anti mask anti vax mandates

i can almost understand the twisted libertarian inspired logic of governors (and trump) who refuse to mandate masks in their states.

a little harder to understand is why the red state governors actively prevent schools and businesses from requiring masks. many businesses require employees to wash their hands after using the bathroom or to wear hair nets when preparing food. isn't that tyranny?

 

Masks, OK. Mandated vaccination, NOPE!

 

I have always preferred a gentle, kind, and respectful one-on-one information campaign to convince workers and/or the general pubic to get vaccinated and wear masks, rather than mandates. I believe that if this approach had been adopted from the beginning, we'd have had higher vaccination and mask usage rates. Mandates anger people and they stop listening, and dig their heels more. I even posted a thread with recommendations on the attitude to have, in order to try to convince hesitant people to accept the vaccines. As the saying goes, one catches more flies with honey than with vinegar.

On the other hand, I do support the right of employers to set conditions for employment; not only regarding vaccines but any other, actually. Examples: hospitals mandate flu shots and Hep B shots as conditions for employment and I've never seen any uproar about that, as most candidates understand that it makes sense for the hospital to avoid the issue of employees spreading the flu to vulnerable patients or getting sick (which impacts on their availability as a workforce) with flu or Hep B (given that these transmissible diseases can be easily acquired in a hospital). Examples of non-vaccine mandates: employees in most businesses are supposed to be free of drugs of abuse and a positive drug test is considered to be grounds for dismissal, and if an employer requires a drug test and the employee refuses, the employee is summarily fired. There is a dress code. Employees can't show up to work in clothes that are too provocative and inappropriate. Hospital employees and prison wards can't get into intimate relationships with patients or inmates. Employees can't accept monetary gifts from patients. Even employees who have concealed carry permits can't bring firearms to work. And so on and so forth. These are all conditions for employment and grounds for disciplinary action and dismissal when the employee does not comply with the conditions. So, if an employer wants to include the Covid-19 vaccine in these conditions, they have a right to do it and the Courts have already sided with employers in such cases.

So, while my preference would be for no mandate, I respect the right of an employer to issue one, even if I disagree with the content of that. It's similar to saying, I respect the rights of free speech even for people with whom I don't agree. I may not agree with what they say, but I do uphold their right to say it.

Specifically in the case of healthcare organizations, though, I go a bit further. I think that if a healthcare worker doesn't believe in science and prefers to listen to conspiracy theories and anti-vaxxer junk science, that person should probably not be in healthcare, a sector of human activity that relies on science. So, I don't particularly grieve for such employees being fired, like it's been happening over the last few days, with several hospital system divulging that they've been firing employees who refuse to vaccinate.

--------

My second paragraph above used to reflect a consistent conservative belief: the right for employers to regulate their own businesses without big government interfering with them. So, a cruise line wants to require vaccination of customers... but then a governor goes and bans that??? What is conservative about it??? Conservatives also used to support the right of local entities to regulate issues under their local jurisdiction, without interference from big government... but if a school district wants to require masks, a governor then goes and bans that??? What is conservative about it???

I am 100% certain that if this had been done by the other party - say, a Democrat Party governor issued bans on private businesses and local school districts - the same people who are now supporting these bans, would be screaming bloody murder and saying that the Democrat was being tyrannical and stomping over the rights of businesses and the rights of local officials.

Here is a little secret (the best known secret around...):

Covid-19 actions and inactions by elected officials, pundits, and even the general public, are political rather than biological. Due to an unfortunate set of circumstances, something that should have been seen strictly as a public health issue - there's a dangerous virus going around; it hits people regardless of their political affiliation; so let's all, united, fight off this enemy we all have in common - has acquired severe political undertones, and very simple advice such as "the virus is airborne and dangerous, and there is a safe, free, and efficacious vaccine, and masks while not perfect do protect to some degree, so to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your friends, neighbors, and co-workers, please mask up and get vaccinated" somehow became a political hot potato. Somehow, issuing these sensible and wise recommendations, became labeled as "leftie" and being rebellious against it and in denial of the danger, became something like a pride banner for the right.

That is INCREDIBLY stupid. The virus couldn't care less if the host is a leftie or a right winger. A LOT of people have already died due to this politicizing of a virus, and we'll continue to pay a steep price for our collective stupidity.

 

The types of masks that most people wear are only 10% effective so they do very little. Every mask mandate this country has had has led to increased cases. And, no Republican governor is saying that people can't wear masks. In fact, they are saying the exact opposite. They are saying that it is up to the people if they want to wear (those 10% effective) masks or not. They are just saying that government can't force people to wear masks but anyone who wants to wear a mask can wear a mask.