The Boundaries of Freedom
 

A discussion on morals: Is it your neighbor's responsibility to keep you safe/healthy?

If so, how far are we willing to infringe on others' rights/freedoms to keep others safe?

Is it okay to destroy people's businesses by forcing their extended closure to "protect" others' health?

Is it okay to forcefully remove people from public transportation for not wearing masks?

In Laredo, Texas... it's a $1,000 fine if you go out in public without a mask. The mask requirement can be a cloth draping... i.e., it is not for the wearer's safety, it is for others' safety. Do you agree with this? If so, why? If not, why not?

Have we considered the effects of our actions on our health care workers? Did they sign up for a worldwide global deadly pandemic threatening not only their job, but their life? How about going to work with little to no PPE and "hoping" they stay safe? Did they sign up for this? How might your actions impact their life? Is it okay to make choices and then expect others to "fix" (health care workers) them?

One more question to be added regarding morality: what is more important... one’s fellow man or the almighty dollar?

Interesting, and hitting upon an important point! Bravo.

One man's health (in today's world) is being balanced upon another man's economic well-being, and in some cases... lest we forget... his very SURVIVAL.

Did anyone miss the 4-mile auto backup for (FREE) food assistance in San Antonio.

I believe it's important to remember that a HUGE number or of US citizens are living pay check to pay check, and can't easily absorb 8+ weeks without income. For many, this goes incredibly far beyond an inconvenience.

As a child, I was taught by both my grandmother and my mother to “mind your business”. I think that applies to reporting people these days. Unless they’re pointing a gun in my direction, their actions and consequences are on their head.

I think it was ridiculous to shut down a country for this length of time. Be cautious yes, but live our lives.

As for the people, not dollars mindset .... well we need both. What good is being alive if you cannot take care of your family and pay bills. Eventually money and food will run out and anarchy will begin. I do not wish to live in the United States of Venezuela.

What good is life without (fill in the blank)?

Pretty good. With life you have options...………………….I VOTE FOR LIFE. Yes, I have thought about it again...yes I do.

I agree with gracie.

Therefore, our combined position is unassailable.

According to the statistics on the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 web site, currently the US has 722,000+ cases of COVID-19 and 33,900 deaths. That is with most of the country "shut down" for the past 3 to 5 weeks, depending on where one lives.

What if the governors had not placed any temporary restrictions on businesses, schools, houses of worship, entertainment venues, etc. since mid-March? Where would the number of cases and deaths be now? 10% higher, 20% higher, 30% higher?

Not enough people were "cautious" (i.e, the spring breakers partying on the beaches of Florida in March, people getting too close to one another on Chicago's lakefront a couple of weeks ago).

Until there is a vaccine developed, and by most reports I have heard that is at least 12 months away, "normal" is going to be different for a while.

Several years ago at my former job, I voiced my unhappiness to my former manager about a two week trip I was going to have to make to the company's headquarters in Houston. My manager's reply was "Laura, you're just going to have to suck it up and make the trip."

So as much as I want for things to return to normal tomorrow or next week, I know that's not going to happen; I am "sucking it up" for now.

I am grateful I have a job and an employer that has the technological capabilities to enable its office employees to work from home the past 5 weeks.

The sooner the numbers of new cases start declining, the sooner life can start to return to "normal", however you define normal life for yourself.

Some people's narrow view reminds me of the old cigarette smokers logic " it's my body and my right" . No, not when your carelessness can I'll affect me. Grow up, buckle down and ride it out Buttercup

My Humble Opinion
 

I understand the increasing protests and frustrations of people. Some Governors have clearly taken orders to a level of arbitrary and illogical! It is important to remember mental and economic health is important too. When people are losing their savings, or worse, their ability to pay for rent and food, they will rebel.
We have to move quickly toward a more "moderate normal", but this places responsibilities on all of us. We will need to continue physical distancing and, perhaps, wearing masks for many months. But, that does not mean we cannot return the economy to a more active state. Work rules will have to be revised we will have to change our expectations and lifestyles to a degree.
I have a friend who raises 24,000 hogs per year. He delivers to a packer who has had no virus problems. They distance workers, have employee wear masks, and place plexiglass between employees when necessary.
I abhor government rules and want them removed as quickly as possible. But, that demands more responsibilty from each of us.
Lastly, we need to demand a more responsible media that reports well-researched stories without opinion. The need to fill 24 hours a day has completely destroyed journalism and filled the time with amateur opinion, sensationalism, and distortion.

I could not agree more with your assessment. I prefer to live in the good old USA. If I should happen to die from this virus, so be it. I would rather die a free man than live my life in fear or even extreme caution, not knowing what I will have to sacrifice just so that I can continue to live. To quote Julius Cesar, from my high school days, "Cowards die many times before their death, the valiant taste of death but once. It seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come".

The virus has killed more than 1,800 Americans almost every day since April 7, and the official toll may be an undercount.

By comparison, heart disease typically kills 1,774 Americans a day, and cancer kills 1,641.

The virus in now spreading to the suburbs and rural areas.

It's my neighbors responsibility to stay in their lane driving their car on the other side of the road with exceptions of when it is safe to pass.

Perhaps the real issue is not liberty or freedom, they are very different. The issue may be ”responsibility” and justice.

You can choose to act responsibly and above all remember the word is justice. Most think the word is just us.

If this does not wake up America to the need for universal health care then I don’t know what will.

If everybody has good universal health care ( single payer) the economy will be a lot stronger and everyone will win even the medical community.

Freedom and Indepenance
 

I value Independence as well as Freedom. These are two different concepts. So before I get involved with my neighbor’s life I ask myself would I want someone in my life the same way? If the answer is “No” I let it be and move on

Wow!