What’s wrong with mandates?

For the ever-lovin’ life of me I do not understand the resistance by many of us to government “mandates” issued to encourage us to protect ourselves against a disease that can kill us.

I see it all the time. I hear it just as often. “The government shouldn’t tell me what to do!” the anti-mandate crowd bellows at rallies. Really?

Then why do you drive the speed limit? Why do you refuse to drink and drive? Why do you buckle up when you get into your car? Why do you purchase insurance when you get a driver’s license? Why do you refuse to yell “fire!” in crowded theater? Why do you refuse to rob banks, or the grocery store, or steal candy from the shelf?

Because every one of those actions is regulated by government mandate. The government tells us to do certain things and we do them.

We are still fighting a killer pandemic. The government is telling us we need to get vaccinated against the virus. Business owners are asking us to wear masks when we enter; some of them are demanding it. Yet we hear yammering from so-called American “patriots” that they fear a civil war is going to break out if the government keeps issuing these orders.

This is nonsense. It is trash. It is utterly un-American, un-democratic, dangerous, reckless, feckless and, oh yeah, stupid!

You may count me as one American patriot — and I consider myself to be the real thing — who does not object to the government seeking to protect me, my family and assorted loved ones.

The more of those who think as I do climb aboard the sensible bandwagon, the sooner we will be free of this pandemic.

johnkanelis_92@hotmail.com