Kristi Noem is the governor of South Dakota.  She is governor to the only state in the U.S. that did not impose any lockdowns in 2020.

It is unclear how much of that is because of Kristi Noem.  There is a conservative legislature in South Dakota, and the residents are certainly more conservative than what is typical in the U.S.  Still, she deserves some credit for her restraint in not following all of the other governors who decided to become dictators and impose lockdowns and restrictions against people and private businesses.

While I think Noem deserves praise for not doing something, I understand that she is not a libertarian.  She gets high grades for her response (or lack of response) to COVID hysteria, but she is a little too conservative on other issues, especially when it comes to drugs, including marijuana.

I have no idea what her views are on foreign policy, even though that doesn’t really impact her role as governor.  If she has any plans on running for president, I probably wouldn’t support her unless it included a somewhat non-interventionist foreign policy.

I would say the same thing about Ron DeSantis.  He was bad on COVID to start, but then became heroic in his stand against the establishment.  I probably wouldn’t support him for president, but I am thankful that he has been governor of Florida, where I live.  I would much prefer that he stay as governor as long as there is any COVID hysteria still in existence, which there is plenty.

One issue where conservatives have acted more favorably towards DeSantis and less favorably towards Noem is on the issue of vaccine passports.  DeSantis has taken the position that no businesses should discriminate against customers who choose not to get vaccinated for COVID.  In other words, while employers can legally mandate vaccination for employees in some situations, they are not allowed to require customers to show proof of vaccination.

Kristi Noem has not taken this position.  She issued an executive order in April 2021 banning government entities in South Dakota from requiring vaccine passports.

However, when it comes to private businesses, she does not support legislation that would stop private businesses from imposing vaccine mandates, including vaccine passports.

Noem stated on Twitter, “Workers whose employees are mandating a vaccine for continued employment have the power to say no.  Our robust economy and job market gives them the option to find a new employer that values personal choice and responsibility, and doesn’t force mandates on their employees.”

Noem also posted a video on Twitter stating, “I don’t have the authority as governor to tell them [private business] what to do.”  She says that she didn’t overstep her authority with lockdowns, and she isn’t going to start now.

On this issue, Noem has taken the libertarian position of upholding private property rights.  She does not deem it within her authority, or the law’s authority, to tell private businesses what they can and can’t do.

It is understandable that conservatives and libertarians want courage from leaders who will stand up against the establishment.  The establishment has been pushing ridiculously hard for people to get vaccinated, and they are imposing mandates where they can get away with it.  Now we see major cities like New York telling certain private businesses that they aren’t allowed to permit entry to those who do not have proof of vaccination.

It is a natural inclination to want politicians in our corner to stand up and do the opposite.  But the opposite doesn’t mean telling businesses that they can’t have vaccine passports.  The opposite is not telling businesses what they can or can’t do.

Kristi Noem is correct on this issue, but unfortunately some conservatives see it as a sign of weakness.  This is not weakness.  It is being principled, which actually takes strength.

In the long run, you don’t gain liberty by having more laws and rules passed.  You gain liberty by repealing laws and rules, and by not imposing new ones.