By Trent Rosser

It happened without warning. A media blackout, a military coup, and suddenly the U.S.A. became the U.S.S.A. The United Secure States of America. Whatever they called it, it was a police state. Rock music was banned, movies were censored and outspoken teachers vanished. Soon, any person who dared question authorities was in danger as well.

That was a description of a book by author Tom DeHaven called Top Secret U.S.S.A. It was about a high school teenager joining a rebellion. I really can't tell ya more, because I haven't read it since 1988. I was in high school when I read the book so, after all these years, I don't remember much. In fact, the only thing I do remember is that it was about the high school kid living in a new America. I also remembered something about U.S.S.A. in the title. Recently this book has been on my mind quite a bit.

With the coronavirus in full effect, I sometimes feel like we are already in a police state. I know that we are not, but what is going to happen in the future if this pandemic is not curtailed? Many businesses are already closed or operating at a skeleton crew. We are already under a shelter in place order. We can no longer go out to eat or to the movies. We have even closed down the parks. If things keep going like they are, then life could get much worse. How long will it be before the drive thru shuts down and there is only curbside service? Most grocery stores have early morning shopping for the elderly and disabled. I, personally, agree with this 100 percent. But, how long is it before the stores start closing for good? Already a lot of "mom and pop" shops are on the brink of bankruptcy. If this crisis keeps up, then they will be doomed to fail. The government will have to step in to help the masses.

That brings us to job loss. With non-essential businesses having to shut down, the unemployment rate has skyrocketed. The way I understand it, and I could be wrong, everyone that had to file unemployment gets an extra $600 a week. I have heard stories about people who are now collecting unemployment benefits are actually making more now than when they were working. Don't get me wrong, I understand having to file for unemployment because of this virus and being laid off, but why would a normal person want to go back to work to make less than what they are making by staying home? What about the essential workers who are putting their lives, and their families lives in danger every time they show up for work. The ones that are keeping America rolling, like the nurses and doctors at the hospitals, the stockers and clerks at the grocery and convenience stores, and the truck drivers and truck mechanics who are delivering the food across the country and making sure the trucks stay on the road. Most of the essential workers are making the same amount of money now as they were before this crisis started. Will they eventually be rewarded with hazard pay? Who knows. Honestly, I am considered an essential worker, and I am happy to still have a job during this time. After all, if I was to stay home for 2 to 3 weeks, the local police will be investigating a homicide. I am sure my wife would eventually kill me!

So with unemployment at an all time high, stores closing and lack of products will increase the poverty and crime levels. Eventually, we could become a police state. We will be standing in line to get bread and cheese. We will have to have travel papers to leave the house (I already have my travel papers). If things continue down this path, we could actually become the U.S.S.A., but I personally do not believe that will happen.

Unfortunately, we may never know when this pandemic will cease and we could go back to living normal lives. But then again, we may never fully return to normal. Good news is that there is still one thing left from this evil Pandora's Box: hope. We have always held on to hope and as always we will prevail.

For all the essential workers, thank you and remember what John F. Kennedy said: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Even though it is rough, we are doing the right thing. I also believe that when this is over with, the essential workers will be remembered. As Rambo once said, "We want our country to love us just as much as we loved our country." The citizens of the U.S.A. will remember. We will not become the U.S.S.A. We are still the greatest nation on earth, we are the United States of America.

God Bless America.