Amidst a growing number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in New York, Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo called in the National Guard and announced his establishment of a “containment zone” in New Rochelle, a suburb of New York City where the virus appears to be spreading. “New Rochelle, at this point, is probably the largest cluster of these cases in the United States,” Cuomo asserted as he defended his directive. However, he was quick to note that area businesses would not be closed and people’s movement would not be restricted. “You’re not containing people,” he explained. “You’re containing facilities.” Got to make sure those facilities don’t up and move about.

What exactly is Cuomo seeking to “contain”? As Mark Alexander observes, “This is one big reason you don’t elect a socialist Democrat to any position of authority. Cuomo can’t contain or eradicate eight-ounce rats in a single block in New York, yet he thinks he’s going to lock down the spread of quintillions of minuscule 200 nanometer coronaviruses in a ‘one-mile containment zone’?” As Rush Limbaugh observed of the Left many years ago, it’s symbolism over substance.

Cuomo’s overreaction is what happens when Democrats have spent recent weeks blasting President Donald Trump for supposedly not doing enough to combat COVID-19 — they have to go to ridiculous lengths to outdo him.

Democrats and the Leftmedia have exploited COVID-19 in their effort to paint Trump as unfit to meet the challenge. This is demonstrated by the false but oft-repeated talking point that Trump cut the CDC budget, when in truth funding has increased every year of Trump’s presidency. Furthermore, Trump has acted on the Centers for Disease Control best-practice plan for addressing a viral threat of this nature. His tweeting and public comments notwithstanding, the president has handled this well so far.

Meanwhile, it should come as no surprise that increasing the number of tests for COVID-19 would reveal more cases. In fact, the discovery of more COVID-19 cases will actually lower its mortality rate. That a virus most health experts view as comparable to the flu is spreading should not be reason for hysterics, but since Trump’s the president…

Hysterics over COVID-19 are rooted in a flawed leftist view of the role of government. Leftists desire to elevate government authority to god-like status, while at the same time diminishing individual responsibility to that of absolute dependence.

Here’s the simple test question that any honest observer should be asking: If Trump could actually stop the spread of COVID-19, would he not have done so? If some people’s answer to that question is “no,” then they are arguably suffering from a much worse ailment than COVID-19. Americans have historically bristled at the notion of a government nanny state. Whatever the challenge — be it natural disaster, financial struggle, or health — Americans first looked to God and the means He provides via self-sufficiency, family, and neighbors rather than demanding government help. In fact, this is the only view that promotes individual freedom and development leading to greater overall societal benefit. To blame Trump for not doing enough to “contain” COVID-19 is akin to blaming the Second Amendment for the crime rate.

(Visit our comprehensive China Virus Pandemic response and recovery page, and see our related pages.