OCTOBER 2021
MANDATES FOR WE THE PEOPLE? A mandate here, a mandate there! Mandates! Aren’t we all tired of them? You must close your restaurant, barber shop/hair salon! You may not go into your office! You may not attend school in person! You must wear a mask! You must stay six feet apart from anyone outside of your household! You must quarantine for 14 days if you go across state lines! You must comply with contact tracing! Each of these was promulgated by various government agencies with the notion of keeping us safe during the height of the pandemic. For the most-part, we all complied because we were frightened of catching or passing COVID-19 along to our loved ones. In addition, the death count was frightening. Now we have a vaccine that is very effective and when it became available, many of us were chomping at the bit to get it – particularly those of us older than 65 as we are the most vulnerable according to the stats. Let me get one issue out of the way right away – I am not an “anti-vaxxer.” However, I believe to take or not to take the vaccine is a personal decision and should be respected by us all. There are a number of very valid reasons some are hesitant. In the Fall of 2020, the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Democrat candidates announced that they believe in science and researchers but didn’t trust any vaccine that was promoted by Donald Trump! Were dumber words ever spoken? The press and many social media influencers also denigrated the “Trump vaccine.” Now, with Biden in the White House, miraculously the vaccines have become safe and effective. Who knew? Some feel that the mRNA vaccines were developed with technology that was too new for them to be comfortable with taking it as these were the first vaccines developed in this manner. Considering the rapidity with which the vaccine came to market I can understand this hesitancy even though I don’t agree. Others are concerned that taking the vaccine with their pre-existing conditions may exacerbate these underlying diseases and consequently cause other medical issues. A very valid point since we get new data almost daily, although none of this is from research performed in the U.S. Israel leads in this important endeavor. I know of one young man who is HIV positive and after a conversation with his physician was advised not to get the vaccine. He is a college student and his college is requiring him to give very explicit details for why he has a medical exemption. Why should he have to disclose his HIV status to strangers? What ever happened to HIPPA? In addition, there are those who are nursing mothers, those who are undergoing in vitro fertilization treatments, those receiving chemotherapy treatments, and some are opposed due to religious beliefs – a 1st Amendment issue. These are all valid concerns to these people. There are many other reasons that intelligent, reasonable people refused to get the “jab.” But now we have the Federal Government mandating (there’s that word again!) that everyone aged 5 and above receive the vaccine. This, from an administration that says they “follow the science” but refuses to consider those who have had and recovered from COVID as having immunity at all when in fact their immunity is far better and lasts longer than that achieved by taking the vaccine. Is the impetus concern or control? An additional issue that should be of concern to all of us is the lack of adherence to the Constitution. The 10th Amendment states that “the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.” Vaccine mandates are not delegated to the United States by the Constitution. If states choose to mandate vaccinations, they have that right, although I don’t agree with this type of mandate no matter where it comes from. As the Biden administration continues to intimidate employers with more than 100 employees with fines, be prepared for challenges that will likely go to the Supreme Court. Beware! That sucking sound you hear are your personal freedoms being yanked away. Marilyn Booker President October 2021