(Photo: U.S. Federal Government)
I don’t know about you but I’m not willing to trust my health to some young upstart judge in Florida. It’s all clearly explained on the National Public Radio website. My health and science decisions will continue to be made based on information from — gasp! — the health and science communities (you know, radical organizations like the CDC, the NIH, the AMA, etc.). I’m not taking my cue from a judge who doesn’t understand the meaning of “sanitation” in the relevant law.
NPR also provides background information on Judge Mizelle. After reading it, I was more convinced than ever that she will not be directing my health decisions. The story notes that during her Senate confirmation process, the American Bar Association (ABA) said she was not qualified for the position because she had not been practicing law for long enough. And that’s the least of her, er, shortcomings if you’re a moderate.
Yes, I’ve dropped my guard a bit when it comes to masks. I don’t wear them outdoors or in wide-open indoor locations. But if it’s crowded or I’m concerned for any reason, I’ve always got a mask with me. It’s worth noting that at all my doctors’ offices, masks are still required and worn by everyone. (I’m looking forward to one day actually seeing and exchanging smiles with my “new” ophthalmologist of two years.)
Oh, and those masks on planes and other public transportation? You’d better believe I’ll be wearing one. Even if I’m the only one. Because I don’t get my medical advice from lawyers any more than I get my legal advice from doctors.
Postscript:
I had to dig around a bit to find out how this judge happened to be ruling on a national mask mandate. It seems the “Health Freedom Defense Fund, a group that opposes public health mandates, and two individuals who argued that wearing masks while flying exacerbated their anxiety and panic attacks first filed the lawsuit against the Biden administration in July 2021.”
Banner photo: Ethan Weiss/Twitter via CNN
I’m so with you on this and the public health officials who know what they’re doing
Absolutely. The whole business about masks/no-masks is a symptom of the rampant libertarianism in the country these days; yet government, it seems to me, MUST be able to declare what’s best for the nation’s health overall, and the legitimacy of its doing so needs broad acceptance. I remember smallpox vaccine and polio shots in school – nobody was objecting then.
Hi, Jayhawk23. Sorry your comments got hung up in some sort of WP glitch.
there is a reason for public health
Yep. And without it a lot of those anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers wouldn’t be around to complain. Sadly, because of them and their selfish self-centeredness, a lot of other people aren’t around anymore.
That was because no one realised back then they had been fooled by the propaganda. Big pharma very good at fooling people with advertising. Money talks.
And Big Pharma has a ton of money. Don’t listen to them when they are busy promoting their latest drugs. Listen to the science and to your doctor.
If you read how she reached her decision … so twisted. Sounded a lot like the thinking of the man who appointed her.
yes, I followed up on it and they are closely aligned on many things
He wouldn’t have appointed anyone who didn’t march to his drum. If he could stack every court in the land, he would. Of course, he’s already stacked the top court.
yes
Sadly many public health officials are in bed with big pharma. People will do anything for money.
True
I don’t know how much of that is true — that many public health officials are in bed with Big Pharma. But no doubt some are. It’s the lawmakers in bed with Big Pharma that I really hate.
Yes, a very fair comment. To misquote the phrase “There are liars, damn liars and there are lawyers”.
Fascinatingly lawmakers is anagram of law masker! Do you think someone is making lots of money out of masks? Is it the lawmakers?
I understand lobbyists have a lot of clout. And money of course, which always talks to the unscrupulous.
Absolutely right. Libertarianism is the order of the day but it seems to me the government must be able to dictate the best measures on health issues for all, and the people must recognize and adhere to its authority to do so. I recall smallpox vaccinations and polio shots in school (to name just two) and nobody ever objected to those.
Yep, I remember both of those vaccines and was happy to get them. I wonder how modern day objectors feel about the usual vaccine regimen for their kids. And why they think this is any different.
A lot of modern day objectors are consistent and won’t touch vaccines. Others just observe that in fact the whole vaccines exercise in in fact a big clinical trial. You have to dig a bit to find that out though.
In the UK my brother in law and his wife have been part of the trial officially. Others have taken part without realising it.
In a way it is a big clinical trial in that vaccine manufacturers and health officials all track and report usage, side effects, etc. But it’s not planned like a true trial, with blinds, controls, placebos, etc.
Well said. And therein lies the problem.
It’s important to study and analyze all those stats, whether they are part of a formal trial or not. Usually the official trials precede the release of any new drugs, whereas the stat tracking comes afterward. Retrospective studies are done, side effects are tracked, etc. It’s important to know if, when, how any problems develop. The trials can’t anticipate or detect everything that might become apparent in the public at large.
I totally agree, you covered it very well!
NPR covered it very well. I’m just an old fart who will continue to disagree vehemently with the anti-maskers, anti-vaxxers, and others like them.
I’m with you 100%, I got vaccinated and boosted at the earliest opportunity ans still have masks stashed in every car.
And good news from Jayhawk23 — “The whole business about masks/no-masks is a symptom of the rampant libertarianism in the country these days.”
I failed to mention I’m double boosted. And anticipate maybe a third in the fall, depending on what the health experts say.
I’ve got no quarrel with libertarians (present company included!) but I do think national government has a place, and fighting an epidemic that affects all of us is one of them. Sometimes personal or local decisions are not broad enough to get the job done. And people need to recognize that.
I’ll still be wearing a mask on an airplane, even if I get some hostile looks.
I will too, and I will resent the hostile looks. My wearing a mask doesn’t hurt anyone else in any way. It is I who may be shooting hostile looks at the unmasked.
I’m right with you. I’m also not ready to fly (although several “careful” friends have done it without issues). Trump is the gift that keeps on giving, right? Sort of like herpes.
I haven’t been on a plane since 2003. And hope I never have to again. Don’t think I could manage the long lines and don’t want to try. As for our recent ex-president, he can take a long walk off a short pier.
“Hyper-individualism” anti-mask and vaxxers, and often, sure as certain textualist Federal judges, keen to find language to negate. Politics now totally negative. Not what one’s for, but what you’re against is the identifier.
How not to progress: Devote all your effort to blocking the other guy’s effort. Let’s just cancel Congress and stop paying the residents for doing nothing. The states can make better use of the money.
An unqualified-for-President appointed judge deemed unqualified by the ABA. Tells you all you need to know about what’s happening in this country!
I wish I could disagree with you.
It is a colossal mistake made by a colossally ill-equipped, unqualified jackass. continue…
LOL. Yep, that about sums it up.