Covid 19, and Politicising Wearing a Mask

An Australian journalist reported last week, arriving in the U.S. capital, that it's easy to spot the difference between democrats and republicans, those donning masks are democrats and those not are republicans. At first I thought this to be an absurd statement. But after scanning social media and Youtube, this most certainly seems to be the case.

Why are Americans in the country with the most recorded cases of Covid, including the highest death toll on the planet, politicise such a basic preventative measure to stop the spread of this virus? I believe there are a few reasons for this: one ridiculous and the other at least, understandable.

After brutal imposed lock downs, Americans are losing their homes and businesses, and to impose obligatory masks in public, is the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. Added to the lack of financial support for American citizens in the name of relief, has further fuelled the population towards a “mask-less society”. Most developed countries around the world have subsidised their population with social security and business support to ensure lock down has a maximal effect. Rent control has been instigated to ensure there is not mass evictions across the board. The American government has all but abandoned the people, and chose to save the corporations and the banksters on Wall Street, instead of its people.

The second reason is Trump's base follow their cult leader, and listen to every insane word he utters. “Our leader is not wearing a mask, so why should we”? Unfortunately too, there is a portion of the population who believe that Covid is a hoax, some dark conspiracy to attack “democracy” and basic human rights. Thus wearing a mask is seen to be going along with this imposed fake virus, and therefore “un-American”.

If these people look outside their bubble, their country, will see that this virus is very real and killing people in staggering numbers. For example in my home state of Victoria, Australia, the virus is in its second wave, and today, over 400 new cases has been identified. We are in another stage 3 lock down, and more people are dying on a daily basis.

To politicise this virus by refusing to wear a mask, which is a preventative measure for the wearer and those one comes in contact with, is to ensure the virus spreads, which on face value is selfish and irresponsible at best. To politicise the virus, politicise wearing a mask, is a Trump initiative, to save face, and to give someone else the blame for his incompetence.

Further, when I asked my friend in France the other evening, how their handling the mask :situation, she laughed. We wear a mask on public transport and places where social distancing is impossible. This is the same in Australia: we are urged to wear a mask in those two instances, and there is no need for a mandatory law to enforce it. But in Australia like France, the government stepped-up their support financially for the people. America, unfortunately is a different story, forcing people to politicise something that common sense dictates. For the safety of everyone, in public, wear a mask.