Our Moscow City Council recently extended their masking order until October, thus demonstrating that they do not at all understand who they have become in the story. And then, to compound their lack of self-awareness woes, they then took out an ad in the paper encouraging citizens to snitch on Anybody They Saw Out There Who Was Apparently Not Complying.
Because if anything identifies you as the good guy in the story, it is encouraging all and sundry to aspire to high and lofty office of ratfink.
Now somebody is going to rush in to ask “so why don’t you guys just comply already?” If you have been reading my lucid prose in this space over the last few months, you will have already read through reasons ample enough. So lest you get weary of any possible repetition, let me give you a new one.
The masking order is unworkable and, if I may coin a word, uncompliable in any consistent fashion. What can be done is to identify and tag certain individuals as those not complying, and for political reasons, to let another category of the non-complying go. What I mean is this: the masking order says to mask up if you cannot maintain social distancing in a public space. It also exempts from mask-wearing those with medical conditions (deafness, asthma, etc.). The first part is over-enforced (stores not letting you in at all without a mask) and yet the second part is blithely disregarded.
I wrote our mayor and city supervisor over multiple reports I received from members of our community who were unceremoniously booted from various establishments, and these were individuals with legit exemptions. So if you are deaf, you don’t get to shop for groceries. Correct that. One grocery store allows you in under the exemption if you carry a sign around with you, notifying the public about your disability.
I will let you all know if and when I hear back from the mayor or city supervisor.
If the City of Moscow doesn’t care about enforcing respect for the exemptions in their order, then the City of Moscow doesn’t respect their order any more than anybody else.
I am leaving the comments on this post open for a very particular purpose. If you have an exemption and were booted from a store here in Moscow, or if you were not allowed into a store despite being in compliance with the order, please feel free to note it here. I will remove any comments from trolls, and will try to discourage any slap fight debates.
Here in Pennsylvania the mask mandate order expressly contains a health exception, including mental health, and expressly states that you do not need to offer any proof of your health exception. Moreover, the medical marijuana law in this state allows prescriptions for anxiety. Accordingly, I would argue that if you have any anxiety about wearing a mask, you qualify for a mental health exemption to the mandate. As a practical matter, most of the businesses around here post “masks required” signs (probably for liability reasons) but don’t enforce the mandate. Some signs expressly state that if you are not wearing… Read more »
Mr. McDowell, Your post struck a harmonic with what I was thinking regarding the health exceptions, specifically regarding the privacy protections of HIPAA. In negotiating the rules and provisions of said law, it seems apparent that any “Exceptions to the HIPAA Privacy Policy” do not include requiring the individual to disclose their private health information. The restrictions and exceptions are those enacted upon health care and/or government entities, and not upon the individual. Information held by those entities may be released or disseminated for what are called “Public Interest and Benefit Activities”. Nonetheless, none of these require the individual/patient to… Read more »
West Virginia has a mask mandate requiring all to wear masks. We also have a law banning wearing masks in public that carries $500 fine a up to a year in prison. It’s a law to protect citizens from masked bandits.
I asked my representative if I should obey the mandate and disobey the law, or disobey the law to obey the mandate and what gaurentee I had I wouldn’t be arrested or prosected for breaking the law.
I’m still waiting for an answer. I’m sure he’s just been too busy to reply.
The consequent is a complete non-sequitur. First, it doesn’t follow that “if the city of Moscow doesn’t care to enforce exemptions than they don’t care about the order more than anyone else.” It might be the case that they don’t care to enforce exemptions, precisely because they care (more than anyone else) to enforce the order for the sake of its telos or goal: keeping people safe. In other words, it’s more important to enforce the order in general than to enforce the exemptions relative to public safety. Moreover, it’s simply irresponsible to say “because there are these inconsistencies in… Read more »
The famous non-sequitur strikes again! It is all just fun and non-sequitur until you are the one being castigated for not masking. When someone is yelling at you “GET OUT! GET OUT! YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MASK! IT’S THE LAW!” the situation becomes quite clear. This is not about helping others to be safe from the virus, it is about control. Mayor Lambert and our city counsel gave the boot to public safety in our last Council Meeting. It is about control and not public safety. Mayor Lambert told us that Dr Fauci never said that healthy individuals shouldn’t… Read more »
Romans 13.
Romans 13.
Romans 13.
Romans 13.
Romans 13.
Are you speaking about the Romans 13 that lets us know that we are to do what is right?
Or are you talking about the Romans 13 that demands that since the Supreme Court decided it’s ok to murder babies that we should fall in line and help murder babies?
Yes.
Well, it’s great you can discern their rationale. It doesn’t violate any Constitutional or natural right, so time for you to mask up. I mean they could make every speed limit in the state to 10 mph because they’re control freaks. Time for you to wear a mask.
How does it not violate my natural right to choose what I wear? How well I can breathe? It is an action I do not want to take–I do not want to hide my face, for I believe I have nothing to hide; I am not sick. Think about it. But I wear one because I am weak and want to not cause offense. That doesn’t mean people who don’t mask cause me offense. I respect them, and respect those who do. But forcing me to when I don’t want to feels like a violation. Peace.
“Well, it’s great you can discern their rationale.” Geoff The Council told us their rationale, so there is no great discernment required. Wearing masks does violate both my US and Idaho Constitutional rights and my natural rights to just live quietly and peacefully. The Idaho Stay At Home Order violates not only our Constitution, but the very definitions of what is required for quarantine, or isolation and our health laws. The mask mandate is only the color of law, not actual, enforceable law. It is the same as Mayor Lambert’s order, which clearly states social distance or wear a mask… Read more »
It’s just a CYA thing. No one wants a lawsuit because somehow it got tied back to their business not having a mask policy when everyone else did. Whether masks work or not isn’t even a consideration.
I think it’s more than just CYA for some chains and merchants, some are enthusiastic enablers.
Here in saner South Dakota we have retained freedoms that have been snatched in other states with a more Communist bent. We have a low infection rate and low death rate, and we are enjoying life in a more free way than you poor Moscovites (is that correct?; of course, we don’t have the mountains that Idaho has, but there are trade-offs in everything. It sounds like the city council and mayor of your fair city (I have visited several times having a relative living there) are following the the footsteps of the city’s namesake. Thanks and keep fighting the… Read more »
Dear Pastor Doug, I am from a metropolitan area, so I want to acknowledge that the situation where I am may be different. I am also against the tendency to treat the pandemic identically nationwide regardless of the local circumstances. I am at the same time concerned about the response many conservatives have had to mask wearing. Indeed, many elected officials and media types beclowned themselves nationally when they decried those who protested the mandatory mask orders, but then turned around to praise thousands upon thousands of protesters when the issue was one they agreed with at a time when… Read more »
“but that in the meantime wearing a mask at least does no harm.”
That is not settled science.
I had a several hours-long surgery and somehow all the doctors and nurses came out alive.
I’m glad everyone (including you) came out of your hours long surgery alive. That’s great news!
But what do you know about the doctors and nurses and their health? This is anecdotal evidence, and isn’t helpful to the overall discussion.
David, Two things: Politicization is unavoidable for human beings; the citizens (polis) who constitute the culture and community are destined to be polarized since the fall established seminal enmity. War is politics by other means; politics is war without the bullets. As the inheritance of the seed of the woman, we will always receive the enmity of the seed of the serpent. (The noetic effects include stupidity and deceit.) It is not wise nor is it a requirement of God for the sons of light to take it on the chin. (The other cheek is for the backhand of an… Read more »
Face masks could increase risk of infection
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-news-face-masks-increase-risk-infection-doctor-jenny-harries-a9396811.html?fbclid=IwAR03uX-CQcHlKakxqKcEggUvsHLuX6qbyqDcRgb8XnC9hs0HcdDplU0ayFE
But wait, if you buy now, you also get…
https://twitter.com/AlexBerenson/status/1291844622550016000?s=20
I wear a mask to protect you. Not that I’m sick or have anything that would harm you, heavens, I’d feel terrible if I did! But it’s to protect you from thinking I don’t love you and want you to die. See? It’s really all about me, not you, but I say it’s all about you because I watch CNN and MSNBC and Faw-yuuuuu-chi and well, all the experts.
The masking mandates in southern California are serious business, with most stores posting their mask guard at the entrance to enforce the measure. They make it more congenial by giving him/her a bottle of hand sanitizer to give you a voluntary squirt on the way in or out. I downloaded to my phone the mask ”guidance” document by the California Dept. of Health, the bible businesses are following, with the ”Exemption” paragraph highlighted. Although I qualify by virtue of diabetes, heart, and asthma, I will dutifully wear a mask, only over my mouth, as a compromise rather than face the… Read more »
My wife said she just walks boldly wherever she needs without her mask. Apparently when your look says “don’t mess w me, I’m a mom of 5, you will lose”…. people pick a new target to go after!
Praise Jesus for your wife! Maybe she will, without her direct knowledge of course, spread the virus to a host of libtards and thus help rid America of the real enemies of freedom.
Ouch! I thought we were friends, Liam.
WBL,
I’m the friendliest friend any friend could have. We’re cool.
Are you friends with Liam or one of the 26 other aliases he’s used on here?
You rather enjoy being a bully, don’t you JP?
26 aliases?
Please.
You remind me of that fellow in Luke 18:11.
Sensitive little thing, aren’t you? And you and Liam call people “babies” for not wearing masks? Babies need safe spaces and multiple pronouns. .
WBL,
Don’t worry about JP. He’s harmless and good for a chuckle. Think of him as the Barney Fife of Blab & Moblab.
From a guy (or maybe girl) who impugns false motives and outright lies more than anyone I’ve seen online, I’ll take that projection as a compliment.
As I contemplate how to respond to all this, I think of two verses… The Only Two Bible verse that deal directly with face coverings. (that I know of) Le 13:45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. The content of the Leviticus passage shows us that FIRST there is a Test of the sick person then After the examination the sick and Only the Sick are to be quarantined with a face covering. 2Co… Read more »
Hank,
That there’s some mighty fine eisegesis.
I managed to make it into the store with the “Medically Exempt” signs without a mask or the sign. I was told “Good luck” by the mask guard, but then received no comments from anyone inside.
However I was told that I would not be allowed inside a certain bank to open an account under any circumstance without a mask, so… yeah. Needless to say, they obviously do not want my business enough.
(I do not have a legitimate exemption)
I was in downtown aspen last week and a nice cop came up to my wife and handed her a mask to put on. She did. It was a nice one. Btw, if you have a drink in your hand, you’re ok and don’t need the mask. So just carry around Starbucks. Or hold glasses of wine all service on Sunday and you’ll be ok. I had my bandanna on. This might be TMI but I got a painful staph infection on the tip of my nose, I think, from never washing my red bandanna. Then it got in my… Read more »
Thanks for the Apple plug.
They need it.
Perhaps instead of hanging a sign around their neck those with disabilities, like deafness or asthma, could sew a distinct piece of cloth to their left sleeve or collar so the general public could identify them.🙄
Yeah, or just put a decal on their mask, duh!
When a local restaurant insisted we had to wear masks to walk to the booth only 100 ft away, we informed them that the mandate says we only need to wear a mask if we can’t maintain six feet away. We only had one n m ask between us so I suggested I go sit down and then sling shot my mask across the room for my husband to use. No go. Then my husband suggested he could cover his face with his tshirt. Not an option. They finally just handed us a paper mask. We would have walked out… Read more »
Ms. Olsson,
Your concern for others’ health is such a wonderful example of Christ-like love. You should be proud, but of course you’re not, since pride is a deadly sin.
Go in peace and be filled.
I have been able to successfully shop without a mask so far. I have asthma and can legitimately claim an exemption with store employees. (The masks absolutely cause me to have coughing, sore throat and even laryngitis). Recently though, I tried to get into costco and had to have a discussion with the (agitated from multiple customer encounters) manager about the new mandate from the governor that disallows any exemptions. Despite the clear descrimination against folk with medical issues the mask requirements now preclude any uncovered shopping. I am at the point now where I feel we need to DO… Read more »
Is there no mechanism for challenging unreasonable govt impositions on this issue in the courts? This has been done successfully in Germany more than once.
I note too that the masking order has been extended to October. In Europe the month of October is always followed by November. May I ask whether that is also the case in the States? …
Ken, “Is there no mechanism for challenging unreasonable govt impositions on this issue in the courts?” Yes, there is, and it is the road least frequently used, because it requires an expensive vehicle and there are frequent toll booths. It is called employing a highly skilled, experienced and ethical law firm with a deep bench, to petition the government for a redress of grievances. The right to petition is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and was incorporated to its current scope, over all state and federal courts and legislatures, and the executive branches of the… Read more »
I was outside at my public university and a man came up (I guess a university official) and made me put on my mask. The rule yesterday on campus was no masks necessary outdoors if you can maintain 6 feet distance from others (I was alone). Today it had been changed by a sign on a field that masks were required for any activity in the area. If the rules keep changing each day, it seems kind of arbitrary. How do I spread a virus in the middle of an empty courtyard (besides the man who approached me just to… Read more »
I work with Alzheimer and dementia residents. Put another way, if I get a cold I become death, destroyer of worlds. As a result, I refuse to wear a mask outside of work as any germs I exhale end up on the mask that I *do* wear at work, and God help 35 immunocompromised octegenatians if my nose ever itches.
Jesse,
Are you saying that you have access to only one mask? Your work does not supply you with a new mask if you need one? You can’t purchase masks to wear outside of work? That doesn’t make any sense at all.
What a bunch of selfish crybabies. Boohooing about having to put on a mask in public. You’d think someone was asking you throw your body in front of a truck to save your child.
What’s worse is that you wrap yourselves in a self righteous blanket of standing against the evil government’s attempt to steal your freedoms.
Shame on you.
I think one big difference there is God has actually called husbands to be willing to lay down their lives for their children.
Jake,
Please explain to me how not wearing a mask is the equivalent of laying down your life for another.
I’m pretty sure that the verse you are referencing instructs husband to love their wives as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. However he did tell us that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. If someone won’t wear a mask in an attempt to protect someone standing next to them from contracting a potentially deadly disease, I doubt you’re going to take a bullet for them.
OK, Karen.
In Boise I took my elderly dad with dementia to see the cardiologist. They freaked out when I wouldn’t wear a mask (health reasons and it’s unhealthy period to wear a mask) and walked into the elevator and in the cardiologists waiting room. We were ushered immediately to the treatment room. I told them I needed to use the rest room. Upon exiting the hallway was blocked by the office manager and a nurse and I was told I must leave. I told them I was going to do whatever was necessary to get to my father and to call… Read more »
Well aren’t you a hero
i was in a little deli in a nearby gas station. They put up transparent screens between each table. They had a transparent screen between themselves and the customer. Very effective way to get around the six feet issue and still provide a safe eating area.
The mask mandates are such an overreach of government that I am astonished how many freedom cherishing individuals stand mute and compliant with a smile and a conciliatory mention of Romans 13. Obey the government. Paul says so! Let’s politely ignore all instances of this same Paul disobeying government fiats when they contradicted both truth and loyalty to truth. I have asthma. Type 1 diabetes. Celiac disease. Always first to get sick and always suffer the most. I am the alleged “vulnerable” that so many proudly declare they wear muzzles for. But I do NOT wear a mask. I refuse… Read more »
So… You don’t care if you infect someone and they die – or worse, they linger in a hospital consuming mega-dollars of resources we all have to pay for on credit. How very selfish of you. I’m offended too.
WBL,
Welcome to the bizarro world of Doug Wilson. They are a chronically aggrieved and angry group of gnat strainers and camel swallowers who are forever on the lookout for someone to blame for their perceived problems. Most, if not all of them, sold their birthright for a bowl of Trump porridge in 2016. No scandal in the White House or Doug World will deter them from their mission to turn the Gospel on its head.
But like a train wreck, you can’t help but watch.
Do you think about the risk you are taking on whenever you get behind the steering wheel of your car? Do you not care that you may hit someone….pedestrian, motorcyclist, bicyclist? No? How very selfish of you.
I don’t even own a car, much less drive one. Cars are evil, second only to guns. Oh, and people who don’t wear a mask of course but that goes without saying.
Mr. Vessel,
Of course responsible adults and teenagers consider the risks of operating a motor vehicle and do their best to mitigate those risks. Otherwise, they will bear the burdens of their reckless or accidental actions, ESPECIALLY if they cause the death of person due to their prideful and willful behavior.
Thank you for actually making a strong argument for wearing masks.
Doug Wilson is offering a bandana with his logo on it for only $14! I‘m sure all profits will go directly to his favorite charity.
Unless their name happens to be Andrew “Angel of Death” Cuomo, Gretchen “I Hate Hydroxychloroquine” Whitmer, Phil “Above My Pay Grade” Murphy, Tom “The Virus Is Making the Rules” Wolf (along with the mentally-ill Richard “Nothing but the best for you, Mom!” Levine), or Gavin “Come to my winery, it’s open!” Newsom, in which case, all blame rests with grieving family members, nursing home staff, and the victims.
Rank has its privileges.
TCFKAf,
That was one of laziest dodges ever. You really are a true disciple of DW. Your willful obtuseness is on full display.
Oh, so you DON’T believe that people should bear the burdens of their reckless actions, ESPECIALLY if they cause the death of person due to their prideful and willful behavior.
Why didn’t you say so the first time? Could’ve saved yourself some embarrassment there, champ.
TCFKAf,
Try to stay focused. Hate to see DW bench you.
Last week I was asked to leave the bank after explaining that I had a medical condition and couldn’t wear one. The coworker I went with and I were the only two in the bank, and I was still asked to leave.
Reading this, it’s clear that the recent mask mandate extension by the Moscow City Council has sparked controversy. Encouraging citizens to report non-compliance only adds to the tension. The mask mandate is inconsistent, often ignoring exemptions for medical conditions. This results in unfair treatment of individuals with legitimate exemptions. The council’s approach seems more about political gain than public health, leading to distrust and frustration in the community.