There have been many dark things about the COVID-19 epidemic, but I have always been jealous of the fact that Japanese people wear medical masks out in public as a matter of course, and up until last year, that has never been socially acceptable in America. Now, it’s less socially acceptable not to. I have many reasons for liking masks – it reduces communicable diseases (not just SARS-Cov-2) but also I just like hiding my face. No one needs to see it unnecessarily, it’s just common human decency.

But I’ve been far more ambivalent about the mask mandates.

I’ve been mostly keeping my mouth shut about this until now. Quite honestly, I don’t really know enough about the effectiveness of masks to have an opinion as to whether they work or whether they should be mandated. People with far greater opinions of themselves than I had decided they should, and, well, my ego really isn’t quite that big yet. So, I’ve just been going along with the status quo.

But, starting next week, the mask mandates in my state (Texas), as well as most of the “lockdown” restrictions that remain, will be lifted. And, I am okay with that.

I am ambivalent about the mask mandates. What I am far less ambivalent about is other states (and our dementia patient in chief) sticking their nose into our business.

Let me tell you something about America, for those of you that do, and for those of you that don’t live here. America is a country, but it is a country made up of fifty individual, autonomous states. Texas is one of the largest, both in population and in area (and it’s getting larger because the other largest state, California, is a dumpster fire). And if our elected officials wish to make a constitutional ruling that the need for mask mandates has ended, well, that’s the end of it. It’s none of Alaska’s, California’s, New York’s, or anyone else’s business what we, as a state, decide to do. It’s especially not Biden’s. Biden’s job, as the President, is to provide for the common defense. That’s it. Sure, in practice, that’s kind of been turned on its ear, but it’s certainly not to call us a bunch of Neanderthals because we dared to make a decision of what’s right for us for ourselves.

Mr. Dementia-Patient-in-Chief Biden, Gavin “Soon to be ousted” Newsom, Governor “I swear I didn’t touch her” Cuomo… mind your own business. We can take care of ourselves. And if recent experience is to be believed, far better than you can.

I, personally, will continue to wear a mask. I feel more comfortable with it, and no one needs to see my ugly mug unnecessarily. Many businesses will continue to require it, and bully for them. But, if you’re not from Texas, butt out. It’s none of your concern, and we’re frankly not interested in what you think.

Oh, and while I’m at it: Dr. Fauci? Shut up. You stopped being useful a year ago.