I completely agree with Mark Belling.
Those of us who have had it with COVID hijacking our lives (and American life) have weighed the risks and want us to return to “normal.” But the other half thinks we are nuts for “ignoring the science” and risking our lives and doing our part to keep spreading the virus.
So, we have a country, and a state, at odds with one another because we are on different timetables with different perspectives and different priorities. There is only one way to resolve these differences and that is for government to butt out and let people make decisions for themselves. One size fits all never works but it especially doesn’t work when you have a country of two sizes. Businesses that want to open at full capacity ought to be allowed to do so. Those that want to close, or limit their clientele, should be free to do that as well. If public schools want to close because of a virus that doesn’t make kids sick, that’s the prerogative of their school boards. But if private schools in the same community want to stay open because they understand the downside of not educating children is worse than the risks of COVID, they ought to be able to do that as well. That’s why the Racine case headed to the state Supreme Court is so critical. The Racine health department has issued an order closing all schools in the city (and some adjacent to the city) whether they are public or private. Wisconsin Institute For Law And Liberty (WILL) is suing. The right of the leaders of private schools to make their own decisions has to trump the rights of bureaucrats to take away those basic rights. Parents silly enough to send their kids to the mediocre (I am being generous) Racine Unified district have opted to exile them to another year of “virtual learning” in which they are going to fall even farther behind their peers. But the moms and dads who have opted to send their children to private schools shouldn’t be stuck with the decision made by leftist government officials afraid of their COVID shadows.
We all know the risks and ways to mitigate the spread of the virus. If you need to stay home, then do so. You are not harmed if I go to a restaurant with other people who are willing to accept the risk.
You caused the local libs to recoil in horror….daring to suggest individual freedom.
Excellent job! Love it when libs are horrified by basic freedom. Shows them how awful their idology is.
“You are not harmed if I go to a restaurant with other people who are willing to accept the risk.”
If you engage in reckless behavior that contributes to the spreading of COVID you risk harming others even if they do not go to the restaurant with you. People in our society do not have the ability to completely isolate themselves, so by increasing the spread of COVID you increase the risk that everyone will contract COVID, wherever they may be.
Owen and Kevin we live in a democratic society with many freedoms. As a society we can debate policies and choose or not choose to close down events and businesses during a pandemic. You are willing to accept the risks and want the freedom to keep things open. Liberals are willing to give up some liberty for a year to try and save lives.
It is great that we have a society where we are free to debate these things, however you should be honest and admit that your policy is not without risks.
Max,
Risk is for individual to decide here, not government.
Max, you take risks every day, at every second of the day.
You take a risk getting out of bed, taking a shower, eating, going to work, at work, going to a park, driving your car, taking the bus, walking down the street, going to the library, playing with your kids, having sex, playing with your pets etc.
Before the Chinese/Democrat virus, people still got sick in restaurants and died but they didn’t close them down.
Government make regulate these things to make it safer but the government does not outright ban most things.
But With the Chinese/Democrat virus, the Democrats and some Republicans have gotten drunk with power and have decided that they know best.
Interesting fact: the doctor who is making all the shut down decisions in Los Angeles County is not a medical doctor but has a PHd is social welfare, something you can get from a Cracker Jack box.
But she acts like she is a medical doctor and she is destroying lives in the process.