Beware of restrictions without legislation
No one can cancel nor diminish the deep-seated desire that people have for freedom.
Freedom is innate within every human from the time of creation. The desire to live as we believe we should be allowed to live is what led to the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War II.
Government’s role is to protect the people, not run their lives. There is now great concern among not only members of the Republican Party but independents and Democrats.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 dictates that medical records be kept private. “HIPAA,” as it is called, is a federal law that requires the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the HIPAA Privacy Rule to implement the requirements of HIPAA. The HIPAA Security Rule protects a subset of information covered by the Privacy Rule.
The purpose of the U.S. Constitution is to restrict government, not enhance it.
The government cannot deny its citizens the right to work and travel. On a personal note, I am vaccinated. The current mandates, such as requirements to be vaccinated and/tested for work or school, limiting the number of people in social gatherings and others, are restrictions without legislation.
A governor or a mayor cannot continually exclude elected legislators from the decision-making process regarding health issues for work and travel. Duly-elected legislators (both House and Senate) are the voice of the people. Our U.S. Constitution says people govern themselves through duly-elected legislative government, not by one man’s edict.
Governor Ige and Mayor Kawakami, in my opinion, are on a quest for power over people who they consider to be their subjects, and act as if they know what’s best for our county and state.
There are no studies that scientifically conclude masks prevent infection from COVID. Mandated, government-required vaccinations (shots) are a “one-trick pony,” with no other solutions permitted.
Government presently ignores that those who have had COVID acquire antibodies which help prevent future infection. Optional, alternative treatments have proven to be successful therapeutics in fighting COVID if the infected are treated quickly enough.
We now live in fear, not reality, about the true risks of COVID.
The vaccinated are contracting the omicron variant right along with the unvaccinated.
The scientific goal posts that will release us from the undue “new normal,” allowing us to work, travel, live our lives and conduct business, continue to change monthly, weekly and sometimes daily.
People are tired of wearing masks. If people choose to wear masks, by all means they should be allowed to. And the same freedom should exist for those who choose not to wear masks. Intimidation regarding vaccinations and wearing masks should come to an end. Decisions about the risks we take should be our own.
If you travel to Florida or any other red state, such as Tennessee, South Dakota, Texas, Alabama, Kansas, Arkansas, etc., you’ll enjoy the freedom that “shutdown legislators enjoy,” such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) enjoyed Florida Freedom recently. Ocasio-Cortez bashes Florida because they’re not implementing draconian policies such as Hawai‘i, and yet Florida is the first place they want to flee to basically be able to enjoy life.
One-man rule and tyranny is an oppressive government suspending the voice of the people. Let the people decide through the legislative procedure, not by one-man dictatorship.
Steve Yoder, Wailua Homesteads
“There are no studies that scientifically conclude masks prevent infection from COVID.”
Correct. Endless studies about preventing the common cold and the flu have yet to prove masks prevent infection. The ongoing meme…..”If I can smell your farts, then do you think masks prevent the “deadliest pandemic” in history”……laughable.
“The vaccinated are contracting the omicron variant right along with the unvaccinated.”
Vaccination has nothing to do with contracting the “deadly” COVID variant, Omicron, or any other variant to date. Whether you have the shot or not, you can still contract the virus……spread the virus……just like the flu shot…..THE PAST 60 years! Vaccination helps prevent hospitalization and helps prevent death of COVID variants….that is all. Hopefully, the non obese, those under 60, with no other health issues, catching the variant will be the equivalent to the common cold. Stop the madness!
See this is why people that barely made it through high school shouldn’t hurt their heads interpreting data.
Cloth masks don’t stop people from catching illnesses. Guess what? That’s not what they are for. They prevent the spread of illnesses. When someone is sick, wearing a masks helps reduce spread. I know it probably blows you’re mind that there’s a difference between catching covid and spreading it.
And what, being vaccinated doesn’t magically prevent you from catching covid? With that logic police probably shouldn’t wear bullet proof vests since you can still die while wearing one. For people that like common sense so much its odd that they don’t have much.
People like to whine about freedom sound like little kids crying about bedtime. If wearing a mask is the hardest thing you have to do, maybe stop whining so much.
Steve, do you think the world is round or flat?
So sorry you have to live under this tyranny, Steve. (Wipes tear from eye . . . . You have my deepest sympathy . . . sniff, sniff.)
Wow…is this a sane voice I hear coming from the dark muck? Thank you especially for on very important statement…
The purpose of the U.S. Constitution is to restrict government, not enhance it.
Well said, Steve!!! Common sense over fear is always best. Yes, I’ve been vaccinated and I have received the booster shot. Why? It was MY CHOICE based on my health factors. I still wear a KN-95 mask, keep my hands clean, and distance. I live life. I don’t live in fear. I travel, enjoy gatherings with others in a safe manner, and just continue to enjoy life.
Real Freedom entails not taking others liberties in pursuit of your right to “be free”. Your Canadian oligarch loves petty little squabbles that distract from the truth, great letter.
Steve Yoder,
You do not have to wear a mask, just stay away from the rest of us. Don’t go out in public without a mask covering both your mouth and nose. It is bad enough that we have to put up with all the entitled tourists getting in our faces. Or you could just move to a state that does not mandate masks. Your choice.
Although I don’t agree with your conspiracy theory baloney about masks, etc, I do agree that the time for government restrictions and mandates is over. I am vaxxed and boosted but I really don’t care if anyone else chooses not to get vaxxed. We have now transitioned into the era of personal responsibility, not government mandates. It is pretty obvious that we will all be exposed to Omicron sooner rather than later. Hospitals can adapt as the need arises by adding temporary beds. I am not a fan of unvaxxed Covid patients taking up bed space but how can we legally deny them medical care? In any event, let’s move forward and get back to normal. Lift any restrictions on businesses and individuals and let them decide for themselves their own policies and protections as they see fit. If Costco wants to require masks, so be it. Don’t be an asshole and try to go in without one. If a local paint business store doesn’t require masks, so be it. Wear a mask or don’t if you go in. Time to move on. I hate to say it but these red states may have it right for once.
All of this coming from a guy who supported the most dishonest and divisive president our wonderful country has ever had to endure. Words have little meaning if not backed up by personal example.
Agreed Andy……President Biden has destroyed any and all cooperation. His divisiveness is renowned and has set cooperation back by leaps and bounds. He hasn’t seen an embellishment to the truth that he hasn’t embraced.
Thank you for this post.
Mr. Yoder-
Your arguments are convoluted. It seems you have taken a page out of the autocrat Trump’s boo, stating one falsehood after another, hoping that the dumbed down public will buy your lies.
Masks
Masks offer protection against all variants.
CDC continues to recommend wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high community transmission, regardless of vaccination status.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/omicron-variant.html
There are no studies that scientifically conclude masks prevent infection from COVID. Mandated, government-required vaccinations (shots) are a “one-trick pony,” with no other solutions permitted.
^^ Both of these statements are false. Please check your facts.
Steve – I am personally very glad you are vaccinated as am I. Frankly I think that we need guidelines from our leaders because there are a lot of people out there with zero common sense. Vaccines have been required for a very long time by schools and for travel – this is nothing new. I personally don’t have a problem wearing a mask for now to feel safe being out in public especially with the spread of the this new variant and how very contagious it is. I want to stay safe and keep others safe and that is what this is all about. Maybe you would be happier living in one of those other states that you speak you highly of?
Masks aren’t proven to be effective? Lost you there, Steve. Next time you have surgery do you want them all not to wear their masks? I have had nurses on my tours that they have experienced patients wanting a vaccination as they were put on a ventilator. Mask up and get vaccinated so you don’t have to sit in that very long line of covid tests or not go to the hospital with only 11 ventilators. Hopefully you utilize the seat belts in your vehicle, but wait that is a government imposed rule as well.
Finally! Comments on our current situation which reflect reason not paranoid fear.
“There are no studies that scientifically conclude masks prevent infection from COVID.”
The U.S. and many Countries around the world have done studies in the past two years. It’s an airborne virus generated from droplets that come from one’s mouth = not hard to figure out masks help prevent those droplets from entering the air. For ANYONE still denying that is not only naive, but also irresponsible.
“If you travel to Florida or any other red state, such as Tennessee, South Dakota, Texas, Alabama, Kansas, Arkansas, etc., you’ll enjoy the freedom that shutdown legislators enjoy, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) enjoyed Florida Freedom recently.”
-Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, West Virginia, hold 6 of the 10 highest COVID death rates (per capita) in the Nation.
-Texas and Florida have the 3rd & 4th highest positive case numbers. *They’ve also done less than half the tests that CA and NY have done (which are #1 and #2.)
-And, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tested positive 2 days ago for COVID.
“Government presently ignores that those who have had COVID acquire antibodies which help prevent future infection.”
You can toss that out the window too. There’s been plenty of studies recently that disprove this. The variants are ever changing. Immunity from one does not mean those antibodies will keep you immune from newer variants. Look it up, then quit tossing irresponsible words to garner support for your denial.
“Ocasio-Cortez bashes Florida because they’re not implementing draconian policies such as Hawai‘i”
We were the only State that continued with the indoor mask mandate. Gov. Ige has done plenty I haven’t agreed with during this pandemic. However, keeping the indoor mask mandate was one thing I’ll give him credit for. Now many other States, and Countries around the world are re-adapting their mask mandates too.
And if you feel it’s so “draconian” here, the real estate in Florida is cheap. Lots of red hats there too – you’ll fit right in!
I thought I was going to make it all the way through the comments without reading one childish remark about “if you don’t like it, move somewhere else.” This is the most childish remark. Up there with calling everyone you disagree with Hitler/Nazi. We all need to grow up.
The intersection of “freedom” and public health: imagine if servers and cooks refused to wash their hands after using the toilet; imagine if surgeons refused to wear masks because they felt it interfered with their “freedom” while probing your chest cavity; imagine your “freedom” to take your unvaccinated (measles, mumps, rubella) children to go see the neighbor’s newborn. What is too little to do, in order to protect others? What is too little to do, to pull some freight as part of society?
Masks don’t protect the person who’s wearing one. Masks protect OTHER people from the person who’s wearing one. Surgeons and O.R. nurses don’t wear masks to protect themselves from the patient. They wear masks to protect the patient against transmittable infection. Everybody wants their freedom, but with freedom comes responsibility which a lot of anti-maskers and anti-vaxers can’t step up to. Your freedom doesn’t include the right to endanger others like drunk driving or careless firearm storage, and it doesn’t include the right to endanger people’s lives with a deadly virus. You want your freedom, but you’re too lazy or afraid to take responsibility for it. Unless you’d be willing to have unprotected sex with a person you know had gonorrhea or syph, then yeah, be dumb enough not to get vaccinated either. You’re not willing to take advantage of a free vaccine, but you’re more than willing to rely on modern medicine to cure you if you get deathly sick from the virus. Freedom is not the domain of idiots.
I am triple vaxxed because I love my husband, my children, grandchildren, extended family, and co-workers, I love to travel, and I don’t want to die before my time. Lastly, if wearing a mask helps me and others stay well, I do it. Plain and simple.