Is a corn dog really worth it?

This is about the freedom and privacy that one must give up to enter the State Fair this year in New Mexico.  The information comes from the NM Department of Health, in an Order signed by Acting Secretary David Scrase in compliance with and as directed by the Governor.  The full order can be found HERE    The relevant sections are Directives (8), (9), (10).

Following is a summary of the order’s requirements along with my comments

1.  If eligible to be vaccinated, proof that one is vaccinated or proof of a negative CoVid test within 48 hours of entrance.   

Comment:    OK, that is reasonable assuming that the State Fair wants to take precautions to protect its patrons from catching or spreading Covid. 

2.  If not vaccinated, one must also show proof of a valid exemption (medical condition, disability, or religious); a State Fair official will determine that the individual has met these exemption requirements.

Comment:  WHAT? How does the reason for one’s not being vaccinated have anything to do with the simple fact that one is not and thus must prove a negative covid test?  And if one is not vaccinated and provides that negative test, then the Fair’s health concerns are met. 

3.  “New Mexico State Fair officials shall maintain records of the vaccination or exemption status of all persons entering the grounds. . . .  The records regarding an individual’s vaccination or exemption status shall be provided to the Department of Health promptly upon request.”

Comments:  So, one must not only disclose personal health information to the Fair personnel and the State in order to be admitted when the safety concerns for the Fair would be fully served by simply stating one is not vaccinated and showing proof of a negative test, but beyond that, this requirement is taking away one’s freedom of choice to be vaccinated or not for whatever reason they may choose. 

That is, one has the freedom to choose not to be vaccinated, but they must then understand that in order to enter a place that requires a vaccine they may instead need to show a negative test.  As stated above, that is reasonable. 

But now they must meet specific requirements in order to “choose” not to be vaccinated.  That is not free choice, that is a State mandate of vaccination.   Only the State can "choose" for you from three specific State approved reasons allowing one to decline.

The individual has no free choice to be or not be vaccinated, to attend or stay home, or to have the necessary test in order to attend.  And there is no reason that the Fair or anyone else needs to know the reason for not being vaccinated as long as one provides the negative test required for entry. 

This is a huge overreach by the State, one that I believe wrongly interferes with our personal freedoms.

So, here is your choice:  Corndog or Freedom.  Choose wisely my friends, for the consequences will last a lifetime.

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