The yammering from anti-face-mask loons who say the government has “no right” to force them to protect themselves and others from the pandemic is driving me just this side of batty.

You’ve heard ‘em at Donald Trump rallies, telling the media that government mask-wearing mandates infringe on their liberties. They have the right to go mask-free. It’s a civil liberties issue with them, or so they say.

Let’s take this idiocy a step or two further, shall we?

If we buy into that nonsense, then the government shouldn’t require motorcycle riders to wear helmets; they shouldn’t require us to buckle up while driving a motor vehicle; the government shouldn’t prohibit public indecency; cities, counties and states shouldn’t prohibit motorists from talking on cell phones while driving through school zones.

I think I’ll stop there. You get my drift, or so I presume.

The mask-wearing mandates are part of governmental responsibility to provide for the “general welfare” of the public. Yes, citizens are being asked to do things they don’t like doing. Too damn bad, man! If they won’t care for themselves – or more to the point, care for others around them – then government has a responsibility to act.

We are in the midst of a fight against a global coronavirus pandemic. It has killed more than 120,000 Americans. More of our citizens will die. They surely will get sick.

So, spare me the bullsh** about mask-wearing mandates infringing on our civil liberties.