376 Comments

I'm sorry. I live in the covidocracy of Canada and I feel your pain. I have stopped wearing masks anywhere. I don't know if that will work where you are. The only place I have been challenged so far of all places was a funeral. I just said "I'm exempt." (There are exemptions under the Ontario Human Rights Act, including for "creed". Well, my creed doesn't allow me to lie by wearing a piece of cloth on my face because I know it's ineffective, and it's propping up tyranny.) The lady who asked me then asked to see my exemption, which isn't legal, and I told her so. Thankfully another lady stepped forward and waved me in. But I'm done complying with the covidocracy.

Expand full comment

Canada is sunk - but where do we go? I don't understand why there are not more waking up. Parliament hasn't sat since June, yet Trudeau with the wave of his pinky declares we are prisoners if not double-jabbed? I don't get it. And Ontario is gearing up for more lockdowns. I'm sure as the way to mandate schools/kids. It is a nightmare watching this unfold, and not being able to get through to those who need to come out of their zombie-trances.

Expand full comment

Yes many are leaving Canada. We are contemplating it. Thankfully my husband and I are both citizens of other countries so we have options. I have read a rumour of an "underground railroad" that is helping Canadians get out: https://www.coffeeandcovid.com/p/-coffee-and-covid-monday-november-976. I am at this moment very torn between getting out (which I personally want) and staying to try to help fight. Praying for wisdom.

Expand full comment

And it is throughout the world, with the G7s the main target at the moment. We might buy a few more months of freedom, but eventually the hammer will come down upon our rights to bodily autonomy. It feels like the past week the heat is being turned up. God help us all.

Expand full comment

Yes, this is what many are saying. I agree we can't run forever. We must be determined to stand up to evil. Indeed God help us - that is our only hope. We must be praying constantly for wisdom, faith, courage, strength, and an end to evil. Justice will prevail - we don't know when, but God's justice does not sleep forever.

Expand full comment

I very much agree with you. He who sits in the heavens laughs…Ps 2. Prayer is very powerful…

Expand full comment

That's exactly what I have been thinking. It does feel like things have been heating up in the last week. I thought I was the only one thinking that. The recent actions taken by Austria reeks of desperation as the Vaccines fail to prevent covid. I've noticed all the health ministers in Canada seem to be getting angrier and angrier. It's also curious why the G7s are leading the pack. Maybe they plan to reduce their populations to make way for all the third world refugees who need a place to live.

Expand full comment

I'm Australian. Your comment with "I've noticed all the health ministers in Canada seem to be getting angrier and angrier" inspired me to comment in response as that is the same thing going on here. The difference is that it's our State and Territory (provinces) Premiers and Chief Ministers. The parallels match. One moment they are smirking, then it is anger and demagoguery. I've never seen anything like it before. All of them in lockstep.

Rationality and humanity has gone out the window. Their pulpit rants are disproportionate to any threat that the experimental vaccine hesitant post. What is going on with these politicians?

Expand full comment

**that the experimental vaccine hesitant 'pose'.

Expand full comment

The fiat money system is gutted. The elite helped gut it. The West holds the wealth. They can't fulfill pensions and they can't suck any more out of the money with the interest rates. THey've been trashing the economy the past 20 months. They are in desperation mode, as they need more to step up, in order to get the QR codes in place and have control. They won't simply stand down, though, and I am sure they have a few more "tricks" up their sleeves. The WEF's test-run with cyber polygon this past summer, doesn't bode well.

Expand full comment

In my more positive moments, I think that they are throwing out anything, hoping in desperation that something will stick. Like Ontario's chief medical officers saying last week, that if numbers of C19 cases keep climbing, it must be because the unvaxxed are sneaking into vaxxed-only venues with fake papers. Insert eyeball roll here.

In my darker moments, I feel like the walls are closing in, and I fear for what kind of future my daughter will have.

Expand full comment

I know. It's truly frightening. I fear for my two grown up daughters because they are double vaxxed. I love them more than life itself but they can't understand why I have chosen not to be jabbed. My oldest daughter who is 51 is not so much worried about me getting covid as she is by the fact that I am isolated from society and activities that we would normally do as a family.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

Waxed and vaxxed?

Expand full comment

I think it depends a lot on whether you have kids (and their ages) about whether one ultimately decides to stay and fight or take the children someplace freer.

Expand full comment

Ms.P - I agree with you. I can't believe how complacent Canadians are. And you are right. Where do we go. It seems the only people who haven't lost their critical thinking skills are the unvaccinated. And because such a high percentage of Canadians are vaccinated it may explain why there is such wide acceptance of all the draconian measures we have been subjected to. I know people who questioned the covid narrative last year but got vaccinated this year and refuse to discuss anything to do with covid.

Expand full comment

Yup, I see getting vaccinated as the "finally loving Big Brother" moment. They just give up. Once you've assimilated there's not much point questioning anymore. There are a few exceptions like Jordan Peterson.

Expand full comment

yeah, that was an interesting interview. I was surprised that he didn't immediately, in march 2020, see the elements of totalitarian take over. He knows the patterns; they were right there before our eyes. I was just surprised he thought they would leave him alone after he participated in their sacrament. But it's a friggin' cult...they don't leave you alone.

Expand full comment

Please elaborate on " I know people who questioned the covid narrative last year but got vaccinated this year and refuse to discuss anything to do with covid." Wow!

Expand full comment

Barry - 19 members of my extended family fall into that category. That's why I have joined substack forums.

Expand full comment

The same with my extended family. Although I have not asked and they have not told me, I could tell. I am the only one UNvaxed eligible. Because of my status, the vaxed people cannot visit us. Although they sneaked quickies.

Look at these stats!

https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1460729445229252617

https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1460729448865492994

Expand full comment

I am in BC Canada and so far at the moment my vaccinated family can visit and me them. Not sure how that will last since the government keeps moving the goalposts.

Expand full comment

"but where do we go?" MEXICO!

Expand full comment

I've been in Mexico a year and it's mostly normal here. Need masks for taxis and to enter a business though. Good standard of living yet affordable, delicious food, and great people. Ivermectin sold OTC at most pharmacies also.

Expand full comment

Thanks for this. My husband is Mexican and I lived there for a bit, but we haven't been there since covid. How fussy are people if you don't wear a mask?

Expand full comment

Ask visitors to bring some ivermectin home, if not illegal. Or visit there to load up on ivermectin and return. We find creative yet legal ways to get some ivermectin.

Remember that ivermectin must be taken in combination with ZINC, C & D3 to be most effective. If got touched by rowuhan, add doxycycline.

There are plenty of alternatives to ivermectin.

No one needs to die because of rowuhan.

Expand full comment

This is where we are planning to go if we leave Canada. Praying about the decision though.

Expand full comment

Like in 'The Day After Tomorrow'...but it won't be because of crazy storms, it'll be because of crazy people!

Expand full comment

I am in Ontario and have started saying "I'm exempt." Didn't know it's not legal to ask for proof -- thanks for this. Apparently some stores won't let you in without the mask, e.g. Costco.

Expand full comment

Check up on the laws. There are other tactics you can take (which I haven't done yet) such as serving people who refuse you entry with Notices of Liability (see Action4Canada's at https://action4canada.com/covid-liability-notices/) and submitting human rights complaints. These may or may not have success but at least it will have the effect of making denial of service more of a hassle than it's worth. Also, good for you!

Expand full comment

I never masked, essentially, in Southwest Michigan (yes, that was me) while every else did, especially last winter. I have a few tactics that worked wonders. If you are interested as you continue your quest to reclaim your sovereignty let me know.

Expand full comment

Amy Joy Donut -- Yes, I am interested in your tactics. I'm sure others will like to know as well.

Expand full comment

Sorry I couldn't get back earlier.

I want to acknowledge that there was a kind of evolution to my methods and tactics. I am relaying the steps from about mid-January 2021 until May. Also, I am fairly modest in my ambition and needs and other than food and a few odds and ends, my needs do not require a lot of going places, I guess. But I do all the grocery and household shopping.

This is very important to know about me: I try to be devout and am a sinner but deeply committed to Our Lord, therefore prayer was possibly the greatest help...

1) Before entering an establishment that requires masking: Sit for a moment in prayer. I have a beautiful prayer that acknowledges God Almighty as my Father and as His child not to abandon me. Then a prayer to the Holy Spirit to be upon my lips if I have to defend myself and within the heart of whomever I dialogue with inside the store (this has been a great aid!). I also pray a prayer to Jesus that was penned by Elizabeth Kindlemann. I ended with a prayer ejaculation of St. Faustina to Mary, my mother (which actually has a line that reads "defend me with your powers ... and especially against those who hide their malice behind the mask of virtue" no kidding, circa 1933) to hide me under her mantle.

2) Being fully under the protection of the Holy Trinity and Mary... upon entering the store I would go immediately to the "greeter" - who was invariably armed with a little baggie of blue masks - and gently (thank you prayers) say "Hello, I understand you are doing you job but I just wanted to let you know that I do not wear masks. " I might throw in a little flattery if I didn't recognize the greeter. If I was ever asked not to enter, it must have been at a "non-essential" place because I do not recall.

I think being upfront disarms them as they expect "non-maskers" to be hostile and they are prepared to defend against attacks on the policy. Sneakiness and rudeness gets the management called on you - I learned that the hard way but I am ever so grateful because I had a 10 min. talk with the manager of Meijer and by the end of it he wanted to shake my hand but couldn't "because of covid". Ha!

3) While maskless, just go about your business with serene composure, continuing to thank Mary and Jesus. Avoid aisles that have too many people; remember, they are wearing masks and probably feel harassed and anxious because of it and may resent your calm, maskless composure; you can return to that aisle when it clears a bit.

4) Try not to look masked people in the eye (except for children, and when you do smile, they are amazed) because that will encourage them to question why you are not wearing a mask. Sometimes you will want to have that convo, I encourage it. know the facts and where they can find them.

Now, one small thing for the ladies that worked wonders before all of the above: knit infinity scarves. Hey, winter! Prior to covid I had two such scarves that I had been in the habit of wearing rather tighter that the style suggest (think third twist). I would enter the store (the sign on the store said "Masks must be worn for entry") with the scarf up over my nose and then immediately upon getting my cart return it beneath my chin as always.

One other thing. Most people hate the masks and are missing faces and smiles. Be generous with your smile toward the store staff, they see nothing but masked faces all day and if you have made it past the door they will assume you have been "let in" by the greeter as maskless for a good reason and they are cool with it.

Expand full comment

For everyone no matter where you live, I just listened to this video with great strategies for dealing with shopping sans mask. Excellent advice: https://strongandfreecanada.org/vlog/going-mask-free-stress-free-iron-will-on-everything-ep-2/

Expand full comment

that's a good video. I especially liked the end.

Expand full comment

They attached big sticks to their impositions. We have to loopholes or exemptions within the law.

Expand full comment

They attached big sticks to their impositions. We have to loopholes or exemptions within the law.

Expand full comment

I’ve been using I’m Exempt in San Francisco as well. It works with limited success. I won’t engage after I say I’m exempt and I just go about my business.

Expand full comment

Are you unable to enter any restaurants now? I know they're pushing the passports on everyone including 5 y.o. and older (to be added in a few weeks). I lived in the SF Bay Area for 14 wonderful years (1986-2000). I don't recognize the place anymore.

Expand full comment

Yep, no restaurants, bars, gyms, theatres, stadiums for us here in SF. We in the underground know of some places that don't care, but the larger venues have paid checkers for your papers.

Expand full comment

Wow, I haven't been in SF for years, but I feel fortunate to live in a relatively sane California county. Actually, there are two foothills counties side by side that are pretty sane at this point. People locally fought back early on in 2020 about closing restaurants, etc., and except for a short period of closure at the worst of it, everything is open and pretty normal. You can walk into Costco without a mask. Restaurants are fine, gyms are open, people can sit inside coffee shops again and all that. My gym was open the whole time, never closed. No one ever has ever asked for proof of anything, thank goodness. In shops and supermarkets, you will see a few people with masks (probably transplants from the bay area), but most don't wear them and no one seems to notice or say anything. Many stores have a sign at the door stating "Masks Required if you are unvaccinated" but most of us just walk right on in ignoring the damn sign and nothing happens. If you have a doctor's appointment, they all require a mask, but that's about it. I hope things don't go downhill from this point as it's fairly normal now, more a bit annoying than anything just to see this stuff and to see solitary masked people walking along or in their car, etc.

Expand full comment

Yes sadly. Cancelled membership to Academy of Sciences and don’t go anywhere in the city. Just surrounding counties.

Expand full comment

Check out www.thehealthyamerican.org to print out exemption cards. A cousin in CA shared this site with us and wears the card around her neck. If someone questions her, she waves it at them and says, "I have an exemption." No one has ever asked to see it!

Expand full comment

I just wear my cloth mask super half assed in store around here. No complaints. Peninsula doesn’t require vax cards for eating so mask free for that…

Expand full comment

Same but in B.C the tyranny is real…el gato voice of reason (backed by data) has gotten me through a lot of this garbage!!

Expand full comment

BC- I live in BC too and totally agree with your comment. I have noticed the "fully vaccinated" seems to be stalling out at 86%. Wonder what other draconian measures will be imposed here to increase that amount. It wouldn't surprise me at all if we adopt the horrifying policy just imposed in Austria. Our Canadian mainstream news have been reporting the latest measure in Austria as if it's perfectly normal. God help us.

Expand full comment

I grew up 80 miles from the border of Saskatchewan. 4 generations of my family are from that little area I'm referencing. We used to just love taking trips into Canada. Beer and cigarettes were almost free (lol) and the people were incredible in the tiny towns of that province. Now... not so much. Oh Canada!

Expand full comment

I am in Scotland, where masks are required as well. However, whether due to law, or culture (over here, we tend to believe in avoiding confrontation), one does not tend to be challenged if one does not wear one in grocery stores and other large stores. Small stores are a slightly different matter.

Expand full comment

Hi John, I'm also in Scotland. I've found that if you go to little corner shops in a working class areas almost nobody wears a mask, not even the shopkeeper.

Expand full comment

I am in a rural area. If I go into the local shops in our village, I wear a mask, simply to be non-confrontational, and one wants to stay on good terms with people. But I do most of my shopping in bigger towns, where I don't feel the same social pressure.

Interesting what you say about working class areas. We were in England last month. No mask mandates, but quite a few people wearing masks in shops. My wife commented to me that in the more up-market shops, people were much more likely to be wearing one. I was in a big town yesterday, and saw a very well dressed lady in Tesco who wasn't wearing a mask, and it did strike me what an unusual sight that was!

Expand full comment

I am in England and I am amused to hear that the Scots do not believe in confrontation. Whatever happened to the Glasgow Kiss?

Expand full comment

I am in the Highlands. Different culture from Glasgow! But I suspect that even in Glasgow, people are less likely to confront you for being maskless than they are in places in the USA where there is a mask mandate.

Expand full comment

Perhaps because Glaswegians fear the Glasgow Kiss! A lesson for our American friends? NB. I do not condone the use of the Glasgow Kiss when challenged by a Covidian.

Expand full comment

Qu’est-ce que c’est Glasgow Kiss?

Expand full comment

The GK happens at about 1.10 in this clip, but I would recommend watching from the beginning to get a feel for the cultural context: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFdUmLEJqtY

Unfortunately, I could not find a subtitled version.

Expand full comment

hahahaha! how brutally funny! Thank you!

Expand full comment

I also live in lefty land. West coast. I stopped wearing a mask completely. I've been arrested once, kicked out of a couple stores, and denied medical care once.

100% worth not be their slave.

Expand full comment

Wow! You are brave. I am waiting for the day these things happen and I have to admit to fear. But you are right it is worth it even if that happens. You are an inspiration, thank you.

Expand full comment

They've weaponized the trespass law in my state to enforce the mask mandate. If you leave when the store demands you to, you can avoid arrest.

The particular store I was arrested at I am a member and part-owner, thus cannot be legally trespassed. My trial is Jan. 5.

Always stand up wisely, not stupidly. But the vast majority of the time, you'll be fine not wearing a mask. I've changed almost every store I shop at to ones that don't force masking. Frontline doctors have helped me when I've been denied medical care for not masking.

We must remember that our forefathers were willing to sacrifice everything, including their lives, for the liberty we once had. If we're not willing to sacrifice our comfort and convivence we will condemn our children to slavery.

I'm not courageous at all. I'm a mom of three little ones, and I'll do anything I need to to keep them out of chains. I shook (literally, like a leaf) for 45 minutes before I went into the store without a mask. I knew I'd be arrested. And I knew someone needed to do it.

But word got out, and God provided, we raised enough money for a good lawyer, so I probably won't get jail time :) (They also changed the laws during covid in my state so that a 'trespass' can get you up to 3 months in jail.)

Expand full comment

I salute you, my dear lady. Deep respect. As is said, courage is not the absence of fear, but acting despite it. God bless you.

Expand full comment

arrested! jeeezzzz...

Expand full comment

It's our name. We have a covidiocylimit Susanna. 🙌

Expand full comment

I would readily not wear a mask but if legislation goes through here in Victoriastan Australia, it will be a $10k fine and potentially 2 years prison. I am too old to spend 2 years in prison.

Expand full comment

Yes you have to pick your battles. Things are not good for you now in Australia. We remember you. I am praying for you all. Please keep heart and take part in whatever actions you can like protests etc. God be with you all.

Expand full comment

Recent protests were permitted but a month ago they were not, and protesters were shot with rubber bullets and pepper sprayed, assaulted, etc. Brutalised by police basically.

Picking your battles is tough when we are battling a police force with a $2B budget (that they just broke btw) per year who are in the pockets of our state's dictator.

Expand full comment

Yes it's quite horrible and astonishing what is happening in Australia. Very difficult to understand. My heart breaks for you.

Expand full comment

However, yes, picking the battles wisely is paramount.

Expand full comment

That is brutal! What insane times we live in! So that will be just for not wearing a mask in a store?

Expand full comment

The wording is something along the lines of "contravening a health order resulting in endangering others". So pretty much anything they decide is a health order and anything they decide is endangering others. The likelihood that we will mimic Austria is high. Protesters have been shot with rubber bullets and pepper sprayed, assaulted, etc. Brutalised by police basically.

It's being debated and has been "amended" but the main changes included things like reducing the fine from $21k (!!) to $10k. That's for individuals. The fines for businesses are double.

Expand full comment

Excellent strategy, I shall use it! I live and work in 2 counties in Colorado that are still mandating masks. While I've gone maskless a lot, there's a couple places I haven't tried. So I will attempt your strategy.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

Yes, this is exactly what we need. But most are so brainwashed they not only do it willingly they hate you for not complying. They don't realize I'm doing it not just for me but for them. We are at risk of losing freedom in Canada forever. I hope my example can help more people realize it's possible and be brave enough to stand up. If everyone stops complying this ends tomorrow.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

Yes absolutely. I strongly encourage joining a freedom group such as Action4Canada and joining a local chapter. I am planning to go to my first local chapter meeting today. Take part in the national Zoom meetings of the various groups. But nothing beats meeting up with people personally. Also 100% to parallel structures. This is absolutely what we need. I am working on building a website which will be a job board for unvaxxed/nondisclosing. Hope to have it available soon and will post it here as well as other sites dedicated to resistance.

Expand full comment

job board is a wonderful idea, thanks!

Expand full comment

Great job!!!!

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

I'm in Michigan. It does seem from "outside the industry" that care and whatnot are falling apart the local hospitals, as per rumor mill. I know so many people who would seek care from healthcare provider who chose to breakthrough the bullsh*t and treat patients as individuals with brains. This development you speak of sounds interesting.

Expand full comment

Just dropped my dog off at the vet's for a teeth cleaning. They have a polite sign on the door asking everyone to mask, which I ignored. Everyone there is masked up but they didn't say anything to me for not wearing one. I'm with the others that say if you don't wear one most of the time they don't mess with you (depending where you are - I'm in Boise, ID). But if the business forces you? Walk out. The only way this stops. And it needs to stop.

Expand full comment

A few weeks ago my wife and I went to our lawyer’s office to sign some papers. There is no mandate here in Houston but the receptionist was very firm that I had to put on a muzzle and only backed down when I reminded her - firmly - that I was the client and I was paying the bills. She didn’t say another word, nor did anyone else.

Expand full comment

That's what it takes, good on you.

Expand full comment

Never worn a mask, not once. In 21 months had only three small run-ins there were no big deal, and still didn't put a mask on. It really is not hard to not wear one and extremely important that people stop participating in submission theater. Thank you!

Expand full comment

100% spot on.

Expand full comment

Up here in the ID panhandle, we are largely maskless and getting statements of opposition to mask mandates on the record by county commissioners. Many of us are now one issue voters: medical/health freedom.

Expand full comment

that's exactly what I do. I ignore signs and walk in maskless in stores. No one has said anything. But I will obviously put down items I was going to purchase and walk out.

Other kinds of businesses I just won't go to because they are forced to hire people to harass anyone "unvoiced"

Expand full comment

Perhaps I'm somewhat of a hypocrite. In other posts I advocate defiance and even inviting arrest. Yet here I will make the opposite case. While I live in a relatively tyranny free area (Florida), there are still the occasional places that demand a mask. For example, doctor's offices. I consider these reasonable, and abide with them. If I lived in an area that mandated them on public property, I think I might just say "Arrest me, and be prepared to face the consequences." Of course the same applies to me.

Expand full comment

Wearing a mask is promoting the destruction of habeus corpus. We are declared innocent until proven guilty(or ill), both by our constitution and by God.

Wearing a mask is allowing yourself to be presumed guilty of being ill. The ill are allowed to be quarantined (imprisoned) by the gov't.

When you give up the God given right to presumption of innocence/health, you are condemning all people and future generations to slavery. In essence, you are assisting and abetting man-stealing. A crime worthy of the death sentence.

It is in no way, shape, or form reasonable for a doctor's office to require masks. It displays either a tyrannical heart or a complete biological ignorance. The masks do NOT prevent any spread of disease. With the rare exception of an actively ill and hacking-up-a-lung style cougher/sneezer. In which case, there is ample evidence of illness, thus the face can be lawfully quarantined.

Expand full comment

Well said. I've actually seen studies saying that surgeons wearing masks during surgery is ridiculous. They really do next to nothing, and they create a petri dish of toxins on your face.

Expand full comment

I agree. Just went to my gyno. No mask of course. no way. It defies logic to mask when my nether regions are unmasked. sorry if this offends anyone.

Doctor was fine with it. And this was in NYC

Expand full comment

I think of the masks (in part) as ridiculous and also a mockery. They reduced us and remind us we're reduced to slave status, so I don't care where it is, I defy. Doctor's offices are no different. They above all people KNOW on some level how stupid it is. Masks do nothing.

Expand full comment

Exactly. The mask is the sign and seal of subservience to the Covid Cult.

Expand full comment

Yes. I see it as conforming to their ritual, which makes it completely repugnant to me. I refuse to do it.

Expand full comment

I picked up my son from boarding school on Sunday as he had been in close contact with a mate who picked up COVID. My son was tested yesterday and today received a confirmation that he is positive. I was THRILLED beyond description. It means he can avoid vaccination before going abroad. Furthermore I asked him to spit in my hands several times so I could lick it up and get the virus as well. Loads of FLCCC I-MASK protocol stuff in the fridge should it accelerate. Love and respect all the effort put into these very frequent blog posts. May you be eternally rewarded.

Expand full comment

The virus is the new chicken pox

Expand full comment

except the chicken pox virus is much worse than this one.

Expand full comment

I too was thrilled to get it (finally after waiting 18 months San Diego County) my teen boy got very mild case, tiny sore throat, no cough, little tiny stuffy nose all done in 3 days, no fever, no lethargy .... I got hit harder, but took nothing, never got to lower airway much. I am so happy to be naturally immune now. We are in Commifornia so, the k-12 vax mandate will likely force the fam to move to Florida. The forced medical tyranny will go into effect July 1st 2022. Hoping lawsuits will give the natural immune what we deserve, which is more access than the vaxxed who at any given moment can catch and spread. Not holding my breath for sanity though.

Expand full comment

Share drinks and utensils too!

Expand full comment

You're smart. Many won't understand but I do.

Expand full comment

It's the stinking same in Commiefornia. I left NYC 10 years ago and did not realize I would be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. I'm thinking of moving to a red state once my family commitments are finished. Who knew blue would be the new fascist?

Expand full comment

A lot of people. :)

Expand full comment

ikr? All those years that I completely bought into the "narrative" that it was the "evil" Right that wanted to take our rights and liberty away. Turns out it's the "benevolent" Left that's hell bent on depriving us of our very Constitutional foundations for "our own good." They want total control over every aspect of our lives. If history had really been taught in schools, we would have expected this and not been so eager to "comply" with the total bs that has been shoved down our throats in earnest over the past two years- because once you look into it, it's a story that's as old as time.

Expand full comment

Same, my world has been turned upside down! But that is the history of Communism and revolution, it starts out as a well-meaning fight against corrupt elites but the rulers become authoritarian, corrupt elites themselves.

Expand full comment

hmm but ours didn't even start that way! it was just a color revolution - completely fabricated by malign actors.

Expand full comment

Well said! I take heart from a wide range of children's literature that explores this theme. Not sure if it's available in English, but the ugly children's club is a newer and excellent addition. The slogan is "keep it clean!" but the true intentions couldn't be dirtier. I'm thankful to be able to see it now and embarrassed I didn't see it sooner.

Expand full comment

Same, I'm afraid to even settle down somewhere because any state might become a blue state!

Expand full comment

That's my worry as well. In nazi Oregon at the moment. Love the state but hate the Dem supermajority. Even in red states like Texas, there are blue cities (i.e. San Antonio, Houston) that could impact things in due time. There's no guarantee.

Expand full comment

Hopefully they will get Moderna boosters every three months. Problem solved.

Expand full comment

LOL

Expand full comment

I live in Phoenix, which has been open and mask free for a while. Went to commie REI store on Sunday and refused when they demanded mask. People must refuse to go backwards-otherwise this insanity will never end. Realize for some places this is easier said than done though. Also spent joyous month in Switzerland in August. All out having fun. Beyond me why they want stupid and pointless V pass now.

Expand full comment

Oh my goodness, I hit that Phoenix REI location a couple of times last month prior to a Grand Canyon trip. I did NOT wear a mask in their Seattle outpost and was not confronted. Who the hell do they think they are! Don't bring your commie bolshevik nonsense to my free state! I think I'll go in weekly now just to flought their stupid demands.

Expand full comment

So sick of being lectured by these woke companies. REI’s newest thing is to preach about how racist and homophobe the camping-hiking community is. I’ve tried to avoid them since they sent an email assuring me they will enforce masking 2 year olds in their stores.

Expand full comment

I had no clue. I’ll avoid them. As an avid hiker I guess I’m persona non grata now 😝

Expand full comment

A few years ago I wrote a sarcasm piece precisely on the "problem" of Blacks not using parks much. Disclaimer: Contains profanity, racially offensive terms and is liable to cause a meltdown of the Progressive Snowflake. Fair warning. If this gets me banned, better now than later, I guess.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VDbGW-8tbk8qPzbwyfryeCMO8Ot6xfGif8IJO8_qu6Y/edit?usp=sharing

Expand full comment

I found a grocery store near me where they don't harass you if you dont mask. Each week, a greater and greater proportion of people don't.

What's the worst that will happen to you? Some neurotic Karen will tell you to mask up? So, put it on your chin and walk away.

Be the change!

Expand full comment

Or just smile at the Karen and tell her you're performing an act of civil disobedience. I haven't said that out loud yet but I practice before each outing!

Expand full comment

Hahaha or you can say you identify yourself as a masked/vaccinated person and ask them to stop harassing you 😂

Expand full comment

Ha!

Expand full comment

The line I practice before heading in to help in the school library (where only the parents need to wear masks) is: "Don't you want to see my beautiful smile?" But what I actually said is: " You know they don't help." Fail.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

Love it, I might copy you. It is a wonderful book. If only they could understand it…

Expand full comment

Badass! But first I should probably actually read it.

Expand full comment

I wish. An older woman was maskless in a store last week. The employees rushed to tell her to get muzzled or out. 🤬

Expand full comment

Depending on your recourse to money and attorneys, perhaps a better answer would be something like: "If I am breaking a law, then summon police and have me arrested. If I am not breaking a law, then you are violating my civil rights, and exposing yourself to legal action." That should shut them up. If you do, in fact, end up getting arrested or cited, you now have "standing" for a lawsuit against the government. What your chances are, I don't know. If you've got the balls, stand up to the dictators once in a while. Many such acts of civil disobedience don't (yet) run the risk of tear gas, rubber bullets or worse. When your court date comes up, insist on a trial by jury perhaps. I only speak for myself, but I would be proud to have been tried and maybe convicted for the "crime" of refusing to wear a piece of cloth, or not having taken a dubious medical treatment.

Expand full comment

From friend in Germany:

"New rules in Germany, starting tomorrow: complete lockdown for the unvaxxed. Only grocery shopping allowed, other shopping requires test. Public transportation, which most people take here in the big city, requires test as well. No more visits to hair salons, gyms etc. It‘s worse than last year‘s lockdown for everyone. The unvaxxed are blamed for the „high numbers“ and need to be punished. They are talking about "terror by the unvaxxed."

Austria is even worse: the unvaxxed are not allowed to leave their homes except for grocery shopping. They are not allowed to leave their counties either. Treated like criminals."

This IS coming to the US. People are lying to themselves if they don't think it is.

And so-called covid19 is still a cold virus with a 99.27% chance of survival. Just like any other cold or flu.

Expand full comment

It will be interesting to see how that plays out in the Southern US. Southern people are typically nice until you F with them. Then they can go nuts.

Expand full comment

Very very few people in SC are acting like there is any pandemic. Our Governor has joined the lawsuits against mandates, mask and vaccine. No hotel, restaurant, grocery store,

or bar requires a mask.

Not even the most “woke” craft beer places. I see zero possibility of this population going backwards. Certainly not without either a fight, or more likely, universal disregard.

Expand full comment

That's excellent to hear. I am loving seeing so many people from different places weigh in on their experiences. THis is exactly what the PTB censors Do NOT want.

Expand full comment

What are they gonna do against tanks and drones?

Expand full comment

The federal government won’t do anything at all in that regard. State governments will push back and turn it into a constitutional crisis first. The ultimate sanctuary jurisdiction argument.

And if the feds persist, then it will eventually turn into a civil war, but there won’t be a persecution of residents by the local governments. The state governments are sovereign and they won’t fire on their own citizens or let someone else do it.

Expand full comment

I suspect that armed conflict is inevitable. Whether it will earn the name revolution or civil war, I don't know. I'm not wishing it, but that doesn't change the drift of history, does it? I'm 60 years old, and already know what side I will be on. I'm one of those who, at least if he doesn't get ambushed, is going to die on his feet, rather than live on his knees.

Expand full comment

Same. I'm not going to end up in some concentration camp if I can help it.

Expand full comment

Great input, JR. Thank you.

Expand full comment

Well, the USA just abandoned a bunch of tanks and drones as we surrendered to a bunch of heroin dealers with flip-flops and burnt-out AKs from the 1970s. But JR is right… the Feds are flailing and posturing, but even in my paranoid state, I don’t see it.

Expand full comment

I like your attitude, Christopher. But I have read that we left that equipment behind for the CCP ;).

Expand full comment

Keep in mind most of our military members are not from elite enclaves. They are our brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. The will not stand against patriots.

Expand full comment

Well, they were until the vaxx mandate and also trying to recruit the wokie nutjobs... I think some major damage has been done there (engineered of course).

Expand full comment

In a major crisis the perceived cancerous or gangrenous tissue is often excised very quickly 😈

Expand full comment

the thing is, these rules also affect the injected, since the police will have the power (so called) to spot check anyone. What's the penalty for disobedience? Fine? Jail? How about if you don't have a cellphone?

Expand full comment

Great point - but the jabbed don't seem to be thinking. They think they get their lives back and the unvaxxed are banned from society.

Re: checking phones, that's why the PTB want to move to chipping everyone, in case they have the nerve to throw out their smartphones and iphones once people smarten up to what those are for.

Expand full comment

Eagerly awaiting delivery of my new Mudita Pure internet-free phone.

Expand full comment

Thinking of getting a land line...

Expand full comment

I have a landline, no cellphone. Had one for years and hated it.

Expand full comment

Smart.

Expand full comment

I'm in Brisbane, Australia. I haven't worn a mask at all, during all of our mask mandates here - I have a "face covering exempt" card that I pin to my jacket, and the only place I have been challenged was in the public library. I just point to the card (which is easier than engaging in a verbal) and that is that. However, we now have escalating jab mandates coming in (no jab, no job with variations for most states, Victoria being the most draconian), and requirements to show papers for entry to sit down restaurants, shows & events, some other places. And in the Northern Territory they have had their first "lockout", with unjabbed required to stay home except for "the 4 essential reasons" (yes, we are bombarded with these hypnotic mantras!). I'm expecting that within a few months, it will start to become obvious that it is the jabbed who are filling the hospitals (as has already started to happen, but you won't hear that on mainstream news) and they will have to change tack somewhat.

Expand full comment

Is civil disobedience* an option? Of course it's easier said than done, but if your daily life wouldn't make a night or longer in the local jail too much of an imposition, why not some passive resistance? Refuse to wear a mask. Let them arrest you. It doesn't take very many "criminals" to quickly overwhelm a local authority. Until/Unless they are actually clubbing, stunning, water cannoning or shooting you, why not non-violent resistance?

*Unlike many things I pontificate about, I can actually claim first-hand knowledge here. The only thing I have ever been arrested for was for what I'd consider "protesting" a local government's inaction in enforcing certain laws that apply to elections in my State.

Expand full comment

I think it's over in most sane areas of the US. Even Colorado, where it's now insanely blue, is over the mask thing. If they can't force masks back onto faces, I don't think they can get much farther with anything else. This is where the US and Europe will start to vary wildly.

Expand full comment

Sadly, the pattern of touchless torture (which they have been putting the public through now for nearly 2 years) is squeeze and release. If you are seeing release, a bigger squeeze is probably forthcoming. They won't just stop their drive for totalitarian control.

Expand full comment

except the airlines hold a lot of power to make things unbearable for everyone. Mandating vax for their staff, what makes you think they won't try to do extend it to their customers? It has been discussed.

Expand full comment

Before 2020 I flew almost 100k miles per year. No more. Now when I travel for work I drive. No way I’m subjecting myself to their silly rules.

Expand full comment

They can try.

Expand full comment

Yup, and so can we. But right now it ain't lookin' good for us...

Expand full comment

Will you introduce me to your sister, the one who was in that Bond movie? 🤓

Expand full comment

It’s 2G as they call it. It’s insanity.

Expand full comment

Sounds like us in Canada. I have to test every week for work, which is killing me financially especially with inflation. But I grew up in poverty, so I have survived worse. You cannot make a man with a chip on his shoulder prostrate before the throne if he chooses not to.

Expand full comment

Just forwarded this as *must read.* You are one of the best voices in the medical freedom movement.

Expand full comment

Colleen! I started invermectin finally (on day 12) and my sense of smell came back by that evening! Just like you said! Like what the? Was that a coincidence what?! Anyway I'm thrilled.

Expand full comment

Yay, Susanna!!

Expand full comment

I'm in NJ and only where masks where absolutely required. If it says unvaccinated required then I still don't wear one. I love how a family member accused me of "keeping the pandemic going" by not wearing a mask because it's all us unvaccinated people spreading it around. I said that's interesting, if you're vaccinated how can I spread a disease I don't have to you?

Expand full comment

Also: "I may catch it, but I will likely have strong immunity afterwards. In your case, you may catch it, not even know it, and spread it to vaxxed and unvaxxed alike." In the last case, the mRNA vaxx is truly an innovation: not only does it not prevent transmission, but in some cases can make it more probable.

Expand full comment

Many leftists are flocking to Florida yet will be sure to let you know how truly horrible it is in Florida because the saw it on CNN. The ultimate hypocrisy.

Expand full comment

The reason they are flocking there and not somewhere like West Virginia is that they know there are plenty like them there. I'm worried for Florida. These people don't learn.

Expand full comment

Ditto for Texas. They’re pouring in.

Expand full comment

Idaho, same.

Expand full comment

I am in Houston and there are no mandates or rules or anything requiring masks, anywhere at all. Yet there is a subset of the population, especially minorities, but not exclusively, who can’t help themselves but walk around with a muzzle all the time. Especially at the supermarket for some reason.

I cannot understand why anyone would willingly subject themselves to it, especially when it’s quite clear that it makes no difference at all to transmission. Same as for the extremely poor cost-benefit of the shots.

The only answer I can come up with is security blanket / talisman / virtue signaling, all irrational. There is no rational reason to keep doing this at all.

Expand full comment

Same here in Florida. The only masked folks are freshly arrived Snow Birds. I have more reason to be leery for them than they do me. Don't New York my Florida!!

Expand full comment

Yeah, my visit to Texas last month was weird. In the big cities, you see a lot of people wearing masks in supermarkets and such. You're required to wear them in the museums. Outside the big cities, though, there are no masks.

Expand full comment

The Power of Mask Compels you! Virus-b-gone!

Expand full comment

It happened the same to me when I visit my family back in Spain this summer. People wearing masks alone in the streets, people wearing masks at home when visiting us or other people. It was mandatory everywhere. I did not wear it one single time outside, and only mesh masks when required while shopping, even with police around and nobody fined me. People there didn’t even try to violate or bypass the mandates. They just embraced it, I suspect they even liked it. This is the worst part. I just lost lots of “friends”/family but, good riddance, they were not dear anyway, and I felt kind of liberated not to pretend I care for their opinion. Then I flew back to Florida where you can live a normal live if you want and still cannot understand why most of the people prefer the mandates instead of living your live as you see fit. Truly depressing.

Expand full comment

Maria - the most disturbing to me is seeing the school kids wear their masks walking home from school. They are completely accepting and habituated. And .... they are the future.... ugh.

Expand full comment

Yes I am extremely disturbed when I see even things like kids playing on playgrounds with masks on :( what kind of psychosis are we instilling in these poor children?

Expand full comment

I see N95s on toddlers in the Bay Area at the playground. My kids and I get the evil side eye for being mask free abs I just smile at the people 😂

Expand full comment

Yes, I know. But many of them fight. Saw tthat girl in Tampa expelled nearly 40 times due to ditching mask? She finally won and the school board changed. The problem is if they didn’t see anything else. But, if they see an alternative then they might fight for it. My 4 year old school put a mask mandate this year but you could opt-out signing a form. My daughter told me she was the only one unmasked im the class (its a private school also) but by now, the unmasked kids are majority. Some moms have even kind of complain to me that their kids see mine unmasked and they want to.

Expand full comment

I am in Austin TX and noticed this same thing! They are so programmed to wear the mask that they are blocks away from the school and they and their Mothers are still wearing them. Sooo sad. 😞

Expand full comment

I tell my kids to rip it off as soon as they’re off school property. Mine are the only ones walking home mask free.

Expand full comment

We are seeing the same thing here in Australia's capital. Young teenage boys seem to be the most compliant (even outdoors). My husband and I find it totally sad.

Expand full comment

I am so sad to read this. We frequent PR as my wife hails from Luquillo. As a Gringo, I always enjoyed the general disobedience I witnessed while in PR. People passing me on the right, music, drink and dancing at small gas station like businesses along Route 3. I hope the spirit of the people can rise up against this tyranny.

Expand full comment

They'll be pushing the jabs on the kids soon enough. THere is no escape because over 80% are jabbed. Lots of people will get sicker due to the jabs but they'll do what Germany, Austria, and Australia have done: blame the unvaxxed. We're not very logical people, I'm afraid to admit. As much as I tried convincing my 3 sisters and 24 y.o. niece of the risks, etc. They all got jabbed. Not only that but they've added the flu shot to their schedules which they never took before. So, hail big pharma. Boricuas LOVE their meds! Sorry to sound so hopeless.

Expand full comment

The only shot I would ever take in PR is "Pitorro!!"

Expand full comment

I love Puerto Rico and am saddened to hear about the idiocy. I dread traveling to blue states. Luckily I live in the deep (very red) south. On the rare occasions a mask is required , like doctors offices, I can honestly say I don’t have one.

Expand full comment

I'm so glad to be living here in FL. I'm still traveling outside of the country, but generally only going places I can get away without having to mask up and follow those ridiculous rules when there.

Expand full comment

I am from Denmark and have begun investigating how to immigrate to US/Florida - not that easy though.

Expand full comment

Get a flight to Mexico. You can just walk in from there 😉

Expand full comment

No, he is (probably) a Caucasian of European ancestry, with a Western culture and Christian morality (even if not active in a church). Furthermore, it's likely that he is reasonably well educated and may even have been trained in a useful skill that would net him gainful employment and make him a useful member of a society. Such people have not been welcome in the USA since about 1965, and it shows.

Mr. (?) Dane, you might actually be better of staying where you are.

Expand full comment

spot on !

Expand full comment

What about sweden?

Expand full comment

Their COVID response has been great. On just about everything else they are leaning more towards cultural self destruction.

Expand full comment

Yeah, Swedes can come too.

Expand full comment

You can travel (fly) without proof of vaxx? Not required for immigration, international travel? If so, for how long will this remain?

Expand full comment

You can travel to some countries without vax or test. Coming back to US, you need to have a test. Unjabbed have to have it the day before you leave to come back. jabbed have up to 3 days.

Expand full comment

One of the biggest is Mexico. Easy entry there.

Expand full comment

I travelled from LA to Prescott and Gilbert AZ. 350 miles and the entire ecosystem changes. Even the most hipster AZ joints are 90% unmasked, even the ponytail soy boys don’t do it, it’s crazy.

Expand full comment

It's all about the local culture at this point.

Expand full comment

Sorry. I take living in a sane part of the world for granted. It’s shocking how our world has changed in two years.

Expand full comment

Moving to Florida from Los Angeles and never coming back myself https://www.fox13news.com/news/florida-lawmakers-consider-withdrawing-state-from-osha-during-special-session

Expand full comment

Ron De Santis is the best Governor in the US. I’m hoping to call him President someday.

Expand full comment

I voted Dem my whole life. Never for Biden, though. But I just can't deal with the constant reminder of Trump still lurking about and talks of him running in 2024. WTF? I'm ready to vote Republican but we need someone young and capable of attracting the thousands of pissed off democrats.

Expand full comment

Same here.

Expand full comment

I’m with you on that!

Expand full comment

Yes, that might be the US' gain, but FL's loss. 😶 Who will replace him? Three years ago we came within 0.4% of putting a gay meth head in the Governor's Mansion. 😬

Expand full comment

Living in Los Angeles has been soul crushing for 2 years. Ok it wasn't great before that but at least the weather made up for some of the crazy. Now the crazy is overwhelming and at some point the unvaxxed (me and my kids) won't be allowed to leave like those in Canada. Yay! America!

Expand full comment

I'm in neighboring Ventura County. I haven't worn a mask in months. I just walk into any store like I own the place and go about my business. I'm usually the only FREE person. But this last weekend, I went into grocery store, and there were 8 others without a face diaper. I make a point to comment how wonderful it is to see smiling faces! People are just so over all of this BS. Gruesome Newsom just extended his "emergency powers". He will never let it end...until we rise up and make it end.

Expand full comment

That is awesome. It just doesn't fly here. I wear my mask Newsom style (where your nose is exposed) and I even have Karens crying about that. Others have tried and they get chased around the store. There is power in numbers and I guess sooner or later I will have to take on the Karens and be that leader. Keep fighting Kitkat!

Expand full comment

Maybe if you wore a mask with MAGA in big red letters emblazoned on it, they would ask you to take it off! At least you can annoy Karen.

Expand full comment

or one that says "It doesn't help!"

Expand full comment

Looking on the bright side of the cab driver's story, the worse it gets the bigger the resistance grows. The means to defeat totalitarianism are baked in. But I completely agree that it's heavy being confronted with it all at once like you were.

Expand full comment

Sadly, by then it will be too late because over 80% of people are already jabbed. The spike proteins will do their thing and in a few years, lots of young and previously healthy people will be suffering the consequences of these experimental gene therapies. It angers me to know that my handsome and healthy 23y.o. nephew had to get the jabs in order to keep his job at a supermarket. Unemployment continues to be high, and people need their jobs to survive. He ended up in ER a few days later with heart palpitations. Seems okay for now but who knows if his heart issues will get worse? This is criminal.

Expand full comment

Not to be a Debbie Downer but heart conditions never get better. They just become "manageable".

Expand full comment

I am aware. The ER doc immediately rejected the association to the jabs, of course. Imagine the thousands of ER visits due to the jabs that are not being reported to VAERS.

Expand full comment

Of course, The Miracle (tm) can't be the problem! My grandmother has heart problems too, even before the vaxx. She had an emergency room visit a week after her second shot, complaining of heart problems. I know the vaxx didn't help that situation.

Expand full comment

I agree 100%. I live in the Midwest, western Iowa to be exact. I'd say we are 99% normal. About the only thing that brings back the bad memmories are doctor visits and traveling by air. It is literally like two separate universes! I can't comprehend how the lockdown and masked people can't study us and see that what they are doing is not accomplishing anything.

Expand full comment

Right? There is literally a big worldwide experiment going on and everyone has their heads in the sand! Where is the intellectual curiosity? I tell American parents our children haven't been masked at all throughout this and they blow up at me. Can't help that kind of religious devotee.

Expand full comment

unfortunately this is basically all of LATAM right now. I spent 4 months in Mexico earlier this year for work, and was amazed at how no one - not a single person - anywhere I went in the country questions the cult of mask or any of the tenets of the branch covidian faith. The situation is similar in other countries I keep up with - Colombia, Argentina, and on and on. I don't know what cultural aspects of LATAM have caused such unquestioning obedience, but it is disappointing to see this happen to countries I have spent so much time in

Expand full comment

Catholicism?

Expand full comment

You're making assumptions about the religious practices of Latin Americans and about the covid practices of Catholicism. I live NW of Philadelphia...masks were dropped long ago.

Expand full comment

No offense meant to anyone -- I have a friend from Mexico who blames the church for many of the country's ills -- it's the first thing to come to mind.

Expand full comment

No doubt the Catholic Church has caused harm to many, but you cannot make assumptions. I saw a sign the other day on a Methodist Church in the United States...no admission without vaccination. Many synagogues don't allow the unvaxxed (Alex Berenson is banned from his synagogue). Many non-religious organizations have restrictions.

Expand full comment

In principle I support the right of the owner to refuse admittance to his own private property. Yet many of those freedoms were taken away by "civil rights" laws. From another standpoint, isn't it curious that a religion will deny admittance to (presumably) its own members, yet in many cases even authoritarian governments exempt religious institutions from their mandates?

Expand full comment

I can still make assumptions though. Do it all the time in fact.

Expand full comment

My children attend Catholic school and they were the first students in the city back to in-person classes and the first to ditch masks. We are a very conservative diocese. I blame culture, not religion.

Expand full comment

That's something I've wondered about myself. I'm in Quebec, easily the most covid-obsessed part of Canada, and that really means something considering the rest of the country. It was a very Catholic place up until the 1960s or so, now it seems the media plays a similar role in society.

Expand full comment

Bingo!

Expand full comment

Noticed this in my Latin-heavy neighborhood, and was wondering the same thing.

Curiously, the local black population seems refreshingly cynical and lax about all this folderol. While my direct experience is only anecdotal, the fact that the County's Covid messaging is heavily targeting them is telling.

My GUESS is that Latin societies had more of a class continuum, with some degree of social mobility and intermarriage at the margin. Black Americans, however, knew (or believed) their upward mobility stopped at the color line. So their potential payoff and incentives were much less. Over generations that would tend to create very different cultural attitudes towards compliance with authority.

On the other hand, this may amount to a "just-so story" -- one can come up with an equally plausible-sounding narrative as to why the opposite ought to be true.

Gentry liberals clearly believe that Latins are more tractable, whatever the reason; hence the drive to import them as a new replacement underclass. (And the over-compensating kayfabe of "Black Lives Matter" hysteria.)

Expand full comment

The second group you mention is "cynical and lax" about damned near everything, to include habits and principles that tend to lead to success in life. 😐

I'm not Latino but have lived in, travelled widely and also have an academic degree in related fields. It may be over-simplifying, but you are entirely correct on a few counts. The Latin tradition had (and still has) a far stronger caste system or well-defined social structures. It's not quite feudal anymore, but those classes are quite clearly defined. There was and still is a MUCH stronger tradition of Catholicism in these cultures, which tend to be more supportive of the traditional society/power structure than the later Protestantism which rather shook up old institutions. That observation, by and large, remains valid even for major political movements (e.g. Socialism, Communism) of the 19th century onward. The revolutionary slogans of these movements notwithstanding, what usually results is, in effect, replacing the old control structure (the Church) with a government serving many of the same (worldly) functions. Even nations like Cuba, who would love to boast they've been a Communist paradise for 60+ years, still have strong vestiges of what look suspiciously like a feudal society. English-speakers, especially those steeped in a Liberal ethics, would be shocked at the rigid racial caste system endemic in these nations. Again, notwithstanding official denials of same. Latin America has a long tradition of bribery and corruption that makes whatever we complain about in America look pretty tame by comparison. Laws and rights are routinely ignored whenever it suits the ruling power's interests. Alas, the West seems to be well down that path, although we are probably still some decades behind the most craven examples of the Third World.

You couldn't be more wrong about social mobility in such societies. The occasional exception, an Evo Morales or a local drug kingpin, are just that, exceptions. The ruling structure, local or national, are the "Ladino," wealthy or at least well educated classes.

In sum: Yes, Latinos are pretty good proxies for sheep. This trait is of course not unique to them, but it is the rule.

Expand full comment

Consider that "success in life" can mean different things to different people.

When I was in law school, my lefty peers were fussing about how we needed to recruit more black students. My response was "because you think black people haven't suffered enough?" But people who go to law school naturally tend to think that going to law school is the proper measure of success. Everyone wants to believe that the hoops they jumped through are the hoops that matter.

That aside...

Latin societies may not have had a LOT of social mobility, but they didn't have a color line or one-drop rule. So advancement was possible, even if only at the margin. Over generations, that could add up to your descendants being better off. Corruption and lawlessness don't change that fact -- they just change the mechanisms. Black Americans didn't have that incentive.

But as I said, this is something of a speculative just-so story. Maybe it's a factor, but Gato's observations on dependency culture and adverse selection seem to have as much or more explanatory power.

Expand full comment

That surprises me about Mexico. But too much US influence I guess.

Expand full comment

This is disturbing because Mexico is an option if we leave Canada. It seems freer but it's hard to tell from outside what the reality on the ground is. I'd be interested in you expounding more on that if you have the time.

Expand full comment

I just traveled abroad to Colombia for a wedding. To enter Colombia there are ZERO restrictions regarding PCR tests, vaccines, etc. People there wear masks pretty much everywhere but don't look at you sideways if you don't wear one.

The return to the states was different. If you're a US citizen and are unvaxxed then you need a negative test with 24 hours of departure (if you're vaxxed it's 72 hours). The wedding party arranged for a lab to come to the hotel and administer the tests. Since most guests were vaxxed they made these arrangements for Saturday but we weren't leaving until Monday. The lab guy told my wife not worry, stating that the Saturday test would be fine for me. When she later found out the Saturday test wouldn't be good enough for me she angrily contacted the lab saying we wasted money getting a worthless test. If you guessed that they sent someone out to administer a new test on Sunday, you'd be WRONG. They just sent a new test result with Sunday's date. It's all theater.

Expand full comment

It is all theater. While vaccinations make sense for many reasons, including international travel, as as layman I guess I'm just too stupid to understand why a person must be proven (well, "tested") to not have an infection that is already endemic in nearly every location worldwide. They might as well try and keep the common cold and flu out.

Expand full comment

"this spell breaks when you’re away from it. you come back and with fresh eyes see it for what it really is because you can see it all at once and not in the little increments in which it was forced upon you."

You are describing my every trip to the airport now that we have been TV-less for about 5 years. Even the kids notice what mandatory airport Pravda-TV does: "Dad are there really that many [mixed race] families in America?" "Daddy, why do the TV people keep talking about Trump? He isn't President anymore....right?" "Honey they are saying the CDC wants 3 shots and 3 masks....what the heck?" Yes, a clean break and return reveals a lot of warts in our society.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

I once told an Amish guy that I was envious of them. He said "Told you so." So I pulled a gun on him and ran him over with my SUV.

Expand full comment

The only choice is to move. At this point, if your community is still participating in all the rituals then you have to assume they have adopted this as their new life. Beyond Governors, etc, by now if your fellow neighbors are loving the cult you must go elsewhere. There are still plenty of fantastic and fee places out there - rural Kentucky is one of them. Have never worn a mask here, not once. People are sane and polite. Sure, a few still wear a mask inside the grocery but it's rare.

Expand full comment

Masks are required here in WA but I refuse. Sometimes I'm the only one in the store without one, but every week I see more and more people without them. At home Depot we are now at the point where more people are maskless than wearing them. Set the example for the world you want to live in.

Expand full comment

"La Isla del Encanto", also meaning "hechizo', so untill the spell is over the sorcerer's will sow their enchant.

We're going through the dark side of existence, in words, actions and souls.

Light will soon return, right will again reign.

Expand full comment

"The course of action I'd suggest is a course of action I can't suggest."

Expand full comment

Sorry to ask, as I must have missed it if you mentioned it (and please ignore my question if you had chosen not to disclose this), but where did you spend your summer of no covidiocy? And is going back a viable option?

Expand full comment

Kitty was roaming around the mainland.

Expand full comment

I am contemplating how for so long the west criticized fundamentalist Islam about burkas and how it is abusive to women to make them cover their faces. Now we have a whole new global religion that makes everyone cover their faces and its great!

Expand full comment

I am waiting for the recommendation for all women to wear burkas. For your safety of course!!! Brandon will announce this any day

Expand full comment

We just got back to our home in HI from one in CO and it’s jarring, as your feeling going back to PR. We also just found out this am that we can’t go to see the debut of our Godson’s composition he wrote for the ladies philharmonic in Bogata because, starting today, you have to have a vax card to go most anywhere socially in Columbia. Insane!

A sliver of lining though is that CO gov. Polis said he won’t go back to masks after comparing his no mask policy of late with that of NM where masks have been mandated since no difference in Covid response has been observed. Someone actually paid attention to the natural experiments going on around and acted rationally!!

Expand full comment

yeah I'm in NM. Mask mandates since march 2020 basically. I never wore one, although I did tie on a bandana to go food shopping for a while (took it off as soon as I passed the door). But haven't done that since last Feb (2021). I'm done. Our governor is a Newsom Great Reset wannabe.

Expand full comment

I can hear the whiners already: "But, the CHILDREN. If it saves even one life..." Idiots.

Expand full comment

I’m Puerto Rican and went there in September to take my mothers ashes. I live in Arizona. It was horrible. It’s sad to see proud Puerto Ricans being subjugated that way.

Will probably not return. I really have no reason to go back.

Expand full comment

I haven't visited in 3 years and have no intention of going back. No desire to visit a land of tyranny. Who's to say they won't close beaches again? Total insanity. I miss my sisters but will be planning a family reunion in FLA where we can all roam freely.

Expand full comment

Interesting. I am feeling the same way about my homestate of Hawaii. I had a long summer of grieving, but I really don't see myself going back there maybe ever. Not after the stunts they've pulled.

Expand full comment

This depressed me so much. I can’t believe PR is doing this and the ppl are tolerating it.

Expand full comment

Too many of these "proud" Puerto Ricans are WILLINGLY being subjugated. And the tyrannical administration is all to happy to subjugate.

Expand full comment

Jeez, damned typos. *too* ...all TOO happy...

One of these days I hope Substack enters the 20th century and allows editing.

Expand full comment

remember that Puerto Ricans don't question authority. Period. Colonialism has made a strong mark in this regard. Add our worship of doctors and we'll never look elsewhere for answers. After all, the narrative of fear is strong in all msm, and PR is not the exception. And now with the longest Christmas season in the world, we'll be entertained until after Las Octavitas. So, politicians and corrupt doctors can do as they please and keep tightening the rules until the masses realize that it's too late.

Expand full comment

True. It’s like someone sucked out their brains. I guess I should say formerly proud.

Expand full comment

What a melancholy and disheartening experience to witness the degradation of your homeland. Sounds like they could use some gato power to rekindle their felinity and spark the resistance 💥

Expand full comment

What’s with all the cat stuff? Just kidding. Is that Leonardo DeCatrio and Kat Winslet?

Expand full comment

Prefer Kat Denning. Tomcats agree!

Expand full comment

Was recently considering a move to PR (splitting time) because of favorable tax conditions, it’s beautiful, friends there.. but this post feels like a deal breaker for me. I’m in CA and the last thing I’d want to do is go to somewhere more restrictive. I used to love Australia, NZ and even thought about spending a few years out there.. but now not sure when I’ll even visit again.

Where in the world is the most tolerant, most free? Least “under the spell” of this madness? I just want simple society & kind people. Wish we could rally a group of like minded and populate an island somewhere

Expand full comment

Same with me regarding Australia and NZ. Was planning a trip there for the end of 2020 but now I also can't envision visiting again. Or anywhere else lest a random lockdown occurs.

Expand full comment

It was my dream for years to lose a year of my life running around in the outback. Now I even treat Australian goods with the same complete contempt as anything from the PRC.

Totalitarian states do not receive my custom.

Expand full comment

We're hoping to fix things, but you'll have to wait and see if it works...

Expand full comment

I've been told that a lot in the last 2 years. :)

Expand full comment

I live in Texas so I never get hassled anymore. I have decided if I do to just say “I’m vaccinated”. Let them tell me the vaccines don’t work.

Expand full comment

You should add, "Well then you know that about masks too."

Expand full comment

I saw a video (on Telegram) of Houston Dept of Health employees knocking on doors in an apt complex. What a shame that HOU is another SF or NYC. I lived in Katy for 5 months (Jan-May) so that my sophomore could attend school (in nazi Oregon all public schools were online only). Visiting HOU always put me on edge because of the level of enforcement (i.e. Color Factory, restaurants, etc.).

Expand full comment

Houston is almost as bad as Austin/San Antonio. I’m in the burbs of Dallas. Dallas isn’t great but my city is very conservative. I just stay west and I’m good.

Expand full comment

It is difficult to understand that people will delegate their rights to an unseen and unanswering god aka government. For many the act of thinking through a problem and coming up with an actual solution is too bothersome and maybe in some smug cases, beneath them. "We have government to do that for us. That is why we pay taxes." There are vast swarths of humanity that look at that stupid screen in their living rooms and swear by the often inaccurate and nearly always incomplete information used to tell the viewer what to do about anything from shopping for gasoline to their very health and wellbeing. There are so many pharmaceutical commercials it is easy to see who controls content on the screen if, of course, you think about those things.

SW FL is beautiful this time of year. Leave your mask at home - it's useless anyway.

Expand full comment

The way the taxi guy feels.. yea that's how I feel. Trusted you the first time, why should I trust you a second time.

Expand full comment

So sorry Gato.

I'm in western Washington state and it sounds the same.

I do not wear mask at grocery store or Costco now and usually get away with it. Can you try that there? What happens?

Restaurants are the worst. They are usually VERY strict. So weird. We don't go anymore, even it it's not a vax pass place.

The vet clinics are also horrible. Worse than the dentist, which is cray-cray strict.

Expand full comment

There used to be a Canadian dentist site that said masks are useless but the government took it down.

Expand full comment

King Jay knows we'd all go to maskless stores if we could, that's why we're still stuck in mask hell.

Expand full comment

My mask, which I only wore a few times then ditched the nonsense completely says “This is a Lie”.

Hardly effective I know, but at least I stood out from the covidiots in some way and did not appear as a willing or even eager participant / enabler.

Expand full comment

Exactly, it is a lie. Thank you.

Expand full comment

The Turkey thinks the farmer is his friend right up until the day before Thanksgiving. I'm not sure what the appropriate thing to say to a cat that finds itself behind enemy Branch Covidian Territory is. If you were human I would probably say something like "Sorry about your loss." But I know you area fierce feline, so I will just say: "You be you, and don't take any shit off anybody."

Expand full comment

Wear an emperor's mask? They can't see it? Too bad.

I wore one in Colorado for one week, and then I said, "no more." Nobody said anything to me even though I was usually the only one not wearing a mask.

Expand full comment

On a selfish note, gato, if you're a golfer I'd like to invite you to a round of golf at the course of your choosing (other than TPC Dorado...too pricey!). Coco Beach, Bahia Beach, El Conquistador, maybe The Links at Royal Isabela. You name it.

Y'know, to celebrate your return to tyranny and totalitarianism.

Expand full comment

I live in southern New Hampshire and we still have a lot of maskaholics:

https://newtube.app/user/MyAmericana/I1gd8QM

Went to Costco the other day and somewhere in the 80% range still wore masks. It's not required.

I was in South Carolina for a week in early October and felt free! Close to zero masking. After getting off the plane with my mask on, the first hint of this was a lot of people not wearing masks in baggage claim. I was maskless for almost a week until the return flight. This may be my new destination if I lose my job due to jab mandates.

Expand full comment

I used to live in New Hampshire (now in Puerto Rico), my client base is still in New Hampshire. I return for a couple of months during tax season each year. This past year, March and April, yeah, I got into a couple of verbal exchanges with mask Karens who didn't like that I was maskless. It was still pretty pathetic.

And NH has a GOP governor, to boot. He let his asinine mask mandate expire, I think it was around April 14, but you wouldn't know it. After that date, people were still masking up. It's like some segment of mankind lost all ability to think critically.

Expand full comment

Most have the ability, but perhaps lack the training, and even if that, they tend to not exercise it.

Expand full comment

Same is true here in Arlington, VA, though to a lesser extent. Some of us remain sane even in this People's Republic. We are not an island, so one only has to drive 35 minutes south on I-95 to find regular human beings living their life as though the last 20 months never happened.

Expand full comment

It is fu*king insane here in PR, and too many people here are spineless, frightened sheep who apparently possess zero critical thinking and reading comprehension skills.

Granted, there are some US states that don't deserve statehood, but the genie's out of the bottle for them. Can't undo that.

I haven't been an advocate for statehood for PR for a variety of other reasons, but the degree to which soooooo many people here seem unsuited for freedom and its attendant civic duties and responsibilities is sufficient, IMO, to fight against statehood.

Expand full comment

Great post! I feel the same way going from AZ back into WA.

Expand full comment

meanwhile my cousin from UT wants to move to WA because those people "care so much about their community." SMH Her actual name is Karen.

Expand full comment

I actually feel kinda bad for all the people named Karen out there. The sound of the name itself is pretty. And Karen Carpenter had one of the best voices of the 20th century. Karen. A nice name.

Expand full comment

Yes, and if you'll pardon the pun, she was on top of the world. Yet for all her talent, fame and wealth, she died at age 33 of (in so many words) a psychological disorder. This is not meant to trash her, or women named Karen, or women. It does serve as a warning that just because you have it all, doesn't mean you won't throw it all away 😐. There is a moral in there, for nations as well as individuals.

Expand full comment

Yes, she certainly suffered mental illness with her anorexia. I read a biography on her and how she was treated within her immediate family, especially by her mother, explains a lot. But I choose to remember her silky, warmed honey of a voice, myself. Makes me happy just to listen.

Expand full comment

Oh absolutely. We used to laugh about it together when she wasn’t being a “karen.” But her comment was gross and I’m over here being petty about it. If my name was a cultural code word I would be mighty careful not to embody that stereotype.

Expand full comment

Sounds like your Karen is a good sport. I always try to keep in mind people who don’t agree with me just have a different viewpoint, but all aren’t bad people. However, the Faucis, the Gottliebs, the Walenskys, etc of the world… well, I’m not too sure they have anyone’s best interests at heart except their own.

Expand full comment

this is important to remember and I usually do--we all want the same thing after all, even if we have different ways to achieve that. however I do have a problem with people who think they get to decide things for everyone else. even though I don't want a shot, other people are perfectly free to get one if they feel it's a good idea. I don't want to enact legislation to prevent them from accessing it. why would they want to enact legislation to force me to take it? that puts one up there with the people you list imo. though there's not as much fault since they are just parroting propoganda.

Expand full comment

I mean I'm sorry for you but this is good news. I cheered when my very liberal relatives moved to Cali after the 2016 election "because we can't live among hidden Trump voters." they're having a ball there now! ha ha (not).

Expand full comment

Yeah at some point it will come back to bite them. I'm not a big fan of geographic sorting though. I think it might prolong our problems.... we shall see.

Expand full comment

it's the only way. other than violence.

Expand full comment

Maybe you’re on to something. I just think at some point we need to work it out. Only so many people are able to up and leave. And I’m not sure we will all fit in Sweden, Florida and Texas. It’s the same way I’ve thought about refugees for years. Of course they all deserve a better life and we shouldn’t harass them for taking desperate steps. But wouldn’t we all be better off if other countries were nice places to live too? How can we make that happen?

Expand full comment

Next time let us secede 🤠

Expand full comment

Oh gross.

Expand full comment

that is the exact adjective I replied to her comment with!

Expand full comment

Reposting this at the top of the thread for those of us who live in covidocracies where masks are required. An excellent strategy for dealing with shopping sans mask: https://strongandfreecanada.org/vlog/going-mask-free-stress-free-iron-will-on-everything-ep-2/

Expand full comment

This sentence caught my eye:

"they walk muzzled and bovine though stores and supermarkets."

And it reminded me of something that I recently wrote to a friend:

I was poking around the origins of the word "vaccine" and apparently it evolves out of Jenner's work creating an innoculation for variolae vaccinae or cowpox. Vaccinia being the Latin for cow, over time "vaccinated" became synomous with "innoculated" like how kleenix means tissue.

So everytime someones says that they are "vaccinated" they are basically saying that they are "cowed" and that definition:

cowed, adjective

frightened into submission or compliance.

Yikes...vaccintated vs unvaccinated. Cowed vs. uncowed. Frightened vs. unafraid.

So is it:

C O V I D - 19

or is it really:

C O W E D - 19

hmmmm.....

Expand full comment

Well, if we start fighting back, maybe it will be known as “The Cattle Rebellion”.

Expand full comment