COVID-19 Pandemic - Anti maskers lament

Back in the 80s, there were a lot of wingnuts complaining that seat belt laws were some horrible affront to their liberty. Hardly anybody complains about them anymore outside a few fringe loons. It's now viewed as simply a common-sense safety precaution. Masks are no different, except we (probably) won't have to keep wearing them forever.

I think a lot of this stems from a toxic and uniquely American brand of individualism. One that causes tens of millions of Americans to have a child's conception of freedom. "You're not the boss of me! I'll do whatever I want!" Many people never fully got past their adolescent rebellion phase, and in adulthood that results in the irresponsible mindset that they have a right to put their lives and the lives of others in jeopardy for their own personal convenience. Their cavalier attitude towards COVID-19 is a huge reason why there are now over 500,000 Americans dead from it.

Well, societies do have a right to restrict certain actions that infringe upon the rights of others, cause harm to others, or otherwise pose an undue burden on others. You don't live in a vacuum. You don't have a right to go into public and potentially spread a highly contagious and potentially lethal disease any more than you have a right to smoke in public or to drive 30 MPH over the speed limit. You will be expected to act like a responsible adult and take reasonable public safety precautions, and if you refuse to do so you can deal with the consequences.