People are the problem, generally are come to think of it. Covid-19 is curing the problem one person at a time, or actually more like one ICU bed after another.
I was out camping, first time this year. I saw almost no masks on the trip to and from the campground or within the campground. In Michigan we no longer have a mask mandate in public spaces so people in general see the situation as less serious. This does tend to ignore the consistently rising number of covid 19 infections and deaths in the state.
Outside activities, being vaccinated makes some sense, standing in line at the gas station? Not so sure no mask is such a good idea. But having talked to people working in retail I have heard that people have the audacity to pick fights with the workers informing them of the store policy. In their own private property place of business. Yeah I know, seems nuts but there it is.
Most of us were willing to modify our behavior in the face of the obvious crisis. Wear masks and stay home. Some of course refused, I assume those were the same people who consistently ignore speed limit signs in favor of exercising their freedom to determine the speed they feel is safe for them personally on the public roads.
However we seem to lack the ability to maintain the behaviors that lead to success as they become more successful. We worry less so we are less careful or concerned. Much like the gazelle herd members who decide on not seeing a lion for a week that lions must no longer be a threat. We sort of seem to lack the ability to maintain a consistent effort that requires a change in our lives.
We also in some ways I think seem to not be willing to contribute to the common good in the common spaces if it requires an effort on our part or is perceived to be infringing on our personal "freedom" to do what we want when we want. Where we want. It almost seems as though we have forgotten our "common welfare" was one of the stated purposes of our forming a new country.
A smallish number of people lined the street in front of our county court house to protest school mandates for masks, or vaccination requirements from employers. Saw a sign that said "my child my choice" but that ignores that it isn't just your child's school it is all of the peoples school.
The position that any requirement is an infringement seems to ignore that employers can and do mandate things all the time. Driving a truck without getting a drug test, with regular random follow up tests. Can't tell you how often over the years I had someone watching me pee in a cup.
Employers have some obligation to provide a safe work environment for their workers, and a financial need to be able to get workers to hire. One thing holding some people back is simply the risk of bringing covid home from work. A concern addressed by having all employees be vaccinated.
Requiring employees to be vaccinated saves on insurance claims, if you want to get a heartless and dispassionate assessment of the actual risks ask the health insurance companies. A large number of claims or serious health issue that generate large bills drive up the premiums companies have to pay for health insurance. So exactly what "freedom" requires employers to pay that extra health care cost, and put their other employees at risk?
One is free to not get vaccinated or refuse to wear a mask, one can even pursue their own "alternative" medical approaches. What one is not free to do is impose those beliefs on everyone else if doing so puts them at risk for harm. One is free to believe whatever source of information they wish. What one may not insist on is that everyone else has to give equal credibility to your chosen source as they do for responsible and reputable sources of information accepted as credible by the vast majority of Americans.
Our CDC is considered the gold standard for dealing with infectious diseases. The world envies us that resource. Just as much of the world envies us our supply of vaccines. We are looking at booster shots when much of the world is resorting to desperate gamble on any drug that might possibly help prevent them from dying. I for one am glad the USA does not have same level of medical care as the undeveloped world. Or lack the ability to effectively track cases.
Distrust of "experts" or "elites" is not without some credible arguments but it shouldn't be considered a blanket dismissal of all expertise. If I have heart surgery I want an elite cardiac surgeon. If dealing with an infectious disease pandemic an expert in infectious disease seems worthwhile to listen to and give
weight to their information.
The basic idea behind not allowing businesses to determine if they want to ask for proof of vaccination or negative test seems like it is taking away freedom from the business and the employees. In favor of not imposing any responsibility or consequences on one for their own vaccination choices.
Seems as though business should have ability to require one not put their business at risk. One spreader event tracked back to a business can do immediate and significant harm to a businesses bottom line. If there are enough no mask/ no vaccine customers some business will I'm sure cater to them. Assuming they can hire people willing to work in those conditions.
I can't help but think things are getting weird enough that I may see a bunch of anti-mask or anti-vaccine protesters with signs reading "our bodies, our choice" or "keep you vaccine mandate out of my medical decisions". Consistency depends on principles applied consistently across different issues. Same principles and same level of critical assessment applied to sources of information on issues irrespective of ones opinion or feelings on the issue.
ET-19
Escape Hatch II
Our Escape Hatch
Well, not likely.
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