{"id":1517,"date":"2021-08-05T13:29:27","date_gmt":"2021-08-05T13:29:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bikingwithmike.com\/?p=1517"},"modified":"2021-08-05T13:29:27","modified_gmt":"2021-08-05T13:29:27","slug":"august-5-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bikingwithmike.com\/?p=1517","title":{"rendered":"August 5, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u2019m also looking into international healthcare insurance.\u00a0 Medicare, in general, does not cover medical expenses overseas.\u00a0 Although I do have a supplemental insurance plan, I don\u2019t believe it covers international medical expenses either \u2013 more investigation required.\u00a0 In these days of COVID, I will make sure that I have some type of medical travel insurance before I head off over the pond.\u00a0 \u00a0In addition to having insurance, I am continually monitoring the websites for the CDC and the Portuguese and UK (I\u2019m flying through Heathrow) governments since quarantine and testing requirements can change very quickly.\u00a0 Right now, about 8 weeks before I am supposed to leave, all of the quarantine requirements have been lifted for US travelers to the UK and Portugal.\u00a0 However, there are still testing requirements in place so I will have to plan in the logistics of getting COVID tests before I leave and before I return.\u00a0 The old days of just buying a ticket and getting on a plane are long gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, speaking of healthcare, the Republican leadership in this country seems to be doing everything in their power to ensure this pandemic drags out longer and longer and kills more and more Americans.\u00a0 Just this morning there is a picture of our own Governor Gianforte (Republican) and his wife that was taken yesterday at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport going viral here in the state.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Because, in spite of a Federal mandate that everyone in airports is required to wear a mask and in the face of increasing case numbers here in Montana, the Governor and his wife were completely maskless. Everyone else milling around the airport appeared to be complying and wearing masks.\u00a0 \u00a0Gianforte and his wife obviously believe they are above the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Governor\u2019s office issued some BS statement that they could not find masks at the airport and were there only a short time while waiting for a family member.\u00a0 Bullshit.\u00a0 Unless you have been living under a rock you know that when you go to the airport, you need to be masked.\u00a0 This is not a new requirement.\u00a0 It has been in place for months and been widely discussed in the news.\u00a0 A true leader leads by example.\u00a0 It is clear that Gianforte has no interest in trying to do anything to try to forestall the rising spread of the COVID Delta variant in the state.\u00a0 He is not worthy of the office.\u00a0 I guess I\u2019d better be careful.\u00a0 If he were to read this, perhaps he\u2019d track me down and body slam me like he did that reporter a few years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then, of course, we have the Republican governors of Florida and Texas, where cases are skyrocketing, passing laws and issuing edicts against anyone in their states mandating the use of masks.\u00a0\u00a0 These laws defy all common sense and are clearly politically motivated.\u00a0 Make no mistake, these governors are playing with people\u2019s lives and these idiotic and irresponsible acts will result in the needless deaths of scores of people.\u00a0 As I was thinking about this, this morning I decided to look up the definition of \u2018Crimes Against Humanity\u2019.\u00a0 \u00a0The definition is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201ca deliberate act, typically as part of a systematic campaign, that causes human suffering or death on a large scale\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given that definition, it certainly seems that the irresponsible acts of these Republicans who continue to defy public health recommendations and those who continue to propagate misinformation do, in fact, constitute crimes against humanity.\u00a0 This continued campaign of misinformation and irresponsible, medical-defying laws will unquestionably lead to thousands of unnecessary deaths.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of these governors argue that their decisions are in support of \u2018individual rights\u2019 and a stand against \u2018government overreach\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0 What about my rights?\u00a0 Don\u2019t I have the right to \u2018life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness\u2019?\u00a0 A society that allows everyone to do whatever the hell they want without any regard to the common good is anarchy.\u00a0 There comes a point when all of us need to do the right thing to benefit the community.\u00a0 You can either be part of the solution or you can be part of the problem.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am a great believer in taking personal responsibility for one\u2019s own life and actions.\u00a0 The fact is, if you make stupid decisions that are detrimental to your wellbeing and those close to you, that is unfortunate, but you made the choice.\u00a0\u00a0 It is a person\u2019s right to make those decisions.\u00a0 However, the right to make stupid decisions does not cancel my right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.\u00a0 And right now, with the Delta variant of this COVID-19 pandemic accelerating, the segment of the population refusing to do their part and get a vaccination and abide by masking protocols, is affecting, and in some cases, jeopardizing the health of myself and my family.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a person chooses to go into the back country without bear spray, a firearm and proper equipment and they die, that is unfortunate.\u00a0 However, if that same person is camping in a communal campground and chooses, because it is their \u2018right\u2019, to not properly secure their food, the entire community is at risk from bear attacks.\u00a0 There is absolutely no difference between that scenario and what is happening now with the Delta variant.\u00a0 The community is under attack and, as such, it is incumbent upon everyone in the community to do their part to stop these attacks.\u00a0 This is a solvable problem.\u00a0 It is within our control to solve.\u00a0 All it takes is rolling up your damned sleeve and getting a little pin prick.\u00a0 If you are unwilling to do your part to help solve this crisis, you have absolutely no credibility to be bitching about the consequences.\u00a0 When there is an obvious solution to a problem and people refuse to exercise it, the only word that comes to mind is \u2018stupidity\u2019. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"