There are so many reasons why I'm angry these days, and one is the absolutely reprehensible leadership vacuum around Covid. The government keeps everything legal, and then just sits back and shrugs as we attack one another for engaging in legal activities.

. @rebexxxxa addressed this SO well in @voxdotcom this week. "It’s a really unusual situation in which you are permitted to create enormous risks for others, and it’s reasonable for individuals to think the risks must be low if they’re allowed to do this.” https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2020/7/17/21325931/covid-coronavirus-social-distancing-reopening-talk-awkward

From @tesswilkry in this same article: “I actually think people who are making choices that are consistent with the rules in the jurisdiction that they are living in, that’s the fault of leadership."

The leadership prefers for us to blame one another so we're not blaming them.

. @tesswilkry also absolutely NAILED this point in @NPR the other day: "There's a little bit of shaming individuals who go and take advantage of these open places, but that's pretty confusing because if they're opening, why aren't you supposed to go to them?"

I AM NOT A SCIENTIST. I AM PRETTY DUMB. I SHOULD NOT BE IN CHARGE OF RISK ASSESSMENT.
"But what about personal liberty?" they say. "Isn't this a free country? Why should the government be allowed to tell me what to do?" So, real quick info on personal liberty:

You are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness PROVIDED THAT your exercise of those rights does not infringe upon anybody else's life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness. This is why you can legally drink yourself to death, but you can't drive drunk.

You can shoot a gun as much as you want; you just can't shoot it at me. You can starve yourself, but you cannot legally starve your child. So if the government tells us we can legally go out to eat, OF COURSE we assume this means that going out to eat won't endanger anyone else.

IN CONCLUSION:
1. I am so mad.
2. Stop blaming and shaming carefree, mask-free folks, and start holding our government accountable.
3. If you're exhausted from risk assessment, and arguing risk levels with others, that's totally fair to feel, because THIS SHOULD NOT BE OUR JOB.