Mask it or casket

Bill Thompson’s commentary (July 27) supported the businesses that choose to mandate masks while praising Georgia Gov. Kemp for preventing local officials from imposing mask mandates. Mr. Thompson questioned the established science behind the efficacy of masks by citing the Northeast states with mandatory mask orders, forgetting to mention that their new cases continue to increase at a slower rate than most of the nation. And yes, a sparsely populated state like South Dakota is going to have fewer cases with or without a mask order.

Former Vice President Joe Biden said in a CNN interview, “I would do everything possible to make it required that people had to wear masks in public.” It is not clear if this would be accomplished with an executive order, which Mr. Thompson characterized as “Barack Obama’s weapon of choice.” Mr. Thompson omitted that President Obama’s 276 executive orders were 15 fewer than George W. Bush’s. Trump has signed 172 executive orders so far and he’s on track to have signed 393 executive orders if he continues at the same rate for two full terms. Whose weapon of choice, Mr. Thompson?

The Supreme Court ruled in 1905 that, “… a community has the right to protect itself against an epidemic of disease which threatens the safety of its members.” Children are vaccinated in order to attend school. Governments have quarantined populations in the past and they are shutting down businesses now. Wouldn’t it make more sense to mandate masks so that the U.S. can be open for business and education like most of the other countries in the world which do require masks?

We do not dispute seat belt laws, agreeing to “Click it or ticket.” How about, “Mask it or casket.”

Daniel Lack
Ocala