Ross: The federal mask order is not in place to suffocate you

President Biden’s federal mask order officially kicked in this week, so masks are now mandatory on all forms of public transport from subways to airplanes.

And I’ve already had an email from an agitated listener saying, “enough is enough is enough.”

So I took a look at the order, all 11 pages, and I can report the CDC is not out to suffocate you.

There are the usual exceptions for kids under two and people with medical conditions, and while you’re eating. But it ALSO says if you’re feeling winded, you may remove the mask until you feel better.

You may ALSO remove it while talking to a hearing-impaired person who needs to read lips. Seems risky, but there it is.

In fact, there’s a footnote that reads: “CDC does not intend to rely primarily on … criminal penalties but instead strongly encourages and anticipates widespread voluntary compliance.”

A polite way of saying – we COULD kick you off the plane and arrest you, but we REALLY don’t want to.

And actually, it doesn’t use the phrase “kick you off,” it says “disembarking.” Far more dignified.

Bottom line: I know all this is annoying, but an assault on freedom? To me, the assault on freedom is being tethered to a ventilator in the ICU.

By the way, you are also free to remove the mask “If the oxygen masks drop due to a sudden loss of cabin pressure.”

Who says the government can’t be flexible!

Listen to Seattle’s Morning News weekday mornings from 5 – 9 a.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Follow @http://www.twitter.com/thedaveross