Masking
Dear Editor: Mask or not to mask, vax or not to vax. It’s a personal choice, even if masks are mandated. You don’t have to wear a mask if you don’t want to, but you may be limited by businesses, and institutions who have a mandate. So that business and institutions are stating that they have made the choice for their employees, students, and customers, that they will follow the science, the science they choose to follow, not the fake science or alternative facts science, the one from medical experts. They have every right to do so. Same with sports, concerts, theaters, etc.…..
So, if you want to go to these events, or places, you may be required to wear a mask or get vaccinated. Seems like there is a lot of common sense in that logic. But if you don’t want to get vaccinated or mask up, you don’t have to go to those events or institutions.
So, all you folks that choose not to wear a mask or get vaccinated, here is a little more common sense and logic that you might want to spend some time on other than masks and vacs.
Seat Belts: It wasn’t till sometime in 1966 that seat belts were required in cars but many didn’t like how uncomfortable they were, and didn’t care how much they saved lives, they just wouldn’t wear them. After 30 years of advertising how seat belts save lives, it wasn’t until 1995 that all but one state had ‘‘click-it or ticket’’ laws, where you would be fined if pulled over and not wearing a seat belt. Did you know that awful institution the CDC came out with “seat belt use is the most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries” Sound familiar? Kind of wondering how did you anti-maskers and vaxxers react when seat belts in cars were mandatory to be worn or subject to fines. Don’t recall a peep about your rights being violated.
Health Insurance: Why do we have to have car insurance or get a fine, but health insurance isn’t held to the same standard? Those who choose not to have health insurance puts the burden of their unpaid bills on those that do. Does that make sense?
Car insurance: What a rip off. It wasn’t until the year 2000 that 47 of the 50 United States made it mandatory to carry car insurance, and if you get pulled over without it, you can pay a hefty fine. On top of that, we have to pay extra for coverage involving an un-insured driver. Anybody with common sense can see that the insurance companies are doing quite well, with their actors, and sport figures, and geckos, bombarding us with commercials. Really it’s quite insulting that they can spend the money they do, on those individuals, and commercial time that they do every single day. Why not mandate that insurance companies get rid of those endorsements, those commercials, and pass the savings to you and me? Like masks and vaxes you can choose not to drive, and use the public transit system, bike, walk. Even though I think we’re all getting ripped off, I pay for the insurance as most anti-maskers and -vaxxers. I think we could all support a change in this field..
Smoking: Probably the best example of logic and common sense related to masks and vacs. In 1964 the Surgeon General concluded that smoking was a cause of lung cancer, and chronic bronchitis. In 1965 and 1969, congress adopted laws requiring the warning on packs of cigarettes, and advertising of cigarettes was not allowed. Annual reports were conducted of the consequences of smoking. “Winston tastes good like a cigarette should.” I was 5 years old and ran around the house singing that jingle, and smoking my candy cigarette while my sitter had a cigarette burning away in the ashtray. You know that no smoking signs are on airplanes still to this day? Well, you use to be able to smoke on planes, just not on take-offs or landings and you had to sit in the rear of the plane. I was on a smoking plane when I was a child. Smoking took place in office buildings, public transit, hospitals, theaters and of course bars and restaurants until just very recently. Can you believe it took over 60 years to get smoking to the place it is today? I’m not at all opposed to smoking, but one of the most irritating things about smoking was when one would light one up and leave it in an ashtray until it went out. Even when I had smoked, that drove me nuts.
So, like smoking, whereas the Surgeon General warned of the hazards of smoking, we have the CDC informing us the best way to get through this pandemic. If you’re a smoker, you can still smoke, but there are restrictions where you can. Seems logical, and smokers aren’t infringing on nonsmokers’ health, and nonsmokers aren’t infringing on smokers’ rights. But a smoker can’t smoke in an airplane anymore, or the hospital, or a public building or within 25’ of an entrance to a public building. Is that restrictive? Does that infringe on smokers’ rights? Seems to me that if you’re an anti-masker or -vaxxer or both, you’re not using your common sense or being logical on the issue of wearing a mask or getting vaccinated.
And even with the history of some of our rights and freedoms being taken away for the greater good of all, you probably still won’t be convinced, and that’s too bad. Logic and common sense.
John Bartlett, Sitka
Vote for Mosher
Dear Editor: Sitka is fortunate to have three great candidates running for Assembly this year. Thanks to Kevin Mosher, Rachel Moreno and Dave Miller for stepping forward to serve the community. We are voting for Kevin. We appreciate how much he has learned in his first term, his willingness to listen to Sitkans with a wide range of opinions, and his ability to change his mind.
Rob Allen and Robin Sherman, Sitka
