Is Rebellion in the Works?

 

From NBA players to truckers and airline workers, a small rebellion is taking place across the country on the issue of vaccine mandates. Will it lead to copycat protests across the country against mandates? I can’t say for sure, but some event or action or incentive needs to. 

I won’t pretend that all Americans are fed up with restrictions either. 

I’ve been wrong (So Wrong!) about how long citizens would put up with having their livelihoods and health privacy taken away. I remember talking to a friend about how long Americans would tolerate not being able to work, church, restaurants, school events and sports. I think I said something like a month will be enough. This was in April of last year. Yup, very wrong. 

 I watched a short clip from Jim Cramer (CNBC) with the CEO of Southwest Airlines Gary Kelly. That airline has seen a slew of canceled flights this past week, over 2000. He denied it was due to pilots pulling a ‘sick out’ or a refusal to come to work. He talked about weather delays and pilots being overworked. 

Even the AP listed those reasons and a few others like absenteeism. But does that really explain it? 

Debra Heine of “American Greatness” says not so fast. Kelly told George Stephanopoulos that there is “no evidence” of a coordinated refusal from pilots. But followed it up with a list of reasons why the airline’s hands are tied, one of which is that Biden’s executive order for vaccine mandates includes federal employees and contractors. 

Pilots are contractors. 

Still, why spend time explaining that you have no choice if there is no evidence of a strike? Kelly also said they airline wouldn’t fire anyone. That’s a lie. Southwest send a memo around to its employees that if they didn’t get vaccinated (or have an exemption) by November 24 will be terminated. It sounds to me like he’s trying to have it both ways: pretend it’s all just weather delays while also trying to halt a rising tide of rebellion and pretend it doesn’t exist.

 If the workers are staging a protest we wouldn’t know it. They’ll play dumb about it because their agreement (through the union) specifically prohibits striking.

I don’t want to get too excited about the prospect that a genuine sick out might be in the works. But I hope it’s true. The rest of the week seems back to normal so far but the weekend is on the way. 

That’s probably where the disruption will hit if it's true.

Professional basketball has its own problems. 

The NBA is requiring all players to get the shot or apply for an exemption. They always throw that “exemption” in there but as a possibility just before they reject it. That’s what happened to Andrew Wiggins of the Warriors, he applied for an exemption and the league said “nah brah”. So he took the shot. There are a handful of holdouts, Kyrie Irving being of the Nets being the one star. 

Jonathan Isaiah of the Orlando Magic isn’t taking it either. He’s the one who famously stood up for the national anthem when the rest of the team (the rest of the league) knelt down. Players who aren’t vaccinated are treated like leapers when not playing. They stay in separate hotel rooms, and use different areas of the locker room. During tip off though they can walk through the tunnel and join the team during the game. It’s Ridiculous.

Isaiah even had the virus earlier this year. He believes in free choice and, rightly, pointed to the fact that natural immunity is better than the vaccine. There was a study in Israel early this year that backs him up. 

This will come to a head and I think the league will get its way. Is there enough grit in these young players to actually give up such a lucrative career? I certainly hope.

We need young people with solid morals who understand what they are actually giving up by acquiescing to mob rule. Giving up now means giving up every single time, to whatever the next demand is. 

 I’m not looking forward to the inevitable breakdown of commerce and good order that a rebellion will bring. Without some real pain nothing changes and citizens become slaves to whatever the state demands. By pain I mean disruption everywhere, get used to being ostracized for not going along with their demands. 

Without true rebellion we go through the cycle of restrictions all over again. We need to get to a point where government overreach (or ever the suggestion) is met with a swift rebuke from citizens.

 The simplest way through this is to just say “I will not comply.”

It might not be the time yet, but a rebellion from the middle class is coming.