I’ve held off for about as long as I can from commentary on the silliness of the useless mask and vaccine debate that, until Afghanistan took over, had dominated the news cycle for months and has been almost completely devoid of common sense.
Here is where I am: Certain coercive measures in the interest of public health can be justified, but our presumption and basic instincts should be against them. Those who refuse to be vaccinated for COVID are primarily risking their own health, so government should not require private citizens to get the shots. With the military and public health care institutions it’s different–the government can and should require it because the health of members of the armed forces and health care workers is its direct concern. Private employers have the right and often good reason, as with cruise ships for example, to make vaccination required for passengers and as a condition of employment. Government mask mandates do not seem to be justified, but banning these mandates is a step too far, as has been recognized by a federal judge in Florida who recently ruled that Gov. DeSantis overstepped his authority when he banned mandates. And, in some of the most intense debates on the issue around the country it seems to me that, in the interest of subsidiarity, school districts through their elected boards should be allowed to make their own decisions on mask policies rather than forbid them from instituting requirements.
What we have here essentially is an issue and a debate that has become almost completely entangled with political identity in this deeply divided culture and is in need of a large dose of forbearance on both sides.
Tim Phillips says
COVID and all the associated mandates/laws/regulations/politicalization is the greatest psy-ops mission being masterfully executed to subjugate the entire globe to totalitarian command and control. Private property, liberty and freedom are soon to be relic notions of a bygone era. As painful as it may be, you have to acknowledge the genius of using a bio-weapon release to create a low grade global virus that only kills the aged, obese, asthmatic, and immunity suppressed but using propaganda and health care bureaucracies to become the new masters that flaunt the law while dictating behavior and actions of its citizenry.
Dr. Tom says
We are a nation of little bunnies, frightened of a virus that has the same or less mortality as the 2019 flu. And treatments of the traditional top three killers, heart disease, cancer and stroke, are being delayed for a number of COVID-linked reasons, but the increased mortality data will appear several years from now.
The usual (not N95) masks are useless, totally useless, and I say this as an MD who has reviewed the mask/virus medical literature, but they are “mandated” by politicians who are lawyers, not MDs.
The mRNA “vaccines” are not true vaccines; RNA tells your body’s cells to make specific proteins, in the mRNA “vaccination” case to produce the COVID spike protein. It is foolish to pretend a foreign protein in your system (not in your gut as meat) is certainly OK, especially when we have zero long-term data on follow-up.
I wear no mask, ever, since I am no longer in operating rooms where the concern is bacteria which are huge compared to viruses.
Stan says
Well said Jim. It’s a complex issue, but I am not sure that big government has the answers. Parents, individually or as an elected school board, should make their decisions on what is best for their children. Private business owners should have the right to decide who can come into their business with or without masks. City, county and state officials should have a limited role in these decisions. As far as the anti-vaccine citizens, they have the right to elect to acquire immunity by getting COVID; but I am on the fence about how much the medical system should subsidize the decision.
That being said, I believe most children should have the basic vaccinations, especially polio, as I suffer from post-polio. When my great grandchildren were about to be delivered, I had my levels of immunity checked and refreshed vaccines needed to protect the new members of our family. That was my private choice. I also intend to get the booster as soon as I can. My wife and I plan to travel again, soon.
Jim Windham says
Thanks for the response, Stan. Good to hear from you and have a good trip. If we pass the COVID test on Saturday, we’re leaving for Italy on Monday.
Stan says
If you go to Rome, we discovered the golf cart tours. The absolute best and fastest way to get around the City. It is not really a tour, you tell driver where you wish to go. After an evening tour and a day tour we covered all the hills and sights.
Enjoy Italy. Drink some wine for us.
Ann McCulloch says
“Forbearance on both sides” is definitely in order. I’m reminded of the prophet Daniel, who knew when to negotiate and when to stand firm.
Jim Windham says
You would know the reference, Ann. We don’t seem to have many Daniels around.