Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost released the results of a study Thursday that linked federal government stimulus checks to spikes in drug overdose deaths nationally, John Solomon’s stupid website reports. The unsubtle implication is that because a lot of people in the more opioid-infested quarters of MAGA Land took the money and chased the dragon a little to far, the three rounds of economic relief distributed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that tens of millions of other Americans used to pay for rent, utility bills, groceries was on balance a bad thing.
“The link between pandemic relief money and opioid overdose deaths is now evident. The intent was to help Americans navigate this deadly pandemic but it also fueled a tidal wave of overdoses,” said Yost, adding, “Throwing money at a problem isn’t always the best solution. Let the data be the guide to learn from the past. Addiction is a sickness you can’t cure with just cash,” as if only opioid addicts got stimulus checks and not responsible people who otherwise fell on hard times in part because of the Republican president’s atrocious response to the deadliest pandemic in a century. And even though more money was actually distributed to Americans under the Trump Administration ($1,800 in 2020) than the Biden Administration ($1,400 in 2021) Democrats are the pro-handout party. We could probably go on for another 500 words or so pointing out the cynicism and hypocrisy here, but our readers are smart and have already picked it up. Probably.