Texas, Our Texas
The cliche is that the definition of insanity is do the same thing repeatedly expecting different results.
Texas is insane.
The state just went through the most costly natural disaster in its history due in large part to its “voluntary” guidelines on electric utilities. Electricity produces can not be required to upgrade their equipment…only advised to do so. That worked out great…
And now, barely a week or so later, Abbott’s end to pandemic restrictions masks last month’s blackout news | The Texas Tribune. Of course, voluntary compliance is still encouraged.
For some things, voluntary compliance makes perfect sense. If your behavior or a company’s behavior puts only you at risk or that company at risk, then by all means do as you wish. Best of luck to you.
But if your compliance or non-compliance puts others at risk, that is why we have laws. I can’t decide on my driving speed based on what I think I can handle on a given road. My company can’t decide to clean meat correctly before offering it to the public. We regulate these things because they affect others outside of the entity doing the decision making.
A person not wearing a mask is not putting themselves in too much more of a risk, but they are putting those around them at a much higher risk. That is the definition of a situation that we would, in all other circumstances, regulate.
Perhaps all will be well, vaccinations will save the day, and this will not cause too much harm. But why take the risk, especially on the mask mandate? Requiring a mask indoors in public areas is reasonable and efficient as a prevention measure for a virus that has put a large strain on hospitals and has killed or permanently harmed millions. Keeping bars and restaurants either closed or open with heavy regulations causes more harm to our collective enjoyment of life, but surely there are other things we could do for a few more months?
Best of luck, y’all. Please be kind to those around you and kind to yourself. It helps.