Dictators Dictate

My Body My Choice

I try to make sense out of American politics, but continue to fail miserably. I have seen President Biden on television repeatedly saying getting vaccinated and wearing a mask has nothing to do with politics, “It is just the right thing to do.” I wonder what his definition of politics is. Last week the Vice President spoke at a rally for a woman’s right to choose. The rallying cry was “My body, my choice.” The same day, the President dictated that all government employees as well as contractors be vaccinated. “My body, my choice” doesn’t apply to being injected with chemicals.

Government spokesmen have urged us to trust the science. I have trouble trusting the politicians who say their dictates are backed by science. I am still looking for evidence that proves masks make a difference. I remember the original debate over masks more than a year ago. The scientists told us that masks don’t protect the wearer. Masks were recommended because they were supposed to protect others in case the wearer had the virus. In Washington State, we were recently ordered by our Governor to wear masks everywhere indoors and in large outdoor crowds. This new mask dictate is applicable regardless of your vaccination status. If the vaccine works, there is no need to protect other people from those who are vaccinated. The real reason vaccinated people have to wear a mask is because it is easier for the mask police. The mask enforcement patrol cannot tell from a glance who has and has not been vaccinated, hence everyone must mask up.

The presidential vaccination dictate includes everyone; even those who have survived the virus. Those who have had the virus have more immunity than those who are vaccinated. The only reason to vaccinate COVID 19 survivors is because it is easier for the enforcement patrol.

I don’t think I am unreasonable, but I like things to make sense. It made sense for me to be vaccinated. I am in the high-risk group, so I lined up over a year ago and received my two-shot regimen. Not only did I believe the vaccine increased my immunity, I also was told that the vaccinated wouldn’t have to struggle to breathe through two layers of face covering. But it was my choice. It wasn’t dictated by an elected official playing king.

I take reasonable precautions, but I am not afraid of the virus. The odds say I probably won’t catch it, and in the slim chance I do, I probably won’t die. And if I do, then I do. That doesn’t make me afraid either. But I am afraid of government overreach. History tells us that when we volunteer to give up our freedoms for any reason, we never get them back.

Frank Watson is a retired Air Force Colonel and long-time resident of Eastern Washington. He has been a free-lance columnist for over 20 years.