Day 1: California Under Martial Law Lite (Humboldt Style)

As of midnight last night Humboldt County, in all its pot haze glory, was under martial law lite. Actually they call it a shelter in place order but the effect is nearly the same. Humboldt's citizens have to -- wait! We interrupt this program to bring you Gavin Newsom.

Newsom is California's well-groomed, liberal without a cause, politician posing as governor. He, despite the many poorly rationalized petitions demanding his recall, ordered a statewide martial law lite order, stealing Humboldt's thunder much to the chagrin of many a local government policymaker.

So what can we do in Humboldt? Well, it's extremely important to keep spending money, so essential businesses will remain open. One can hardly argue that keeping grocery stores and banks open is bad, but pot shops? Computer repair shops? Burger King?

While spending money is okay (and necessary to keep the gears of capitalism grinding), social isolation is the norm. Stay six feet from strangers ... if you have to be near them in the first place. Only associate with your family. Don't walk around outside aimlessly. Jog, instead.

Newsom: He's looking out for you.

For some it seems almost like business as usual without all the inane small talk. Others look at it more like a divide and conquer tactic where some businesses get to keep their dough, while citizens get to feel isolated, desperate, and scared. I don't buy into Covid-19 (a very robot-sounding name) being a government conspiracy, but I do feel like governments are taking advantage of a situation to see how easily they can control masses of people before they are pushed to the breaking point. If everything seems normal, while it really isn't, is it conceivable to keep people docile and compliant? It sure looks that way.

Humboldt is a resourceful area. It was one of the poorest counties in California back in the day. It attracted hippies and homesteaders. Self-reliance became the norm. Few have any doubt we won't weather this storm, but there are those, myself included, who think life will never look quite the same after it blows by. If kids can be educated at home . . . If society doesn't fall apart because movie theaters are closed . . .  What's the harm in playing out a crisis for two months? Six months? Eighteen months? Four years? Manufacture one after another, or, better yet, take advantage of what is already there.

I started out fearing the virus more than elected officials. After watching how quickly things unfolded, how numbers kept changing (along with the stories that went with them), and how paranoid they tried to make us, it seemed very obvious that people like Trump (the worst person to be in charge at a time like this) and Newsom were going to use this to their advantage. Their moment to shine, as it were.

Trump ignored the virus. Race baited it. Got exposed to it. Newsom said he would invoke martial law if needed. What justification would he use? People not following the shelter in place order that still lets you shop, grab some take out (not Chinese), and lets your kids roam in the park (don't touch the slides)? Large gatherings are verboten . . . unless Newsom throws a press conference. But please continue to go to the bank. Please.

Our "leaders" are leading us into a cesspool, all while the fiddler plays. Everything is fine. Stay in your homes. Nothing is normal. Go grab some snacks at the grocery store. Over half of California's population could get the virus. Enjoy a hike.

Outside, though, there is a different tale to tell. The streets are emptier. People are wearing gloves. They aren't standing six feet away from each other, but they do seem hesitant. A cough gets you all kinds of looks while in line waiting to get into Winco. As there is no longer the constant din of traffic, a thought, once too quiet to be heard over the noise, enters the mind. Who do you fear more: A virus? Your neighbor? Those in control?

The following days will be telling.