(Michigan Office of the Governor via AP, Pool)

Today in the great State of Michigan, the nation observed the first serious push back on some of the Executive Orders that the citizens of this state have been demanded to adhere too. Close to 5,000 people surrounded the State Capitol in Lansing earlier today, mostly in their cars circling the Capitol in a protest that carried the nickname #OperationGridlock. My colleague Elizabeth Vaughn covered some of it here.

Why is Michigan pushing back in this manner though?

People from Michigan are hard-working people and are team players in a crisis. The caveat is that the sacrifice needs to make sense and Governor Whitmer has thoroughly confused people with some of her Executive mandates.

You don’t have to take my word for it, here are some examples from her own Executive Order on paint, carpets and gardening projects. From Executive Order 2020-42 (COVID-19) …

11. Any store that remains open for in-person sales under section 5 or 9 (f) of this order must:

2.) Close areas of the store—by cordoning them off, placing signs in aisles, posting prominent signs, removing goods from shelves, or other appropriate means—that are dedicated to the following classes of goods:

A. Carpet or flooring.

B. Furniture.

C. Garden centers and plant nurseries.

D. Paint.

They also CAN NOT…

3.) By April 13, 2020, refrain from the advertising or promotion of goods that are not groceries, medical supplies, or items that are necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and basic operation of residences.

Now this only goes for stores that have OVER 50,000 sq feet. If you are under that you don’t have to face the wrath of the state.

So breaking this down simply, if you are Home Depot or Lowes you can’t sell paint, wallpaper or anything to do with your house in terms of gardens or landscape. Yet if you are UNDER 50,000 sq feet you can do all these things and as a bonus, you can advertise it.

This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

Where are the CDC recommendations on the Mom & Pop store being a safer place to buy paint?

Where do the states “experts” come up with that buying a lawnmower at Home Depot is much more dangerous than the local hardware store?

While I am ALL FOR people shopping local when they can, the very idea that the Governor of a state knee-jerked these decisions which are no way based in a scientific manner is enough to get people mad. Really mad.

No other states have drafted and imposed draconian rules like this and they are also concerned about their citizens. They might be taking a bit more of a logical approach to it. So far the Governor of Michigan has not shown the reason why for this except for “I said so” and that is not going to fly in a blue-collar state like Michigan.

This is why people showed up in force today and expressed their concern over Executive Orders that have been imposed with little consideration for people. This is the worse type of governance and it needs to stop.

Repeating continuously the mantra of “Stay Home, Stay Safe” is not enough. We need common sense to prevail in a time of great challenge and most of our leaders are failing this test.

That is why people came out in Michigan today and if you don’t understand that, you probably never will.