Harris: Nationwide mask mandate wouldn't carry punishment

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By WILL WEISSERT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris said Friday “nobody’s going to be punished” if she and running mate Joe Biden implement the nationwide mask mandate they have called for during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s really a standard. I mean, nobody’s gonna be punished. Come on,” the California senator said, laughing off a question about how to enforce such a rule during an interview that aired Friday on NBC’s “Today.” “Nobody likes to wear a mask. This is a universal feeling. Right? So that’s not the point, ’Hey, let’s enjoy wearing masks.′ No.”

Harris suggested that, instead, the rule would be about “what we — as responsible people who love our neighbor — we have to just do that right now.”

“God willing, it won’t be forever,” she added.



Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., speaks in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)


Read more: https://apnews.com/1483c085980847a6a54957a4ed0399f4

[bucolic_frolic]

1. They should have retail hours for no-maskers

It would cull the herd.

[mobeau69]

2. Agree. There are a lot of innovative ideas leaders could support IF they wanted to.

[dhill926]

9. if you could find workers willing to work....

which I doubt.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. Maskless Wednesdays

Hire a separate team of anti-maskers. They all want it so much. It's just giving the people what they want.

[Miguelito Loveless]

15. What about the people who have to serve them?

[colorado_ufo]

17. I would not shop in such a store (assuming you are serious!)

That virus floats in the air for hours. If someone coughs or sneezes, it's worse. The store would have a hard time cleaning adequately, and all the poor workers would be at great risk.

No mask should = home delivery only, at an additional fee, or curbside delivery.

[oasis]

27. Last hour of shopping. Then workers can disinfect the place.

[abqtommy]

3. Hmmm...In my opinion it's the lack of punishment that has led to this total tRUMP mess!

But then I guess killing yourself and your neighbors is kind of a punishment...

[LonePirate]

4. Exactly. The lack of consequences will result in widespread non-compliance with the mandate.

No consequences turns the mandate into an optional policy.

[Peregrine Took]

12. I agree. Have to do community service or ?

There has to be some downside to endangering others. Maybe we mask wearers should admonish them like wear a mask that says "WEAR YOUR MASK!" "Masks save lives" "etc.

My husband and I are in our 70's and run everyday in the park. As the trail can be crowded we stay far away (as we can) from oncoming people but the dangerous ones are the ones who pass you going in the same direction and the bikes who pass closely. That's why you really can't afford to drop it down for a second unless its a rainy day and you're sure no one is going to be coming either ay within 6'.

We always wear our masks even though they are hot and now my face has broken out from the friction yet every freaking day we pass many people(including groups) mostly young, who look at us like we are idiots.

As we both have health issues (serious) we follow Dr Fauci's personal protocol:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/how-fauci-5-other-health-specialists-deal-with-covid-19-risks-in-their-everyday-lives/2020/07/02/d4665ed6-b6fb-11ea-a510-55bf26485c93_story.html

[Raven123]

5. Her answer didn't make sense to me.

If it’s a mandate, you enforce it somehow.the question was a good one, and one For which she should have Had a better answer. Claiming it’s a standard simply muddies the issue. They are not equivalent. She and Joe need to get straight on this.

[Laelth]

6. +1 n/t

-Laelth

[apnu]

7. This is an impossible tightrope to walk on

American selfishness makes it so.

Clearly mask wearing is the solution. But so many of our fellow Americans think they are special and deserve special treatment over all others.

Harris is trying to find a way to deal with both at the same time, which is impossible. Hence the "doesn't make sense" part.

[DSandra]

11. This virus has exposed American selfishness to the rest of the world...

More than anything else.

American selfishness is why we have one party that thinks it’s ok to put your selfish interests over the health and welfare of society, and that it’s ok if some people die because of ones selfish actions.

[apnu]

19. Agreed.

And well put.

[cilla4progress]

8. This is the perfect commonsense answer!!!

We shun them. We shame them. We expose them as fools and bullies. We avoid them. We create a moral high ground, a social standard.

It"s futile to put resources into law enforcement over masks, and that's obvious, and a trap.

She's brilliant and exactly what we need.

God I love this woman more every day!!!
.
A keeper and a winner!!!

[Miguelito Loveless]

16. This makes them mad

and they attack people.

There should be a federal law making it a felony for anyone attacking a person asking you to wear a mask, or refusing to serve you maskless.

Five years. No parole.

[Marcuse]

10. An American was hit by a huge fine in Calgary for COVID violations.

[old guy]

14. If your not going to suffer a consequence for not complying,

makes no sense to have a mandate.

[roamer65]

18. If you write tickets for no seat belts, then you should write tickets for no masks.

Period.

[Igel]

23. Point to the federal ticket that you get.

If you don't have federal highway patrol officers writing out a ticket for the federal offense of not wearing a seatbelt then it raises the question why. It would be much more simple.

If you answer that question, then you're 95% of the way to understanding Harris'.

[Steelrolled]

24. Exactly, there is no federal law, as it was not possible.

The federal government forced states to pass seat belt laws in order to receive highway funds.

Cuomo has made it clear, at least in his mind, that the federal government has no authority to impose a lock down over New York state, and would fight it in courts (he ordered the lock down himself). I think Biden won't be able to do more than issue guidance.

[Yeehah]

20. Do we want to end the virus or just fuck around?

$300 fine first offense; $1000 after that. Put a lien on their fucking house if they don't pay.

[NotASurfer]

21. Add a Pandemic Credit line to income tax forms

Yes/no checkbox to self-report compliance, attach receipt for mask purchase, credit on line if you check "yes"

Then when anti-maskers are ticketed for not wearing masks, it's tax fraud. You don't punish for refusing to mask up, but rather for cheating the IRS

[Steelrolled]

22. I never understood how there could be a federal law on mask wearing.

The federal government could try to push the states into passing such laws, but that would probably be counterproductive.

[Yeehah]

25. The virus has a detrimental effect on interstate commerce

Congress can pass a law to wear a mask.

[bluestarone]

26. Seems to me to be under same catagory of seatbelts?

[Steelrolled]

28. I think you are right

but of course, there is no federal law on seat belts, however I think almost all states have them. For other things where the federal government has no authority, it has in the past required the states to pass their own laws to get highway funds. I think this was also done for the 55 mph speed limit, and the ban on alcohol for people under 21. It is like blackmail, but the states generally complied.

I think the same could be done with mask laws, but I think you would first have to pass the federal law (no easy task) and then you would have to give the states a fair amount of time to pass and implement their laws, so it might be 2022 for anything to really happen (only an issue for the states with no mask laws). Hopefully it is a moot point by then.

I was surprised to hear Kamala sort of laugh it off. I expect Joe will do some kind of symbolic executive order, at best.