Gov. Tim Walz has issued an executive order mandating mask use for indoor public spaces.A few thoughts:
The mandate will take effect early Saturday morning, and requires Minnesotans to wear masks in public indoor gathering areas like stores and restaurants, as well as while using public transportation.
Exemptions are in place for people with medical or mental health conditions that make it "unreasonable for the individual to maintain a face covering."
Children under the age of five are also exempt from the order, though masks are still encouraged for children between the ages of two and five. The order states that "those who are under two years old should never wear a face covering due to the risk of suffocation."
- The whole thing is unreasonable. But you knew that.
- We hear incessantly that the "science" says wearing a mask works. But we don't know, really. We're still in the middle of this experience and most of what's proffered as evidence are really assertions. I suspect there are scientists galore who are actually studying these mandates and we'll eventually get the truth about mask efficacy. But we don't have it yet.
- I don't believe mask mandates are about thought control or whatnot, but I do know the news media are still awfully good at thought control. People are scared to death of COVID and while certain populations have reason to be cautious, most people who actually encounter the virus will not be at serious risk. Wearing a mask will make no real difference either way.
- I struggle with wearing a mask myself, but I doubt my discomfort would constitute a condition that would exempt me from the order. In my mask-wearing experience thus far, my glasses are constantly fogged and I become quite conscious of my breathing, which causes me a significant amount of anxiety. I don't know how my discomfort benefits others, but my social media feed is full of people who believe it does. And you cannot convince them otherwise. And, for that matter, complaining reveals your selfishness.
- You will note, as with all Walz depredations, there is no end date or sunset provision. Walz will require you to modify your behavior for as long as he chooses, whether his requirements are necessary or proper, and he does not need to provide you with a rationale. While I don't imagine he will mandate all Minnesotans wear a ball gag by October, you can't necessarily rule that out.
- I have mentioned it before, but it's worth saying again. When we finally get past all this, the real damage will be to our ability to be neighbors. Fear is corrosive as hell and the notion that your fear justifies the use of force against your neighbors to assuage your fear is poison, flat out. And any mandate is force.
By the way, if the masks don't work, this may be next:
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| It's for your own good, and we've heard quite enough from you anyway |
3 comments:
The science is fluid, the way science should be, but this creates its own issues. Michael Osterholm has been cited as a source by people on both sides of mask issue (and vilified as well). Some of the criticism is from other science-types who should know better, based on out-of-context comments by Osterholm. He recently just shared his position in detail, laying out all the nuances in black and white (and nuances hate black and white).
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/07/commentary-my-views-cloth-face-coverings-public-preventing-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR2i9t-wGDA7YUmAnVrGjOAzPfiFbfxZdMCTV-zcGYPUZH1JfJ-UPXht2ZM
Essentially, cloth masks have some benefit, but it is small, and any mask must be properly fitted and used to have any benefit at all (which few are). Osterholm does wear one as needed in public and isn't opposed, per se, but his biggest concern is that people will think they are "safe" wearing a mask and will ignore other much more important and effective preventive measures such as social distancing.
I guess you just can't do kakuki without a mask.
Essentially, cloth masks have some benefit, but it is small, and any mask must be properly fitted and used to have any benefit at all (which few are). Osterholm does wear one as needed in public and isn't opposed, per se, but his biggest concern is that people will think they are "safe" wearing a mask and will ignore other much more important and effective preventive measures such as social distancing.
Yes. I suspect we'll have better data about the extent of the small benefit soon. Is is worth forcing everyone to mask up? Stay tuned.
I guess you just can't do kakuki without a mask.
Brilliant. That's why they pay you the big bucks, Crankbait.
I find it paradoxical. We got by for months without a mask mandate, and MN deaths are down about 90%. NOW, we will have a mask mandate, and what will that likely accomplish that hasn't already been accomplished?
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