and government guidance.
"We have been informed by South Washington County that: Face coverings are strongly recommended on school buses but are NOT required starting March 1st. "
A conservative friend of mine expressed his frustration on FB regarding the above position.
"I am not arguing about the mask. I just think that we should be able to tell our kids either wear the mask or don’t. We try to be so politically correct that nobody wants to make a decision and stand behind it."
To which I responded.
"Well the CDC has been very consistent regarding masks, vaccines, boosters, etc and yet a large portion of Americans demand the right to believe and do as they wish. They deny the reality and more people have died than should have.
I get it... People are tired of COVID and want to go back to normal... Being my pragmatic analytical boosted self, I am fine with people not getting vaccinated or wearing masks if it mostly increases "their" risks of sickness and death. Just as I am fine with people smoking cigarettes. To me it is just the Darwin Theory in action.
However, I do not support the government approving of those behaviors. Especially if it puts other citizens at risk. The mandates are dropping off, the anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers should be happy.🙂 Now the choices are down to the people... Isn't that what Conservatives wanted?
Just a reminder though. The daily COVID deaths is still near 2,000..."
What has me puzzled is... What do these folks want from the government and scientists? We know that COVID is a virus...
- that kills some older, immuno-compromised and unlucky people.
- that can be spread by people who are exhibiting no symptoms themselves
- that needs people to spread, since it has NO LEGS :-)
- that kills vaccinated / boosted people at a MUCH LOWER rate
- that masks can block the transmission of.
It reminds me of people who smoke cigarettes. I mean the government and scientists have made it clear for decades how people can avoid dying from smoking. "Don't Smoke or Spend Time in Smoke Filled Environments"
Now the government and scientists have made it clear how to avoid dying from COVID. "Wear Masks in High Risk Environment and Stay Vaccinated"
I can only assume that my friend did not like that advice, so he wants guidance that says "Take Off Your Masks... This is a Strange Virus That will Stop Spreading and Killing. You were right all along..."
Even though we know that ~950,000 friends and neighbors died of COVID. And ~2,000 per day last week alone. I also am tired of COVID, that does not mean I am ready to deny our current reality.
19 comments:
I don't see our inability to make a decision as a matter of political incorrectness, but rather as evidence of the failure of our country. We can't make decisions in an affirmative way so we make them by default. We can't decide if global warming is an issue, so we do nothing which is a decision that it isn't an issue. We are about to elect a pro Trump Congress which means that global warming will be off the table for a decade and we are making this decision without realizing that we are making it.
--Hiram
There are ~330,000,000 people here and you think are going to agree on something?
There are ~330,000,000 people here and you think are going to agree on something?
No. The problem is that when most of them do agree on something, nothing happens
There does seem to be a view out there to the effect that if someone doesn't agree with a policy that person shouldn't have to follow it. They say any requirement to follow the law as an interference with their freedoms, very often an interference with their religious freedoms.
-Hiram
What is something that the majority agree on?
From Sean:
The problem isn't whether the majority of people agree on something. The problem is that our political systems -- because of the pervasive influence of big money -- aren't designed to reflect public opinion.
There's strong majority support over years for keeping Roe v. Wade.
Polling Report: Abortion
Background checks for gun buyers, consistently above 85%. And plenty of other gun control measures with consistent majorities.
Polling Report: Guns Raise the minimum wage? Yup.
Polling Report: Work Legalize marijuana? Yes.
Polling Report: Drugs I could go on, but the point is made.
I think the devil is in the details...
Everyone thinks the HUGE national debt is bad... But few agree with how to fix it.
The things I pointed to are discrete items, not vague goals.
Since this country is NOT a National democracy.
We would need to look into the details of what people in each State think.
For better or worse, our system does not allow the urban folk to rule the country.
The problems is that the system does not allow people to rule this country.
--Hiram
By the way, in terms of the electoral college, the presidency is chosen by people living in states with large populations, which just happen to be states with large cities.
--Hiram
And yet the lower population density areas and states still have some influence.
As you know, from my perspective it is a wonderful system.
And of course, not all urban states have influence. Despite their huge populations, states like California and New York are ignored in presidential elections just largely unpopulated states like Wyoming.
--Hiram
Now I understand that you want the small densely populated areas of the country to control the WHOLE country. That is something I do NOT support.
California and New York can take care of themselves and their own residents as they wish. And from what I can tell they are not doing so great at that... High homelessness rates, high crime rates, high illegal resident rates, massive water shortages, etc
And they can use their massive numbers of representatives and electoral votes to influence the national policies. Just like every State does.
Not sure why you want the cities ruling our vast diverse country?
Now I understand that you want the small densely populated areas of the country to control the WHOLE country.
Isn't the alternative to have large unpopulated areas of the country to control the whole country? In any event, I think we should be governed by people, not by rocks.
The fact is, our presidents are chosen by people who live in populous states where the population is closely divided. Why should those folks choose our presidents? I--s that what was discussed at Philadelphia in 1787? Is there a Federalist Paper which testifies to the unique wisdom and insights of the people of Florida?
--Hiram
Actually, no...
We have a case of balanced power, and often the best ideas win in time.
Things do move slowly in our country. Many of the best policies need to grow support and be passed in the majority of states before they become a federal policy / law.
Not sure why you want to give our Federal Politicians and our Urban citizens so much power?
We have a case of balanced power, and often the best ideas win in time.
We have a stalemate in which important things don't get done. At this point, one of the major political parties is unable to propose anything at all. Republicans with an incumbent president didn't offer a new platform in the last presidential election. Republican leaders refuse to offer a program for the mid terms. Except for Rick Scott who explicitly wants to raise taxes on poor people. Republican messaging at this point is nothing more than complaining about what they perceive is wrong in the world.
We have had two minority presidents. Both had crises of political legitimacy. Both were incredibly incompetent. I reallay don't know what "balanced power" means but it is increasingly clear that whatever it means, it isn't working.
--Hiram
It means significant improvement measured over decades, not days.
What exactly would want implemented ASAP by your dream "functional" government?
Obamacare reform. A tax system that is flexible enough to respond to changing economic conditions. A military whose procurement policies aren't based on politics.
--Hiram
Please elaborate on each.
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