Yeah, assembly on private property must be protected. And also we should exercise common sense in how we do that given the Covid-19 epidemic.
I think the argument is stronger for masks than for seat belts. They both save lives. The difference is that seat belts are mostly for the benefit of the person who's wearing them, so there's a strong argument that decision should be left up to the individual. Admittedly though that's not entirely true because the taxpayer and other insurance policy holders often pick up the tab for the medical expenses.
With masks, you're protecting other people more than you're protecting yourself. You're less of a health risk to others when you wear one. But like you in general I don't like the government telling people what to do, unless it's necessary. For masks, the benefits to the economy and to public health outweigh the abridgment of freedom IMHO.
I'm probably a hypocrite because I am eating in restaurants, although trying to stay away from the crowded ones where you can't social distance.
Originally Posted by Tiny
Problem is, when all this started, we were told that masks really wouldn't be effective because the virus was so small that no mask could stop it. And you actually should not wear them because there weren't enough for the essential workers. Now I understand the intellectual argument that THEY are more important than the rest of us because if they are dead, who does the treating but intellectual argument aside, that would violate my right to life and liberty to protect myself. Then there was the argument that wearing a mask that didn't fit properly as most don't, made you tend to touch your face with your hands which is the number one way to surely get the virus so maybe you shouldn't wear a mask and just remember to wash your hands and don't touch your face, Yeah right, don't touch your face!
Then all of a sudden, that narrative changed which begs the question, why did it change? Because the science changed? I don't think so. I think the politics changed, how to control the narrative changed. How the experts would sound more expert changed but I don't believe the science ever did.
I am absolutely in agreement that my local grocery store, government buildings, local transportation regulated by government, Home Depot, liquor store etc. can put a sign on their door saying that if you want to enter this private property, you must wear a mask. If you feel strongly enough that you don't want to wear a mask, shop some where else which is your absolute right.
But you can be arrested and or fined for not wearing a mask outside your home on a public street? That's were I draw the line even if a good argument can be made that you are a hazard to the health of somebody walking close to you. I think THAT violates your constitutional right.
That picture seen so much on the news of hundreds of young people at a private water park that outraged so many, it was not an essential place that you had to be. It was ones choice to be there. And to tell people that no more than 10 people can go into a church, I find that outrageous but most outrageous of all, was the Gov. of Michigan telling residents that had a second home, that they may not travel to that second home.
Come on people, that's a no-brainer, right? An absolute violation of ones constitutional right and yet we let it happen.
Originally Posted by winn dixie
Originally Posted by pfunkdenver
