Recently, the CDC issued a mask recommendation. They’ve been wrong about many things regarding COVID so far, but I’ll credit them for continuing to try. I’ll take their advice under advisement.
Related: Nashua Group Plans Protest over Mandatory Mask Ordinance in Nashua
The Nashua Board of Alderman, however, stepped over the line into tyranny when they issued their mandatory mask edict.
The following is a quote from a brilliant man, C.S. Lewis, whose words from the past are relevant today:
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth.
This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be “cured” against one’s will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals.”
If Nashua had simply issued a recommendation, I would have thanked them for their concern. Instead, the Nashua BOA decided to treat adults and business owners like infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals.
So, my questions:
Are you an infant, imbecile, or domestic animal?
Do you want to be treated like a Leper?
It is accepted medical practice to quarantine sick individuals with highly contagious and dangerous diseases, but that is not what we are talking about here. It is not standard practice to subject healthy people to house confinement or to shut down their businesses, or to force them to wear masks.
To make matters worse, the edict says that wearing a fabric mask, scarf, or bandana will satisfy their “safety” requirements. The Coronavirus as a diameter of 0.125 microns. N95 masks are rated to stop 95% of particles 0.3 microns. N95 masks do offer some protection, but their effectiveness is rated for particles more than twice the size of the virus. So, when you read that a scarf or bandana is acceptable to satisfy the intent of this edict? These materials are less protective for you than putting up a chain-link fence to stop mosquitoes. Where is the “science” in their edict?
Is It Constitutional?
An important question: Do we tear up our Constitution in moments of panic?
I say that in moments of crisis that your Constitutional protections are most needed, and they must always be observed.
I say this mask edict is unconstitutional.
As a mental exercise, substitute the concept of “healthy” as being innocent, and “sick” as being guilty. You are innocent until proven guilty. You are healthy until proven sick. Let’s concede that if a person is coughing and sneezing in your presence, that is proof enough for you to ask that they leave or put on a mask. But unless there is a positive demonstration of sickness, we are owed the benefit of the doubt that we are not sick. Fears must never trump rights.
Now read this excerpt from the NH Constitution:
[Art.] 15. [Right of Accused.]….. No subject shall be arrested, imprisoned, despoiled, or deprived of his property, immunities, or privileges, ….. his life, liberty, or estate, but by the judgment of his peers, or the law of the land…..
Claim the privilege of dressing as you choose. “My Body, My Choice.”
And forcing someone to dress as another demands is an impingement on liberty and a despoilment of dignity. I’m sure you agree it was wrong for the Nazis to force Jews to wear the Star of David against their will. Why is it OK for the Alderman to do this to us?
Think of the precedent that is begin created here. What happens when the next flu season rolls around or for that matter, any other emergency the City declares?
When They Finish Off The Businesses, They’ll Be Coming For You.
Let’s make sure our righteous anger is directed at the right people. The poor businesses unfortunate enough to be in Nashua are not the cause of this. They are caught between a rock and a hard place. They must be treated with sympathy and respect.
But also understand Nashuans that when our City’s nonsensical edicts force too many of these barely surviving businesses to close their doors, it will be our problem too.
Despite climbing unemployment, the Mayor and Aldermen have already signaled that they have no intention of drastically slashing city spending. In fact, they have already told us that they plan to increase city spending and your taxes. When our business tax base is killed off by the government, they’ll be forcing the Nashua homeowner to pay the money they demand.
What Do We Do?
In The Short Term:
Fight to keep Nashua free, no mask mandate!
Call your Alderman, the Aldermen-At-Large, and the Mayor and tell them to stop this destructive governmental overreach. Don’t let them make our endangered businesses even less competitive. If they go under, we’ll all suffer more in the end.
Longer term:
There is an election this November for state offices. Fifteen of our 27 Nashua State Representatives have a voting record so bad that they have literally been deemed “Constitutional Threats” by the NH Liberty Alliance. Let’s begin by showing up and voting out these enemies of freedom and prosperity.
Come next year, turn out to vote for the local elections. Last November, only 17% of Nashuans showed up to vote in our local elections. Believe it or not, this allowed three of the Aldermen on that Constitutional Threat list to be elected as Aldermen! Apathy can have a terrible consequence.
We must pick the right people to make sure we don’t become NH’s Baltimore. Elect a Board of Alderman that will preserve your freedom and act for the good of Nashua and its businesses.
Let’s all be in this together to make Nashua a better place.
