Joe Biden, the presumptive presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket, has recently announced that, if elected, he would immediately write an Executive Order requiring all Americans to wear a face mask when in public. Of course, ‘public’ means whenever anyone else can see you. And also, of course, this is designed as an immediate vote getter which will play well with those people who believe that ‘government’ means ordering everyone else to fall into line with whatever happens to be the political whim of the day. Or else!

This is about as stupid as it gets!

First, the president does not have constitutional authority to order such an action.

Second, even if he did, he does not have what it takes to enforce the edict short of turning the country into East Germany, v.2, complete with its attendant surveillance system and willing informers everywhere.

Third, by making the wearing of masks mandatory for everyone, everywhere, he runs the risk of being completely ignored by a large contingent of the population. Being ignored is the worst thing which can happen to a politician. Being ignored is absolute hell for anyone who wants to force their worldview on anyone else. I know. I’ve been there. My experience tells me that the best thing for Joe Biden is to simply not pay any attention at all to what he says or does. It will make him a better man.

Do not get me wrong. I do not have any more love for Donald Trump than I do for Biden. However, it strikes me as incongruous and inconsistent that so many people shriek about the “tyranny” of Trump’s actions, but would automatically welcome Biden’s tyranny if he were to be elected and put his plans into effect. Whether face masks work or not is irrelevant. Tyranny is tyranny in whatever flavor it comes and it should be resisted wherever it shows up.

Or perhaps, mocked?