Letter to the Editor 11-13-20

Dear editor,
I’m confused by the County and City Commissioners’ unwillingness to lead on the issue of mask-wearing. The excuses of “not wanting the government to tell people how to live” or “not legislating morality” are given by those unable to stand up to those elements in our society that have no regard for the health and safety of our community. I’m sure I’ll trigger a few snowflakes here but I can’t remain quiet when I see so many suffering from what I’ll simply refer to as “Fox News Addiction.” Now it’s at epidemic proportions with the media/marketing/megachurch PACs (MMMP for now) deploying potent social media algorithms in service to their missions, and with the obvious ill effects that it’s having on human civilization.
If we follow commissioners’ logic, should we not repeal seatbelt laws? How about taking down all stoplights and roadsigns? Drive as fast and as carelessly as you like. Get as drunk as you can and then drive. Is your liberty not infringed by enforceable laws governing these things? Are you suggesting we defund the police? Did you not accuse Democrats of that very thing and label them socialists? It takes a little socialism to have a civilized society. Good luck getting your grain to market without roads and bridges. We all get to enjoy our individual liberties so long as that does not infringe upon the liberty of all others to live in good health. We each do our part and sometimes the part is specified in law, usually Public Safety Laws. "Click-it or Ticket” “Mask-up or Pay-up”. Get it?
Mask wearing was politicized by the MMMP, used as a tool to divide us. By continuing to cater to the narratives of division used by outsiders against us, you become complicit in inflicting real harm, in the real world, right here in our community. Do what’s right for the community. Protect all of those whom you were elected to serve, rather than appease a few obnoxious whiners that value their liberty over all others. For those that still feel being asked to wear a mask is a huge infraction on your liberty, I hope you can find your way out of the wilderness and back into civilized society someday. You are the real victims. I liken “Fox News Addiction" to becoming nose deaf to the stench of something putrid after living in it for too long. Blind devotion to a political party, subjected to decades-old lies perpetrated through the MMMP and amplified to extinction-level proportions with the Internet, it’s no wonder people seem to enjoy hating one another today.
I prefer to be grateful for the chance to live my life during a time that is surely a pinnacle of human existence. I pity those that cannot see or that prefer to be angry all the time at nearly half of their fellow citizens. I hope that civilization can survive the toxicity of the MMMP and all humans can learn to live the ideals of America. It is still the best idea ever concocted by humans, a bit weathered now, and since improved upon by others, but it remains the only template by which self-governed people can reduce suffering and promote prosperity for all.
Let’s try it and see, shall we?
Sabrina Scott