modified

  Modified behaviors. That is what came to mind this morning as I read a posting on Facebook. This post was one of those informational ones concerning sanitizing the handle on your shopping carts. The big warning was drug users leaving residue on those handles that would get transferred to your hands. These drugs like Fentanyl will kill you! It only takes a micro-gram on your skin to do that. Yes, it isn't just germs any more, we need to protect ourselves from those hazards as well. A behavior modification is in order. Do not touch anything without first sanitizing that surface! 

  I see a good number of people doing just that, I've even known some that practice that all the time. I refuse to become that paranoid. Yes, that is exactly how I view all of that, a bit of paranoia. It is a state I feel being fostered by our own government. We are being subjected to a constant barrage of warnings and advice to "protect" ourselves from these invisible enemies. If it isn't a virus or a microbe, it's the climate or someone spreading drugs on door knobs and handles. Ever try opening a door with that little foot thing they have taken to putting on the bathroom doors? Ridiculous. 

  Now as far as Fentanyl on the handle of your shopping cart I fail to see how that would happen. If indeed a small speck of that stuff on my skin will kill me just how did the person with it on their hands get to the store? Shouldn't they be dead! That's what I'm being told. But ok, wipe that handle with the little sanitizing wipe if that eases your fears. It will clean the handle, no doubt about that. So now you go shopping feeling all secure. Well, what about all the objects you pick up while shopping? Are they all sanitized and germ free? I don't see how they could be but no one is concerned with any of that. Well drug users wouldn't' be touching anything in the store they wiped their hands on the shopping cart handle first, you're good.

  I wash my hands after using the restroom and before eating, common sense actions. I do not sanitize shopping cart handles. I grew up in the time when a little dirt on your hands wasn't a big concern, just wipe your hands on your jeans, good enough. I didn't sneeze into my elbow either, I still don't do that. I just cover my nose as best as I can and turn away from other people that are present. I do the same if I'm coughing, just cover my mouth and turn away from others. Today I see those burying their face into their elbows, making a big show of that to send that message, I'm protecting you! 

  I remember when I was told I had to get that covid vaccine to stop the spread, to protect others. My issue being the same doctors saying that also determined getting that vaccine did not stop you from spreading it. You could still transfer that virus regardless. The real reason for that insistence was to ease the fears they had already created. In short, if you don't do that, you will die and kill everyone else by spreading the virus. Your only hope was staying six foot away from others or isolation! After that keep getting those boosters! Forever! 

  I do see a trend in behavior modification. I see a marked increase in paranoia in the general public. Oh it can go by many other names but what it is is fear. Fear of germs, fear of microbes and virus's. Fear of everything! Fear of voicing your opinion. Fear of being ostracized by the inclusive people because you aren't including them. And the biggest fear of all, the government isn't going to help me! I'm going to be expected to take care of myself! I can't do it alone! The government should provide for my needs. I need my emotional support goat to function and the government should enforce that. I can take my goat to work and my employer should be required to accommodate that. The government should provide me with the funds necessary to start a business. If that business fails I don't need to pay the money back, I just get another loan and try again. Yes, the biggest fear today is that everyone will receive equal treatment. There has to be exceptions and exemptions. 

  There is a change in behavior. It's a shift from independence to dependence. A dependence on government to provide, not to protect. The purpose of government is to ensure a level playing field, to protect us from those that would exploit others. Government exists to provide for the common defense, maintain order and discipline and provide for common services. Government is dependent upon people, the people should not be dependent upon government. Now that's a behavioral modification we need to institute. A return to independence is in order.