s 23 cities and municipalities.

Remember each of them on Election Day in May 2022.

While almost all countries today are striving to relax the economic lockdown and draconian measures imposed by the government on hapless citizens, the mayors of Metro Manila are scheming to secure another 15-day extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila, when it expires on Friday, May 15. These political greenhorns have enjoyed the brief taste of arbitrary power so much, they are loath to let go of the power and controls over our persons.

The mayors, acting as the Metro Manila Council, are holding a virtual meeting today, May 9, to formalize their recommendation to the government for another 15-day extension of the ECQ in the National Capital Region.

Absurdly and ironically, these mayors are pressing for this idiotic policy extension at a time when the lockdown is today widely blasted for its ineffectiveness and harmful impact on economic growth and civil liberties.

Jobs for mayors, none for the citizens
Composed of mayors of Metro Manila cities and municipalities, the Metro Manila Council is the governing board and policymaking body of the Metro Manila Development Authority.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, a member of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF), has said some areas in Metro Manila can be placed under general community quarantine for the sake of the economy come May 15.

If the mayors push through with their policy proposal and the IATF moronically approves it, this thoughtless policy decision should forever scar the service records of each mayor of Metro Manila.

While the mayors will have jobs to report to and fat paychecks and allowances to collect, tens of thousands of their constituents will be prevented from reporting to their jobs and enjoying a salary.

This will be an irresistible and powerful issue to use in booting these mayors out of office in the 2022 elections. The people will not forget.