I don't think that anyone ultimately argues with the need for some regulation. And even with some regulation, as noted, there are exceptions. I have a number of conservative Mennonites living around me now. Like the Amish they have some exemptions. I know that there are people who feel that the government should regulate the education of every child, or have a direct say in it if private options are exercised. The public school, of course, has a stake in this regarding state and federal funds which are often tied to the number of registered students. As a one-time homeschooler I understand the pressures, subtle and otherwise, against private education. Yet for all intents and purpose my Mennonite neighbors seem yet largely untouched by state regulations. But there is thinking in some quarters that we can't trust parents to do what is felt a government run agency can do better. And that extends beyond this. Herein we enter some pretty tricky areas.
I get the mask thing. I abide by it religiously. But the family gathering limitations seem to be creeping close to, if not exceeding, the fine line of outside governmental control. The numbers given seem rather arbitrary to begin with. And we have seen that the limits are applied at times rather arbitrarily as well. Even the shutdown time for bars seemed odd. If you think bars are 'super spreader' places, shut them down altogether. How does it spread more after 10 p.m.? And now Cuomo is shutting down in-person classes in his state's school system because it surpassed an arbitrary 3% limit. Even some experts are calling that into question, noting that the schools might be one of the safer places to be.
It is unfortunate that the government feels compelled to micromanage the domestic activities of individual lives and families. As I noted before, many are following my governor's mandate. Stores set the example with their own requirements. We don't need police going around to enforce that which we should be able to make responsible personal and private judgements about.
