What happened to common sense?

In my 80-plus years there are things I never thought I would see. Here is a list of some of them:

1. So many American politicians putting party and the next election over the health and welfare of the country they claim to serve.

2. Politicians willing to sacrifice democracy in order to please one man.

3. People who would rather die than take advice that could save their lives.

4. People threatening medical professionals who work day and night to save lives, even the lives of their persecutors if need be.

5. People trusting politicians’ and pundits’ medical advice over doctors and scientists who have actually studied the subject.

6. People who think they can defy a deadly virus by bullying those doing what is necessary to avoid it.

7. People who fight to send their own children to school without every protection possible to keep them from getting sick, even though a highly contagious deadly disease is attacking the younger age group for which there is not yet a vaccine.

8. People who think personal freedom entitles them to expose others to a deadly disease as long as they themselves get to do whatever they please. I was always taught true freedom also involves responsibility, not just for yourself but the welfare of others your actions affect. Actions based on self-interest alone are usually destructive.

Margaret Bartlett

Cedar Rapids