whatever one believes about mask efficacy, i think that we should all be applauding @GovKemp here

this is a defense of liberty and individual rights

proving that wearing a helmet in the shower saves lives and claiming the right to force you to wear one are very different things

if town and cities and counties seek to wield a coercive power that they do not and should not posses, what could be a higher duty from a governor than to protect the people of their state from such unjust encroachment into self-determination?

it's easy to ignore such tactics when one happens to agree with them and was going to do it anyway, but imagine this power, grabbed by your town, to make you do something you oppose.

the phrase "my body my choice" comes to mind...

(and yes, i fully agree that it is)

this all comes down to @Coyoteblog's law:

"before granting any power to government, imagine it wielded by the politician you hate most. because one day, it will be."

try it.

you guys still love mask mandates?

here's another useful thought experiment:

imagine i'm president.

let's say that i can prove with reams of unassailable science that if i am allowed to control everything you eat and force you to exercise 2 hours a day, i can make your life unambiguously better.

you'll be healthier, happier, more productive, and smell like fresh raspberries.

you'll also live longer and have 70% lower medical expenses which is a vast benefit to society as a whole and will save the medicare system.

does that give me the right to force you do do it?

when i demand this of you against your will, how will you say no?

will you accept that it's your "social duty" to flatten the medicare cost curve?

are you OK never eating another french fry or dessert and having missing crossfit result in jail time (at hard cardio)?

or might you suddenly want your rights and the liberty of self-determination.

and if you are not willing to submit to my grand scale social plan, then by what right do you presume to force others to submit to yours?

it's an important question.

perhaps give that some thought before cheerleading for the next mandate you happen to agree with.

no power granted to government is ever only used once or by only one faction.

pushing others onto a slippery slope will put you on it with them.