At age 65 (or any age) I'd evaluate my risk and modify my own activities. I wouldn't even dream of asking others to give up their work or school or favorite activities because of my own frailty.

this is exactly how see it as well.

My mother is 77 at risk from COVID - does she expect the neighbors kid not go to school to keep her "safe"?

Or that a 20 year old not have fun at the beach from now on so that she is "safe"?

Of course not, not a least bit, and she told me that herself. I admire her for it. I agree as well. Everyone is responsible for themselves.

Not sending kids to school is about keeping the teachers, administrators, and their dependents and contacts safe. It's about grandparents who care for the children and would be at risk. I don't think it's about your mom.

now that there really captures the groupthink that permeates government actions

someone's mom and people in general only matter if they are scared

if they are not scared then they have no rights, their opinion does not matter and they must do what the scared people want,

being scared and weak gives you more rights than being strong

Sounds like some propaganda for hillbillies.

You asked a wrong question. You should have asked if it is ok if all her friends, all the neighbors in 60s and 70s, all the sick people of younger age, all the doctors in emergency rooms, all the people who need a surgery, but cannot get because ERs are full are under the risk, just because some 20 y.old dude wants to go to the beach.

People smoke, drink alcohol and do drugs. Those are much much worse than covid for your health. Sweden will still have much higher life expectancy than Denmark and Finland this year even though they got higher covid deaths since Sweden is much better at policing those drugs.