Not Wearing Mask is Epitome of Selfishness

To the Editor:

I am writing in response to Sandy Armstrong’s letter of December 11 which was written in response to my previous letter.

Her review of the legislative process may be helpful for some readers, but is not necessary for me (I taught government for forty years and studied with some of the foremost Constitutional scholars in the U.S.) and is not relevant to the current issue.

Both at the national and state level, laws are written to give the chief executive, president or governor, ability to act in unique and/or emergency situations such as the current pandemic. Governor Abbott was exercising his executive authority given him by the legislature under the Texas Government Code: Section 418.014 and the Texas Health and Safety Code: Chapter 81.

Abbott’s mandates allow a fine of $250 so it is potentially more than a suggestion as Ms. Armstrong claims. (I am aware that this provision has been rarely, if ever enforced.)

Perhaps more important than the legal technicalities above is the issue of personal and civic responsibility. The vast majority of medical experts and scientific studies agree that masks potentially protect the wearer and those around him or her. The exact amount of protection varies due to the wide variety of variables, but it is generally accepted that they are about seventy percent effective. Thus the minor inconvenience of wearing a mask is far outweighed by the benefit. Not wearing a mask is the epitome of selfish behavior and not wearing one as a political statement is a violation of the social contract necessary for a civic society.

Terry A. Hynous

La Grange