If there’s one thing at which governments have excelled during this crisis, it’s been collecting fines from anybody who steps out of line.
by J.D. Tuccille
Reason.com
The federal government’s response to COVID-19 has been a hot mess, and state and city officials haven’t done much better. But if there’s one thing at which governments have excelled during this crisis, it’s been collecting fines from anybody who steps out of line.
Whatever else it is, the great pandemic of 2020 has turned into a revenue-collection opportunity for officials who demonstrate little competence at anything other than squeezing their unfortunate subjects.
In Selah, Washington, Anytime Fitness was fined almost $10,000 by state officials. The owners’ crime? In defiance of the governor’s decree closing such businesses, they opened their doors to willing customers who wanted to make use of the gym’s facilities.