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      The Perils of Government Overreach

      Last fall, I made some public statements that caused quite a stir. Fed up with the government-forced lockdown of COVID restrictions, I simply said that I was going to have family and friends over for Thanksgiving and that our governor lacked the authority to tell me otherwise.

      Although I made national news for this stance and garnered a lot of support, this also resulted in me having my fair share of detractors. I even received death threats, and people who were upset that I was elected chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners started talking publicly about launching a recall against me due to this simple statement that at any other time in history where the political temperature was not so out of line with common sense, would have been an unnecessary and quite boring comment.

      Some people were literally accusing me of trying to kill others because I simply wanted to enjoy a holiday tradition with my family. And by the way, for the record, not a single case of COVID was spread due to my Thanksgiving meal. Nobody died and nobody got sick. We had a great time, the same way we do every year.

      I wasn’t intending to become any kind of poster child for the growing pushback against government overreach. But it seems that is exactly what ended up happening.

      All these months later, my position hasn’t changed, for one big reason: I believe that anything the government does to someone else, it can also do to you. This is exactly why we need to be able to identify overreach when it happens and be prepared to resist it.

      It was recently announced that Clackamas, and many other counties throughout Oregon, will soon be back in the extreme-risk category. This would subject businesses, many of whom had just re-opened and brought employees back, to close their doors yet again. It would mean the end of indoor dining for the foreseeable future and more hardship for our job creators, just as they were starting to get back on their feet.

      The fact of the matter is, several states are lifting restrictions. Others have been re-opening, and even completely open, for months. There is literally no evidence whatsoever that these states and the people living in them are somehow any less safe than anyone here in Oregon.

      Many states have already done away with mask mandates. Some never had them in the first place. Texas allowed its businesses to re-open at full capacity weeks ago. Many states, months longer, with no marked spike in Covid related deaths.

      Yet, despite all of that, Oregon’s OSHA is considering extending the rules requiring masks and social distancing in all businesses indefinitely under permanent rulemaking.

      Officials will not state how low the case numbers have to be, or what percentage of the population will have to be vaccinated, before those rules ever go away.

      A final decision on the rulemaking is due May 4. Now, mind you, these are decisions that are being made by officials that nobody voted for, who do not hold elected office and are in no way directly accountable to the people whose livelihoods they are threatening and even destroying. There has never been a clearer example of the abuses of the administrative state.

      We need more than assurances that these rules, if implemented, will eventually be repealed. Anything short of that is government overreach, plain and simple.

      The U.S. Constitution was put in place to limit government, to prevent exactly this kind of overreach from occurring. We’re now at a point in time, in Oregon, where government seems unlimited in its abilities to restrict what you, as an individual, can and cannot do.

      It’s not supposed to work that way. Government is supposed to work for us.

      As the chair of the board of commissioners, I’ve been pushing back on the governor and her agencies’ attempts to close Clackamas County. I will continue doing so. And if this is still going on by the time Thanksgiving rolls around again, you can bet that I’ll be having my family over and won’t be asking permission from the governor or any other politician.

      10 thoughts on “The Perils of Government Overreach

      1. Amy Myers says:

        Thank you, Tootie Smith, for believing in the PEOPLE. Although, I do not live in Clackamas County, it is still refreshing to hear that you BELIEVE in the PEOPLE. I am here in Jackson County. As a result of this silly shut down we are losing yet ANOTHER restaurant. They were in business 25 years. They just couldn’t handle any more mandates. You should read their facebook post (R&D Sandwiches). It is very sad. I haven’t heard anybody be vocal down here in Jackson County. Maybe they are all cowards? or bought? Thanks for reading this. Have a fabulous weekend.

        1. Thank you for your comments Amy. Means a lot. Keep the faith and know that your voice in Jackson County can make a big difference. Don’t give up.

      2. Esther Kirk says:

        Thank you, Tootie! I fully support you and pray for your protection. Please keep pushing back.

        1. You can be assured I won’t stop. Thank you for your support Esther.

      3. barb gaffney says:

        this is all good, and most oregonians probably agree with you. But, I ask this with all due respect, WHAT can we do about this….many of us, me included, are in what i call ‘problem admiration’ mode….we really oppose what is happening to us in this state with the damaging over reach, we complain about it to anyone who will listen, but that’s not good enough anymore .. it is time now….really now….to find a way to stop this!
        what can ordinary taxpaying citizens of this state do to stop the damage, and help rebuild? how do we team with elected officials like you, Willis in Marion County, some of our state legislators, business leaders…..we need a plan of action, because this kind of ‘rule of law’ will come up again….I will volunteer to join any effort that will get at a solution here. HELP!

        1. Barb,
          I hear you and completely understand. Thank you for your voice and passion. We all do what we can do, for certain. Do feel free to email me at tootie@tootiesmith.com and sign up for our newsletter. We’d love your energy with us.

      4. Merilee Cameron says:

        Tootie,
        Thank you for your dedication and service. Isn’t there a way to remove elected officials who have become a threat to the welfare of the people besides a recall? Something in the State Constitution?

        1. Merilee,
          Not really much other than this. It’s really a good thing, in the end. It allows the will of the people to be heard and slows down organized political opposition from special interest groups. Frustrating? Sure… but necessary.

      5. Virgle McVey says:

        Thank you Tootie!! Please continue down this road. We have to stop this overreach!! It is all so wrong. Thank you so much for once again stepping up and speaking the truth. CONTINUE PLEASE!!
        Yes, TOOTIE for governor!!

        1. Virgle,
          Thank you for your kind words. Keep the passion and energy going.

      Comments are closed.