While I will always agree that unchecked and unlimited government overreach is a threat to our liberty, there is precedent as well as a moral obligation for it to protect its citizenry from present danger. In particular, danger from other, uncaring and self centered citizens common in a free society founded on doing what is best for ourselves as individuals. Car insurance is a good example as are seat belt laws or wearing clothing. It has been argued especially by people who love to argue, that despite the obvious protections these provide , they are government overreach. Like masks, seatbelt safety was argued and often protested and still is to a lesser degree. Confirmation bias can be so stubborn in some people that it takes the experience of being ejected from a vehicle to accept the obvious albeit too late to make use of the wisdom. Refuting the obvious and stubbornness about simply wearing a mask is fun for people who love to argue. When pressed, would they send a loved one (which may only be themselves) into a room with a Covid patient without a mask? I doubt it very much. The truth is that not even stubborn, argumentative guardians of freedom can tell if someone in a restaurant has Covid. No disrespect and in good company, Ben Franklin once argued against vaccines until he lost a son to Small Pox.

Hey, dummy....you have those freedoms BECAUSE of our government!

If it does fog your glasses, then it means that you are exhaling unfiltered air.

If I follow all that the CDC, WHO, and the government say to do, and I die from COVID, can my wife file a lawsuit against them?
If they have the authority to “require” my adhering to their desires, then they have the “responsibility” to keep me safe.
Of course they can’t do that....... so just recommend, and leave me alone.
Wearing a mask, when and where is a personal choice.

First, I think masks have become a false security, besides becoming extremely political. One CDC study shows more cases with people wearing masks than not. My opinion is if you fear COVID that much, your best option is to stay home and try not to impose unjustified regulations on others.

I love hearing from people who are so willing to give up their freedoms.
I love hearing from people who love to tell others what to do.
I love hearing from “experts” who do not know their elbow from their you know what.
I love hearing from people who will send me to jail but allow looters to walk free.
I love hearing from people who have allowed a heavily biased media take over their lives.
Go ahead hide.

Seriously???? The WHO??? Seriously????

My cloth masks are not three layers of fabric but are either one layer or two layers of fabric. All of my cloth masks and paper surgical masks do block droplets when I checked them with a water spritzer and spritzed the water onto the mask in front of a mirror. Not one droplet of water got through the cloth and my mirror stayed completely dry. I spritzed water onto the mask after it was all wet from the initial spritzing and it still did not allow any droplets to get through to the mirror. I'm happy with those results and I feel I'm doing my part to keep my aerosols and droplets from escaping my mask when I'm in public spaces.

Three layers seems like it would be too difficult to easily breathe through. I still want to enjoy life while I wear my mask.

I asked the "Google Assistant" for a comparison of 2019 total deaths vs 2020 total deaths and the current total is behind 2019. While it may exceed 2019, it appears we are on pace. Why were there no mask mandates last year? 🤔

Yes, progress in vaccine is good news, but apparently it will not be available for everyone until the end of next year. In addition, it reportedly is 90% effective, which means that one in ten people (33 million Americans) who get it will not be protected. In other words, we will be dealing with the virus for a long time, and thousands of Americans will be needlessly dying because of the obstinate and irrational refusal of some people to wear a mask in public and the failure of some of our politicians to require masks in public.

Which is the worse assault on freedom, requiring a mask or forcing people to stay home because you won’t wear one? We may find out. Here’s to hoping that your passion for freedom is consistent when lockdowns are used to keep you at home as well.

Do you look both ways before you cross the street? If so, why? Are you giving into the fear that the driver of the car is going to hit you? How paranoid of you.

Do you turn the light on when you go to the bathroom in the evening? Why? Are you afraid the spiders will crawl on your legs if you try to sit down in the dark? Or are you afraid you won't remember where the toilet paper is, and has been, for the past 20 years you've been living there?

We do a lot of things simply because it's a good idea to be cautious. Not fearful. Just cautious. Mask-wearing is one of those things. You don't have to be afraid of getting sick, to respect caution in the face of a pandemic.

Mandatory mask wearing
 

The laws of the land say ALL divers must wear seat belts or risk getting a ticket. Why then,are so many people saying that mandatory mask wearing is a violation of rights? I really do not get this mentality at all. People, get a grip and get smart! Wear the darn mask already and keep everyone safer! Just sayin........

That statement did not bother me in the least. It is very true. I don't care if anyone does not value their own life, but I do most certainly care when they endanger others' lives. It also bothers me to see anyone willfully walking around without a mask because that shows me they do not care at all about our economy. Already, there are cities that are enforcing lock downs again with the current surge of cases and deaths. Anyone who can not see ahead that when they do not do their part to contain this virus, we all suffer, the economy suffers, schools suffer, our lives as we once knew it suffers. Think like a chess player and realize where this is going if we do not all do our part. Wear a mask and keep your distance from others.

Sorry they have those issues but, they should just stay home as it will much safer for them and others too.

Couldn’t agree more with Advogado. Rather than repeat his thoughts, let me just say to those who think mask wearing doesn’t do anything ... simply Google: WHO (or CDC) recommendations on mask wearing. People are certainly entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts.

“These people are endangering not only themselves (which, frankly, doesn't particularly bother me), but they are endangering everybody else as well (which does bother me)”. ————————————————� �———


WOW! Just as you feel so strongly about wearing your mask in public, I and all the neighbors and friends I associate with feel no need or fear to wearing a mask when visiting each other or walking outside. I had COVID in April when it was at its peak. Minor symptoms and I fully recovered without complications. I know of several relatives and friends who have had it all fully recovered with most with minor symptoms. All feel fine today. If you feel that you are that immune or medically compromised then wear your mask when out or stay home. Let’s get something straight. There will never be a time that any official will order me to wear a mask in Public. When will you realize that vaccine or no vaccine this virus will be with us for some time. 98% of people who get it will recover. I and my friends are seniors and lived through it chances are you or your family will as well. Again if your that sickly wear your mask outside or stay home otherwise stop the criticism of people that don’t think like you.

It's great that you were curious enough to check, but I am not sure what you mean by "it appears we are on pace".

The CDC reports on its website: "From late January 2020 to early October 2020, the U.S. had 299,000 more deaths than during the same period in previous years." These "excess deaths" prove that there is absolutely no question that COVID-19 is killing people who would not have died anyway, but your statement could be read to imply that it is not.

As to why we didn't wear masks in 2019, the obvious answer is that, although COVID-19 started in 2019, we didn't have it here until 2020. However, wearing masks in 2019 would, indeed, have saved the lives of some people who died of respiratory illnesses. In Japan and some other Asian countries, people with a cold have traditionally worn a mask in public as a matter of courtesy to others.

I pay no attention at all to the numbers of reported cases or deaths that are spewed all over news sources. I do, however, pay very close attention to the news stories of hospitals being at or very near capacity. I pay attention to news stories, with video proof, of refrigerated trailers for dead bodies. I pay attention to news stories with video proof that cities are setting up temporary hospital beds in parking lots. I pay attention when ICU beds are either at capacity or near capacity. I pay attention to news stories that report that health care workers are extremely stressed and are exhausted. I don't pay attention to numbers of cases or deaths but what I can actually see is happening in communities. This is our America? That is frightening.

This is weird to me....Elan Musk had 4 Covid tests in one day. Same place, same nurse, same technique....2 came back positive and 2 came back negative. I have heard of this happening to other people. I read an article about a nurse who sent several tests in that had never been used on a patient.....all came back positive. My confidence in the testing is not at all high. I don't see a point in getting tested if not having symptoms. I truly believe our numbers are skewed. That being said, I am taking as many measures as possible to stay safe but still live my life, and I WILL be observing Thanksgiving!

I’m so tired of people saying “just stay home” and “the rest of us will go about our [selfish] lives”. Imagine if that attitude prevailed when the movement to stop smoking in public places due to the dangers of second hand smoke! Should people who didn’t want to get cancer from others’ smoke have simply stayed home so those who like to engage in dangerous behaviors can continue to live normally while everyone else stays home??? Geez ...

~~~

I guess you haven't see the many videos that have been posted on this forum demonstrating how effective masks are at blocking droplets and aerosols that carry this microscopic virus. Too bad for you that you are so uninformed.

So wait - if it's about forcing you to wear a mask to protect the public, it's your right, your body, your choice?

And if it's about a woman's right to deal with her own body to protect her physical, mental, and emotional health and NOT the public, it's godless?

Which is it? Is it godless, or is it my body my choice? If you're going to pin your "right" on the same right a woman has to handle her own body her own way, then it has to be one or the other. Either women are not really godless afterall, or you are.

They did that. And a store employee was shot and killed by someone who refused to wear a mask, and refused to NOT go into the store.

The days of no shirt no service were the days when people were civilized. The current world is much different.

It is that kind of attitude that necessitates the kind of mask mandate that 34 states and the District of Colombia have enacted. You do not seem to care about other people. Look at your figures: if 98% of people with COVID-19 recover, that means that potentially 6,600,000 Americans will not. Don't you think that we ought to do what we can to reduce that number? Also, remember that the fact that you had COVID-19 and recovered does not mean that you cannot get it again at some point.

And....what has your doctor told you to do?

Sure makes sense compared to the "mandatory mask law" person who wrote previously. Good by Sumter County Hello China is what they mean. How many since the revolution have fought and died for liberty, freedom only to loose it to a tyrannical and irrational set of "laws" handed down by who ? Oh, a group of commissions ? Yes, always go to the most experienced medical advice before passing "laws" on others. Personally I CHOOSE to wear a mask when out shopping and dining; some neighbors do not. That is their personal choice. I certainly do not feel they are selfish or any of the other vile names people here in the V's call anyone who chooses not to wear a mask. I for one am really tired of the trashing of people that goes on here daily, saw an incident in Publix just three days ago, it was an ugly moment for such a "friendly" hometown. No RESPECT for your neighbors because you wear a mask and they don't ? NO, there is no respect for others because "others" choose to make them villains and outcasts because of their own personal irrational fears.

No, dummy, you have those freedoms because the Constitution forbids the government from taking them away. Periodically the government tries but eventually it is brought to the court and reversed.

I cannot believe so many people here want to give up their freedom to the commissioners, governor, or president! Do not ask them to run your lives, history shows they will gladly do it but not in the way you would like.

Which is really worse?
https://pregnancylansing.com/abortion/methods/

I don't know why mask wearing had to become such a divisive issue. it's unfortunate that the current leader of the free world didn't just advocate for it forcefully. we know his supporters are devoted and they would have been more apt to do it. many lives could have been saved and he may well have won re-election.

RING...

SCSO: "Sumter County Sherriff's Office, what is your emergency?"

CB: "This is Citizens Bank, and we are being robbed!"

SCSO: "I'm sorry, but all our deputies are backed up with mask mandate calls. But, can you provide a description of the suspects, while we make our way there?"

CB: "There are 3 men with masks on."

SCSO: "Well...FINALLY someone listens!"

As long as the "mask shaming" goes the other way around, the Villages will reject science. More and more people are refusing to wear masks inside crowded buildings. Most are still wearing masks - but the % of people wearing them is reducing, and the % of them refusing to wear them is going up.

The signs on the windows still say "must wear a mask." But more people are ignoring the signs and rejecting the stores' orders. Maybe they're the people who just never evolved beyond the "no Mommy I won't brush my teeth!" phase in their lives.

But there comes a time in life, when you have to just respect the rules of other peoples' property OR accept that people will give you nasty looks (at best) and avoid you entirely (at worst).

My aunt learned this, when she died alone, without a single friend, and most family wanting nothing to do with her. Why? Because she refused to stop smoking 3 packs a day, and when stores stopped allowing people to smoke inside, she refused to shop at those stores. Friends stopped inviting her over because she refused to NOT smoke in their homes. Family stopped going to visit her at her house because the brown film covered the walls and the windows and her house reeked of stale smoke, bad enough to make even a smoker retch.

If that's what you want to do with yourself, awesome. If that's how you want to be remembered when you die, have at it. As for me, I'll wear a mask inside any building that has a sign asking me to, out of respect for the establishment. And I'll bring one with me wherever I'm invited, in case they request that I put it on before coming inside. That will be even AFTER I get a vaccine, whenever that happens to be.

Certainly Should Mandate
 

Yes the commissioners should mandate masks!

I am not naive — realistically it is not totally enforceable but even if it only influences a few more people to wear them it is an improvement. One way to make it more enforceable is to require businesses to require masks of customers. I avoid businesses where the clerks and/or a large portion of the customers are not wearing masks.

Believe the science. It is not a big deal to wear a mask!

Not the question, and not the topic. Someone is comparing abortion rights to "freedom to reject masks" and claiming that abortion rights is godless. If you can COMPARE the two - then that means mask-refusers are also godless. Regardless of which is worse.

Either they're both godless, or you can't compare them. Choose one.

Obey!!!

Right...............you started it.............

Many rights are not explicitly written in documents 244 years old. If you are that afraid, stay home and take advantage of the many options for having things delivered to you. We are slowly becoming used to totalitarian edicts from politicians and non-elected officials. This slow erosion of our independent thought is more deadly than the pandemic. Btw, if you are in a restaurant with recirculating air. removing your mask there is much more deadly than being outside. When you start dictating how I go to the restroom, you have way crossed the line. At that time, it's called anarchy and revolution time.

Wearing a mask and social distancing are not invasive to the human body. I'm a huge proponent of wearing masks indoors in public spaces but I do oppose mandatory vaccination in adults. Having said that, before I set foot on a cruise ship (we LOVE to cruise), I'm hoping proof of Covid vaccination will be mandatory. I plan to be vaccinated before ever cruising again but I don't want to be on a "sick" ship and have to deal with the consequences of that.

Here what the Chinese Method containment. Locked in you house, apartment, college dorm for 8 months and then claim zero virus numbers. Yes. It happening u tube China in focus News. Another thing I noticed none of the CCP has the virus? I find that strange Beings there are hundreds of regional leaders? Maybe they have an antidote?

It will never be contained in this country, only hope is vaccine. People will NOT stay put or apart. Another good example was the ND football game last week when crowd flooded the field at end of the game ( and why was there that large of crowd attending?) These are supposed to smart people?