That this ultra simple thing to wear a mask meets such resistance really shook me up. It's a minority of people but it's a much bigger, louder, and powerful minority than I ever would have expected.

Still, I remain hopeful as to be otherwise would leave me in despair.

There's good reason to be hopeful. A democratic government is bound by duty to act in the interest of the common good. Just as there are clowns who refuse to wear masks, there are those who will oppose nuclear power.

A government building a nuclear power station is orders of magnitude more likely than an entire population complying with a mask mandate.

It is unfortunate that too many democratic governments are consumed by political bribery and pressure groups rather than doing what is in everyone's interest.

There is no “bound by duty” any more. Only selfish actors.

Oh I don’t know if it is a minority who “don’t want to wear a mask”. It is definitely a minority who just refuse to wear them, despite the government forcing them too. My guess is a majority of people would be glad to see mask mandates go away, and a minority is willing to speak. Though I’m weak and just wear a mask when asked though I don’t like it. I appreciate those who just refuse.

The strange minority is those who desire this awful hell we’ve enacted with our covid response.

>The strange minority is those who desire this awful hell we’ve enacted with our covid response.

Have you considered that rather than people wanting this "awful hell", that they believe mask mandates are our way out of this hell?

I don't know anyone who wants mandates, kids in and out of school, masks, etc. But I know plenty of people who are willing to inconvenience themselves temporarily for what they believe to be the greater good for all.

For what they believe to be the greater good is exactly what is the issue. I believe the greater good would’ve been to just advise people to be safe and stay home if sick. Acting like people have the plague when they have cold symptoms and most people will just experience minor cold symptoms (especially if they’re vaccinated or already had it), I don’t believe is good. Covid is novel, the common cold probably once was as well.

I’d argue a majority of people just don’t care. They don’t care they have to wear one, will stop wearing one as soon as they don’t have to.

>to just advise people to be safe and stay home if sick.

I'm not here to argue the medical science, as I am not a doctor and if you are, you have not disclosed it.

My point was you assume people are being sadistic and want all of this shit. No one wants everything going on, they just believe it is for the best. Or they don't care, as you pointed out. Neither of these is what you said at first; that people desire this "awful hell".

True it isn’t that they desire these shit things, it is that they don’t desire what is actually worth desiring.

Not sure why you are getting down voted. What you said is absolutely the case. I wear a mask when I am asked or there is a mandate, but I find it annoying at the very least.

We are a nation of laws, not mandates.