The mandates are opposed by those who want each of us to make health decisions for ourselves, with our families and trusted doctors, and don't want our health decisions dictated by politicians or corporations that know nothing about our medical history.

The mandates are opposed by those who have seen medical exemptions from physicians denied by corporations sight unseen, and watched workers get fired for not getting a shot that their own doctors recommend against...

...The mandates are opposed by those who were troubled when Covid-recovered nurses and doctors, who worked in the trenches taking care of us for many months while some of us had the privilege of working from home, were let go for refusing a vaccine.

A few weeks ago, while promoting my new book, Dear Hartley, on The View, I was shut down and labeled as "misinformation" when I stated well-known (or one would hope, well-known) facts from the CDC Director and the CDC's website that the vaccinated also get and transmit the disease. Of course, this has been known for some time.

In an appearance on CNN in August, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said with regard to the vaccines, "But what they can't do anymore is prevent transmission."

The CDC's website states that "...vaccinated people infected with Delta can transmit the virus...The masking recommendation was updated to ensure the vaccinated public would not unknowingly transmit virus to others..."

Covid cases in the vaccine passport capitals of the country, New York City and Los Angeles, are skyrocketing. Colleges and universities with vaccine mandates, including Princeton University, George Washington University, NYU, Middlebury College, and Cornell University, have canceled events and moved exams online, or gone remote altogether, due to surging cases among the vaccinated...

...There have been reported outbreaks among the vaccinated at Broadway shows where the cast and audience are mandated to be vaccinated, outbreaks among the vaccinated and boosted at holiday parties with vaccine requirements, outbreaks among the vaccinated on cruises that require vaccination, and outbreaks among the vaccinated in the NBA, NFL, and NHL. The list goes on. And on.

My point here is not about whether or not you should get vaccinated. That decision should be yours, not mine or anyone else's, and I respect your decision, whatever it may be. When my parents decided to get vaccinated, in consultation with their physicians, I made those appointments for them and fully supported them in their individual decisions.

I am not anti-vaxx. I am fighting for each of us, with our unique medical histories, risk factors, and beliefs, to have the chance to make the best decision for ourselves.

But because both the vaccinated and unvaccinated can get and transmit the disease, the mandates are a completely unjustified power grab that promote active discrimination.

It's pretty clear to everyone with active brain cells that the vaccine mandate campaign for "public health" has nothing to do with health.

If this were about health, medical exemptions written by physicians would be accepted. Verifiable natural immunity would be acknowledged. "Experts" would be talking about curbing risk factors like obesity and embracing preventative health measures like eating unprocessed food, exercising, and taking quality supplements. If this were about health, then individual risk-benefit analysis, which is the backbone of any good medical practice, would be prioritized.

And if it were about health, then you, who knows a lot more about your medical history than I ever will, would be in charge of what goes into your body. Americans are also questioning now, more than ever, the immense power we've surrendered to big corporations over our once-private decisions. Many are doing what we can to remind those corporations that their power has limits and does not govern our every move.

I stand in support of your right to make your own health decisions, whatever they may be.

On ABC's This Week this past Sunday, Dr. Fauci was asked whether we are going to get to a point when face masks stop being mandated on airplanes. His response: "I don't think so." To those who felt that a little compliance would end the mandate onslaught, don't forget that compliance with tyranny only grows its thorns.