Posted on 03.13.2020

Survival

Our nation - and for that matter, every other nation on the face of the planet - is in a state of anxiety, confusion and bewilderment about the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic that has caught even the most technologically advanced nations on earth totally unprepared to deal with it.

It is my belief that China refused to admit that they had a catastrophic problem until infected Chinese citizens, had traveled and disbursed around the world spreading the virus, thereby owning the lion’s share of the blame for our present-day situation.

But let’s stay on the pragmatic side and deal with the ramifications, review the mistakes the world health apparatus and politicians have made in dealing with it, in hopes never to make them again.

First of all, you can’t deal with something you don’t know about and China’s failure to acknowledge and inform about the coronavirus cost a lot of valuable time, when a few days in the laboratories for the best and brightest around the world could have shortened the time to develop a cure and therapeutic drugs to treat those already infected.

We have known for many years that the potential for a deadly flu with pandemic capabilities could come along and we should have been much better prepared to deal with it, with a backlog of drugs, medical supplies and sanitary products, etc...

China’s silence delayed the time for lifesaving containment protocols to be implemented and manufactured and delivery dates for vital testing kits, and diagnostic tools our Heath experts so desperately need.

Politicians on either side of the aisle who try to score points on this national tragedy only prove they care more about the health of their party than they do about the health of the people and should be remembered as such when the polls open.

I knew that we were dependent on China for way too many products, but when I found out we were dependent on them for so many of the vital drugs we need, I was totally shocked.

Who, what politicians, what companies, or what unholy alliance of the two would place the health and welfare of this whole nation into the hands of a communist regime whose main goal is replacing the USA as the leading economy in the world.

There was gain of some kind involved, follow the money, follow the power and it will eventually lead to the board rooms and back rooms where politicians and business tycoons with dirty hands and dirtier hearts practice their own particular brand of treason, yes treason, in this case tantamount to turning the manufacturing of our military’s munitions over to the Russians and depending on them delivering it intact and on time. 

Putting the manufacturing and shipment of drugs that Americans need to live is a form of treason in my book and the parties responsible should be identified and disgraced for selling the welfare of America.

The United States of America depending on any other nation for anything as critical as medicine is downright dumb and an ever-present threat to national security.

There is a lesson to be learned here, over the years, high tax rates caused American businesses to outsource so much manufacturing to China that our economies have become so entwined and so much money made off the cheap Chinese labor that we have basically turned a blind eye to what our enabling of an oppressive communist government has accomplished for them.

The Chinese military grows in strength and threat every day, using the enormous profits from Sino-American trade deals to maintain the largest and technologically armed, standing army the world has ever known.

It’s time for America to adopt an “If we use it here, we should produce it here” attitude.

For the first time in modern times, thanks to the common sense and foresight of Donald Trump, America is energy independent, our economy no longer has to depend on the largess of Saudi Arabia or any other nation who hates our guts.

Now it’s time for America to bring it all back home.

If we use it here, it should be made here.

Oh, and by the way, the Chinese government is now saying that America caused the pandemic.

No way, Jose - or Xi - or whoever is responsible for this farce, it originated in China, you let it fester, you didn’t inform a vulnerable world about it. You own it.

Period...

What do you think? 

Pray for our troops our police and the peace of Jerusalem. 

God Bless America 

— Charlie Daniels

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Comments

Dang Straight
Amen, Amen & Amen Charlie, make it here period. I'm the most pro-American person you will ever meet, 45 years ago when I was in college, the commie professors use to spew the one world thesis and claim nothing was even so necessary, that the industry should be protected from foreign competition, not even defense products. I called them on it then and still believe the same way today. One of my grandsons told me just last night "Papaw I thought you was crazy when I was a kid and you wouldn't let me buy some candy at the gas station because it was made in China, but today I see why...." Well sir I may be crazy, but I ain't stupid. We Americans have been blessed by the God of Abraham, Issac & Jacob, beyond believe, but today are selling our birthright for some red pottage from some red communist nation, Red China.....We need to TRUMP all who think otherwise.....nuff said, keep your powder dry God Bless Plowboy
Posted by Plowboy
Survival
Charlie, your knowledge, perceptions and insight regarding coronavirus; China's malevolence; your identifying our reliance on countries like China; and of greater importance, President Trump's focus on strengthening our economy, his desire to protect and care for America and it's citizens, as well as rid our dependence upon such countries as China and the OPEC nations; etc; is impeccable. Let's put aside our hatred and partisan views. Let's respect the leadership and guidance of President Trump, Vice President Pence, and the Coronavirus Task Force as they work so hard to protect and help us get through this National Emergency. No matter what your allegiances and thoughts might be, we must all work together to keep America safe, as well as eliminate this virus from our country and world. God Bless and protect our troops; police, first responders and health care workers; as well as every citizen of the United States of America. My wife and I can't wait to see you/CDB and the Marshall Tucker Band in Westbury, NY on May 9th. Also, let's not forget the victims of the devastating tornadoes in Tennessee.
Posted by Michael
Thank you.
Very well written. Thank you.
Posted by Julie
Corona virus
I Agree with you Mr Daniels 100% I'm not really sure how this is corona virus or why it has been blown so far out of proportion..is it because it's something new? The flu has killed more this year in the U.S. alone than the corona virus so far..is their something else I'm missing? The numbers just don't match up for the panic?
Posted by Ronnie
Chinese goods
Where should the blame lie, well plenty to go around but let the American people take a large chunk of the blame We are the ones that demand lower prices, cheaper goods, and at the same time complain about wages. Can't have it both ways any more than you can buy tickets to a Charlie Daniels concert for the same price as your brother in laws bar band charges.
Posted by Dana
Survival
There is NOBODY who can tell it like you! Thank you for sharing your ideas, opinions and incredible knowledge in the Soap Box!! ❤️
Posted by Dinah
Unholy Alliance
Your observations are appreciated and fair warning. We American people have been too happy for too long just to sit back reveling in comfort and being entertained while board room treason created fortunes for the inner circle and with the unsuspecting people as the expendable inventory. Thanks for spelling this out so clearly. And for upholding our President. God bless you and those who are trying to wake us up. God forgive us.
Posted by Sylvia
China
As always, you are spot on my brother. Politicians are the real virus in this nation. Until we can get more that care about Americans rather than their bank accounts, it will get worse before it gets better. Hoping like crazy that this "trial run of socialism" will wake more people up to the fact that while we've got it better here than anywhere else, progressivism can destroy it all pretty much overnight.
Posted by Bryan
Tell it Charlie!!!!
I have been following your career for more that 40 years (danged near 50 now) and have admired your music AND your Patriotism. Keep on telling it like it is Charlie, you are making a difference!!!
Posted by Richard
Coronavirus
You are spot on! It is apparent there is a attempt to undo our country. Keep telling it like it is Charlie!
Posted by David
"If we use it here, it should be made here."
We can’t do this with coffee. We might be able to do this with tea. We CAN grow coffee in Hawaii and much of our territories, but these tropical islands have very little land for the massive amount we drink. With tea, we have more land where it can be grown, plus we don’t drink as much of it. And if we can’t grow all the tea we drink, we can certainly drink a larger portion of it. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
Trump = Bernie
Now that we no longer need Saudi Arabia for oil, we should have a full embargo on them. Sadly, Trump is going in the opposite direction. He’s WAY to friendly with Saudi Arabia. And then I see ads where Bernie is promising to restrict foreign trade more than Trump has been doing already. If Sanders were to become president, he’d keep his word on foreign trade. That way, when America has more manufacturing jobs, and more products made here in this country, people would be less willing to criticize him for his socialist policies. Deceptive shysters, both of them. NO ONE in Washington deserves to be celebrated. Not Trump. Not Bernie. Not anyone else. NO ONE. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
Charlie Daniels
100% in agreement with what this USA loyal loving man has said. Pray that the powers that be see this and start doing something about it ASAP
Posted by Debbie
Should we drink less coffee?
I’ve mentioned we can’t grow enough coffee to supply the amount we drink. Does that mean we should drink less of it? No. The more people in other countries have jobs growing coffee, the fewer people in these countries are available to make things that we can make for ourselves. The same is true for chocolate, and bananas, and many other things. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
They may look dumb but that's just a disguise...
When I read your soap box I was shocked to learn about our dependence on China for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. It seems that our good old uncle Sam and the endless regulation of the FDA is to blame. 1906 due to horror stories about the meat packing business and others the Feds started what today has become a bloated government mess. A full 25% of all consumer spending is controlled by the FDA food, drugs, cosmetics, vitamin supplements, veterinary products,tobacco, biotech promotion, condoms,etc. etc. 4.7 billion dollar budget half of which comes from "user fees" money paid to the FDA by Big Pharma to get their products inspected and on the market. Sound a little shady to you? 1986 Congress passed the Drug Export Amendment Act which made it illegal to export drugs that are not approved for sale in the U.S. That was the beginning of the end for domestic production. 2000 U.S.-China Trade Relations Act passed within 4 years we lost the ability to produce anti-biotics, vitamin C and Aspirin in this country. 2008 FDA opens offices in other countries to inspect raw material and manufacturing processes which foreign companies fight every aspect of inspection and audit. In the U.S. the FDA has power to drop in at a plant, anytime for any reason and they do, but not in China, they actually held an FDA inspector hostage for hours because they didn't like the inspection results. Prior to 08 inspections in China and India were few and far between. The biggest problem I see is that a full 80% of API's Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients these are the raw materials used in production of most drugs come from India and China and to top it off some of these API's are only available in China. I believe the Chinese released the Covid19 the "Kung Flu" with the help of the dems and media to destroy the stock market, promote confusion and fear, replace Trump with sleepy Joe (they love Joe Foo, him number one wound eye) and people will die but they planned to take out mostly older sick folks and well, they will die anyway. I know it's awful to think that way but I believe it and I don't think I'm alone. DeploraBill the Northwoods Drifter
Posted by bill
Consortium of the media, democrats, and China
I have no problem with alternative points of view and enjoy hearing other opinions. But Bill - for your own sake as well as society - Please get back on your medication! Consortium of the media, democrats, and China (CMDC)
Posted by Paul
Non-Profit, Private Sector
We need non-profit organizations that MANUFACTURE medicine, here in the United States, with a priority of serving the public instead of making a profit, receiving the money they need from fundraisers in the private sector instead of from taxpayers. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
Spot On Bill
Bill Wrote....."I believe the Chinese released the Covid19 the "Kung Flu" with the help of the dems and media to destroy the stock market, promote confusion and fear, replace Trump with sleepy Joe (they love Joe Foo, him number one wound eye) and people will die but they planned to take out mostly older sick folks and well, they will die anyway. I know it's awful to think that way but I believe it and I don't think I'm alone. DeploraBill the Northwoods Drifter" You are spot on Bill it is all about taking out Trump and the Chinerman wanted to get rid of a lot of older people in their own country along with getting the most Pro American president out of office.......but I believe that the best is yet to come and Donald Trump has a plan.....this is not to say that we are not experiencing birth pains.....nuff said God Bless Plowboy
Posted by Plowboy
So right...
Charlie, you have an amazing ability to take what I'm thinking and put it to words and make it make sense. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this.
Posted by Autumn
Condescending Member of the Democratic Cabal Paul (CMDC)
Paul, you have a mind like a steel trap, very little gets in and nothing gets out! The media wants me to believe that the Russians controlled the outcome of 2016 election with ads on facebook, Joe Biden, HRC, FBI, DOJ has done nothing wrong and we're all gonna die broke and it's all Trump's fault. I find all of this hard to believe but if the media say it's true well,must be huh. Here's a few things that are true, strange but true. 2009-10 Swine Flu 12500 dead,media coverage was minimal and the market never lost a dime. The Flu kills 1400 a month,opioids 5000, auto crashes 3000, and abortion claims over 9000 lives every month and these numbers go on for years. Think of what the media could do if they worked to change these facts. This has nothing to do with human life, ask any democrat. DeploraBill the Northwoods Drifter
Posted by bill
Responding to DeploraBill the Northwoods Drifter
It’s been said that Teddy Roosevelt threw his sausage out the window while reading “The Jungle”. Is this true or some sort of urban legend? I don’t know. But it does represent the realization that we need SOME safety regulations on consumer goods, ESPECIALLY food and medicine. But I do agree, we don’t want the FDA to go overboard. We increased production of petroleum by reducing regulations. Would such a strategy work with good quality medical supplies? -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
Responding to DeploraBill the Northwoods Drifter
Imagine if meth and heroin were still illegal to use and sell in this country, but legal to produce and sell overseas. Of course, this what-if is an extreme example, but you get the idea. If something is harmful, it’s wrong to keep it away from Americans but make $$$ by selling it to foreigners. Not only is it selfish, but also risky to us, as such a thing can be smuggled back into this country and sold on the streets. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
Responding to DeploraBill the Northwoods Drifter
I don’t put quite as much priority into producing our own raw materials as I do with other stages of production. Raw materials often come with impurities when found in nature or recycled, no matter what country they’re from. Different crops can be grown in different places. Different minerals are found in different places. Different ocean resources are found in the waters of different nations. I put some importance into producing our own raw materials, but I put more priority into components, finished products, shipping, etc. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
Responding to DeploraBill the Northwoods Drifter
I don’t like the democrats, and I don’t like the liberal bias in the media, either. But I think even they have their limits. No, I don’t believe they helped China release the coronavirus virus. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
Responding to DeploraBill the Northwoods Drifter and Plowboy
The two of you talk about the Chinese people, REGARDLESS of ethnicity, religion, or politics, being killed by their own government. I’d like to expand on this. If China really did deliberately spread the disease to other countries, it should be pointed out that specifically the Chinese GOVERNMENT did this, not “they” as a nation. Yes, it should go without saying. But people have a tendency to overlook something like this. Think about it. It’s not possible to allow this flu to spread to the rest of the world without allowing it to spread among the Chinese people. The victims of China’s government would include its own citizenry just as much as us. One could say the Chinese government is even forcing western imperialism on its own citizens, involving a philosophy from Germany (Marxism), a form of government from Russia (communist dictatorship), a cultural revolution that among other things desecrated the tomb of Confucius, and perhaps deliberately killing their own elderly. Chinese culture traditionally greatly honors the elderly. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
Responding to DeploraBill the Northwoods Drifter
Since you mentioned 9,000 abortions per month, I’ll say this. I sometimes wonder how common abortion was before it was legalized. We have no way of knowing, of course, because there’s no way of keeping track of how often people do something illegal but get away with it. People had stronger morals back then, at least in theory. But back then, pregnancy before marriage was more shameful. People did what they could to keep such a thing secret. Pregnancy before marriage is still frowned on, but now there’s more of an understanding that people make mistakes like this. Maybe people would be more willing to follow an anti-abortion law today than back then. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
"If we use it here, it should be made here."
We can make plenty of our own ethanol. During this crisis, some distilleries that make adult beverages have been making hand sanitizer, and that’s WONDERFUL. After this crisis, as a public service, these distilleries can produce ethanol for hand sanitizer and whatever other medical supplies use this component. (And yes, they’d do this for publicity. Unfortunately, this is to be expected from for-profit companies.) -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
We want to reduce the amount of petroleum we use in proportion to the amount we produce. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
Can soybeans be grown hydroponically? If so, that’s another good source of raw materials. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
Is there REALLY a need for stickers on fruit? It looks like just an annoying nuisance at first. But every little bit adds up. The raw materials that go into making the massive amount of these stickers can be used for something FAR more useful. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
China’s Lion’s Share of the Blame
Do I believe China kept their mouth shut specifically to spread the disease to other countries? It’s certainly possible. For now, I don’t believe that’s the case. They probably just wanted to protect their reputation. But I’m open to the possibility they wanted to infect other countries. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”: A Tale of Two Pizzas
A frozen pizza bought at the grocery store is assembled in a factory by a manufacturer, then sold to a distributor, then sold to a retailer. A pizza made in a pizzeria, when you think about it, is assembled by a manufacturer who also functions as a retailer, in a factory that also functions as a retail location. That store-bought pizza might say on the box that it’s assembled in the USA, but it’s FAR more likely to be outsourced than the pizza from the local pizza joint. Don’t buy that Red Baron, it just might be supporting Red China. Remember this when the coronavirus crisis is over and we need to rebuild the economy. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
We cannot trust for-profit businesses to manufacture our medicine. Am I saying it should be banned? No. We need non-profit organizations manufacturing drugs and medical supplies, giving them for free to those who need them, doing medical research, creating new medicines, and raising the money needed to do all this with fundraisers and NOT with taxdollars. Sure, we can allow companies to make a profit from medicine. But let’s hope and pray people support these non-profit groups to the point where these businesses cannot compete. Medicine should be about serving the public, not turning a profit. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
Bush43 was wrong to bailout banks. Obama was wrong to bailout auto makers. And Trump will be wrong to bailout the airline industry if he does so. None of these companies are “too big to fail”. I hope new businesses in these industries are established and replace the ones that received these bailouts. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
Diesel can be made from soybeans. If soybeans can be made hydroponically, we might be able to replace most of our petroleum fuel with something that can be grown more or less anywhere and not have to be drilled in certain geographic locations. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
NONE of the crude oil and petroleum fuel we produce should be exported. We need ALL of it for our own use. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
We need many small meat processing plants instead of a few large ones. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
Survival post
If only the 40’s and less crowd could become so attuned. I sometimes fear destitution & war is what it will take in order for them to understand what America stands for because the oral history of the past has dwindled. It may take history repeating itself before they come to understand. Let’s pray there is enough of us left to stop that train in its tracks until good sense can be found. 🙏
Posted by Suzanne
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
Fundraisers can be held to help people better afford things made in America. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
When businesses buy products from manufacturers, money made from fundraisers can be used to pay part of the price of products made in factories that are here in America. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
We need to stop depending on China for manufactured products. And we certainly don’t want that country to surpass us as the world’s top superpower. America needs to outperform China in manufacturing. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
China has been getting rich from cutting corners.
Products made in China are affordable, but low quality. Quality is sacrificed for affordability. High quality products, wherever they’re made, tend to be expensive. But I believe if we’re INNOVATIVE when we manufacture more of our own products, they can be both affordable AND high quality. This is how we outperform China in manufacturing. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
Responding to Suzanne
What worries ME is BOTH “the 40’s and less crowd” AND older are forgetting that there’s more to how society functions than just government policy. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
Ever watch The Office? There’s a scene in one episode where Michael Scott explains to some kids on “bring your daughter to work day” that Dunder-Mifflin doesn’t make paper, but buys it from those who do, and sells it to stores. The kids point out that the company is a “middle-man”. Michael awkwardly tries to explain otherwise, but we all know he’s wrong and the kids are right. Of course, “middle-men” are better known as “wholesalers” or “distributors”. American-made products are more affordable when they are sold manufacturer to retailer (“factory-direct”), instead of manufacturer to distributor to retailer. Are American-made products too expensive because of distributors? Is America better off without Dunder-Mifflin? -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
If more people were willing to avoid using plastic grocery bags, less plastic would be used to make these bags. And more plastic would be available to make other things. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
A lot of people say they won’t buy anything made in China, but for many Americans this is easier said than done. We need to use INNOVATION to HELP people AFFORD things made in America. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
In another comment on this article, I was critical of “middle-men”. If we are going to have distributors, money raised from fundraisers can be used to pay a large enough part of the wholesale price of things made in America for mom-and-pop retailers to sell for less than things made in China. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru