GEORGIA- Lottery tickets…beer…free drinks…concert tickets…get out of jail free cards. Yes, you saw that right. While desperate governors ever more obsessed with getting as many people jabbed with the COVID-19 vaccination as they can have come up with some interesting incentives, one in Georgia has gotten a great deal of attention.
Newsweek reports that in Georgia’s Hall and Dawson counties, they are offering a reduction in sentences for any inmate who agrees to get the vaccine. By half.
While this currently only applies to those inmates who either are or will be performing community service as part of their sentencing, it’s still an interesting—and aggravating proposal.
Currently, Georgia’s vaccination rate stands at about 37 percent of their population, while the national average is at about 47 percent.
Out of the two Georgia counties, Hall is short in the vaccination sweepstakes, with only 29 percent of residents having received at least one shot, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dawson County meanwhile is even worse off—at only 25 percent.
The U.S. Sun reports that according to Hall County Court Administrator Jason Stephenson, judges are allowed to over up to 20 to 40 hours to those qualified to participate in the program.
Stephenson touted the program, noting that “In our judge’s view, every shot in the arm is a service to the community.”
“For some offenders it does seem appropriate to recognized that the time and the cost involved and perhaps lining up childcare, taking time off from work, arranging for transportation, and making it to a vaccination site—not once but twice. This recognizes the commitment they’ve made in doing that.”
Court officials note they are trying to avoid putting any pressure to convince people to take the vaccine, but rather are trying to make sure those who qualify are aware of the benefits of getting the vaccine.
Senior assistant public defender in Hall County, Andy Maddox said, “Somebody mentions 20 hours and that may not sound like a lot, but that’s half a work week and if somebody can get a shot instead of doing 20 hours of community service, that is a pretty strong incentive.”
Maddox spoke to the initial interest in the program, saying, “I think initially it’s some curiosity. Some have already gotten it. Many are pondering it.”
The state of Georgia is monitoring the response in Hall and Dawson counties to gauge the level of interest. Maddox sees the opportunity gaining momentum.
The program has already been offered in several dozen cases thus far. The hope is that as more people receive the vaccination, it will provide a greater benefit for the overall community. The incentive is currently being offered on a case-by-case basis. It is unknown how long the incentive will be offered for.
The incentives offered by other states are as follows.
Maryland is offering a program where one resident in the state who has received the vaccine will receive $40,000 every day in a program launched in cooperation with the Maryland Lottery.
New York is offering anyone who gets vaccinated a $20 lottery ticket for the $5 Million Mega Multiplier Lottery as part of the cleverly named Vax & Scratch program.
Last month, we reported on all manner of “incentives” states were offering to convince people to get “the jab”…comorbidities be damned. For more on that, we invite you to:
DIG DEEPER
The following editorial is written by a retired Chief of Police and current staff writer for Law Enforcement Today.
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Free burger and fries! Free donuts at Krispy Kreme! Entry in a lottery for a chance to win a million dollars! Free alcoholic drink! What do you have to do in order to qualify for one of these great prizes? Kowtow to the federal government and follow orders to get vaccinated. Does anyone else have a problem with all of this?
Think about this a minute. Burgers and fries. Krispy Kreme donuts. What is one of the leading risks of suffering severe illness from the COVID-19 pandemic? Did you say obesity? How about heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure?
According to Dr. Donald Hensrud of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, obesity is a huge problem in the United States, as well as part of the rest of the world.
‘One of the most prevalent conditions in this country and around the world is increased weight and obesity,” he said. “Approximately 70% of Americans are either overweight or have obesity. This is not easy to reverse. There are hundreds of things that influence what we eat, our physical activity and our weight.”
Hensrud said that during the pandemic-related lockdowns, obesity has become even more of an issue.
“During COVID-19, we’ve taken previous challenges to managing weight to another level. During the pandemic, fitness centers have been shut down, our activity may be decreasing, or we may be working from home and not moving as much,” he said.
“In addition, our diet has changed. We may be eating more comfort food or eating what happens to be around the house rather than getting something that is healthier.”
According to the New York Times, a study of nearly 150,000 adults across the United States confirmed that obesity significantly increases the risk for hospitalization and death among those who contract the virus. Further, the risk increases as patients’ B.M.I. increases.
“The findings of the study highlight the serious clinical public health implications of elevated B.M.I., and they suggest the continued need for intensive management of COVID-19 illness, especially among patients affected by severe obesity,” said Lyudmyla Kompaniyets, a health economist at the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity at the CDC.
The hypocrisy and mixed messaging being sent by the political class relative to the coronavirus vaccine is truly mind-boggling. How so?
Look for example no further than House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Despite the fact that much of Congress has been vaccinated, including Pelosi herself, she is still mandating that representatives wear masks on the House floor.
What kind of message does that send? If the vaccine works, why would anyone care if an unvaccinated person wears a mask or not? With over a 90% effectiveness rate, with some estimates being closer to 95% efficacy, what sense does it make to force vaccinated people to continue wearing masks?
For the past 16 months, Americans have been told to “follow the science,” especially by Pelosi. The CDC recently said that masks were no longer required either inside or outside if someone has been vaccinated. Yet here we have Pelosi now apparently deciding that she’s not going to follow the science. So, what are Americans to think?
Now clearly, having one donut, or one bag of fries or a cheeseburger isn’t going to make someone obese. However, in a case where Americans on the one hand are being encouraged to adopt healthy eating habits in order to lessen the chances of having severe illness from COVID-19 to reward getting a vaccine with unhealthy food seems a bit…hypocritical.
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In New York, a disgusting video showing New York City’s communist mayor Bill de Blasio stuffing his face with French fries hardly gave anyone the appetite to trade a shot for French fries.
Yet that was the “enticement” for Big Apple residents to get their arm stuck.
Want some more trans fats? How about a Krispy Kreme donut. The iconic donut maker, famous for it’s “Hot Donuts Now” signs is offering a free Original Glazed donut for “anyone who shows their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card” at “participating US locations.”
To further incentivize you to get your shot and increase your cholesterol at the same time, Krispy Kreme is allowing for “one redemption per guest per day” so theoretically if there’s a Krispy Kreme in your neighborhood, you could get a free donut every day through December 31. And probably at least Stage 2 diabetes.
This makes as much sense as offering an alcoholic a drink in order to convince them to get the vaccine. To that, Connecticut says, “hold my beer!” Or drink it.
In another case of utter craziness, WTNH in New Haven reports the State of Connecticut has started a program called “CT DRINKS ON US,” touted as an incentive to get stuck in the arm with a COVID shot. The program, which started on May 19 and runs through May 31 requires proof of getting a shot in order to get a free drink. “Get your shot, get a shot” we guess.
The program is available at participating restaurants and bars in Connecticut and can either be an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink. Wonder what Mothers Against Drunk Driving thinks about this?
“Could be a lemonade, could be a cool frosty. Probably not their high price champagne, but we’re doing everything we can to give you an incentive so that if you’ve been vaccinated, come on in,” said Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. Hey Ned, tell you what. Cut my taxes and you may have a deal.
Of course, all of this shows the desperation of the political class in this country. With mixed messages being sent about the vaccines from before they were even made available, from people such as Pelosi, Kamala Harris and the current occupant of the White House Joe Biden, is it a wonder that a lot of people have their doubts about the vaccine?
Add to that the mixed messages coming from the CDC, the White House, Saint Anthony Fauci, the mainstream media and Democrats, this is hardly surprising.
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