COVID-19
Masks Controversy: Cold Logic vs. Emotion
Fights in restaurants, mass protests, fines for not wearing one, lawsuits between the Governor and Mayor, etc.

Synopsis
- We’re all in this coronavirus thing together. There is no cure at this point. It’s highly contagious. The only things that keep it from spreading are masks and isolation. The masks are not foolproof, but they ARE better than nothing.
Why the controversy?
That brings up the conflict. Most masks are not very comfortable. Some people feel that the government is overstepping its bounds in ordering people to wear masks. There are many emotional arguments supporting both sides, but it logically comes down to four possibilities:
1. Wear a mask and it is effective 2. Wear a mask and it is worthless 3. Don’t wear a mask and there is no harm 4. Don’t wear a mask and kill someone
The first and third possibilities are just doing the right thing at the right time. No real discussion there.
The second and fourth address the possibility of doing the wrong thing, based on the virus characteristics and not people’s feelings.
Government requires masks (#2)
If the government requires people to wear masks and the masks are worthless, that is frustrating but doesn’t have much impact in the scheme of things. Masks are somewhat uncomfortable and do impose a small expense.
Government let people do what they want (#4)
Some people are frustrated that the government is telling them that to do and get upset to the point of public brawls. Is that really the example that people want to give to small children — throwing tantrums in public?
The odds of you catching the virus and transmitting it to someone else were small at one time. Those odds have been increasing dramatically in July in the U.S. Based on the experience of some other countries, masks seem to make a difference.
Do you really want to be responsible for killing someone because you don’t want to wear a mask?
Is it worth the risk just so you can do what you want? If you don’t care about your own life, think of the risk to your family and friends.
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