How about we shutdown Donald Trump?
The state of Kansas unintentionally turned itself into a COVID-19 guinea pig when the governor issued a mask mandate, but individual counties were free to opt out.
So how has that worked out?
More than 80 counties decided they didn’t need a mask mandate and the University of Kansas decided to take a look at what happened next. Here’s a quote from the Kansas City Star:
“We found a 50% reduction in the spread of COVID-19 in counties that had a mask mandate compared to those without,” says Dr. Donna Ginther, director of the KU Institute for Policy & Social Research and co-author of the study.
Gov. Laura Kelly instituted a statewide mask mandate July 3 — yet under state law, counties could opt out, and more than 80 did. But since mid-July, Ginther’s study shows a significant climb in coronavirus cases in counties with no mandatory mask order. In counties with mandatory mask orders similar to the governor’s, cases largely plateaued.
Next time someone wants to argue that masks don’t help, drop that on them.
Since COVID-19 is surging just about everywhere – and that includes Kansas – Gov. Kelly wanted a special session to make the mask mandate statewide, but Republicans didn’t want to do that because they’re worried about getting reelected and they’re hoping to get the all-important, anti-mask-knucklehead vote; a surprisingly large demographic.
So instead of showing some actual leadership and doing something that might be smart, but unpopular, they agreed to shelter-in-place and urge local leaders in non-mandate counties to encourage mask use.
Judging by the number of people who ignore them, speed limits are also unpopular, so maybe the state’s leaders could make those optional as well and urge people to obey the speed limits, but stop enforcing them. Take the Republican one-size-does-not-fit-all philosophy out to its irrational conclusion and the state could preserve our individual freedoms by making all kinds of stuff optional and put up some new signs at the state line:
“Welcome to Kansas! (Please don’t rob our banks.)”
Truth is, government mandates a lot of stuff – paying taxes, stopping at red lights, not taking a Louisville Slugger to the neighbor who decides to get up at 7AM on a Sunday morning and mow his lawn – and we generally go along with these limitations on our freedom because we know everybody doing whatever they feel like doing would be complete chaos and look a little too much like one of those “Purge” movies in which all crime is legal for 12 hours and the nutjobs who have been hoarding M-16s and ammunition finally get a chance to use them.
Somehow, not wearing a mask during a pandemic has become a political statement and all I can say about that is you gotta hope some of those same people believe not wearing a parachute is also a political statement (parachutes limit your personal freedom) and decide to take up skydiving.
OK, where were we before I got a little too dark?
Oh, yeah, Kansas Republicans urging – but not requiring – the state’s residents to wear a mask. Here’s a statement put out by the Republican House leaders:
“We call on all Kansans to practice personal responsibility and compassion for their fellow Kansas by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and proper hygiene.”
A message which is completely undercut by Donald Trump. If you’re a Republican, who you gonna listen to; some failed lawyer you never heard of who represents South Horse’s Breath, Kansas or the President of the United States?
That was the thought process behind today’s cartoon.
Confirmed virus cases are rising in almost every state and we may have to shut things down again if people don’t start wearing masks and some people aren’t going to wear masks because Donald Trump is telling them they don’t need to.
You can cast a vote for science and sanity next Tuesday.