I always love reading what Mike Rowe has to say. Because there’s always so much common sense to it and he’s often able to simplify complex questions.

Rowe was asked by a guy named Steve Manchin if he was going to use his platform to urge people to get vaccinated, now that “Delta is raging.”

Rowe’s answer on Facebook? No.

Rowe started off by saying that he was vaccinated, but he wasn’t going to dispense medical advise to anyone else. Not only that but he regretted the PSAs that he did appear in early on when lockdowns were being pushed to not overrun the hospitals and all we needed was “two weeks to flatten the curve.” He did one where he spoke about all of us being in the same boat, but now said he was quite wrong – that while we were in the same storm, we were not all in the same boat. Some prospered during this time, others hung on for dear life. So he said he wasn’t going to preach anything now, but just say there’s a risk with anything getting vaccinated and not getting vaccinated.

But that’s when Rowe really went to town on how we have all, as a country, been jerked around by the ‘experts’ and the politicians on this. It would be hard to find it better said than this.

Obviously, I made my decision, but again, I’m not a doctor. Thus, I am not equipped to answer questions like, “But Mike, if the vaccine is so safe, why hasn’t the FDA approved it? Or, “But Mike, if the vaccine is so effective, why is the government now treating us all as if we’re unvaccinated?”

These are fair and reasonable questions, and I have no logical reply. Here in California if you’re inside, you must now wear a mask, vaccinated or not. What kind of message does that send? Yes, we have a new variant, and from what I’ve read, it’s highly contagious, but far less virulent – especially if you’re vaccinated. According to the CDC, just one 1 in 27,000 vaccinated people have contracted it. That means if you’re vaccinated, you’re more likely to get struck by lightning than contract COVID. And yet, people are once again calling for more lockdowns, more restrictions, and more compliance from those who already got their shots.

The fact is, millions of reasonable Americans have every right to feel confused and skeptical. Those people you refer to, Steve – the ones now telling us that we can “get back to normal just as soon as everyone is vaccinated” – those are the same people who said, “two weeks to flatten the curve!” Those are the same people who told us that masks were “useless” before they told us they were “critical.” Those are the same people who told us that a return to normalcy would occur just as soon as “the most vulnerable” among us were vaccinated. Then, just as soon as “half the population” was vaccinated. Then, just as soon as we achieved “herd immunity.” Those are the same people who told us they wouldn’t trust ANY vaccine developed under the last administration. Now, those very same people are belittling the skeptics!

If this were a Peanuts cartoon, those people would be Lucy, pulling away the football at the last moment while a nation full of Charlie Browns land flat on their collective back, over and over and over again. Those people you refer to – elected officials, journalists, and most disturbingly, more than a few medical experts – have moved the goalposts time and time again, while ignoring the same rules and restrictions they demand we all live by. They’re always certain, usually wrong, incapable of shame, and utterly void of humility. Is it any wonder millions find them unpersuasive?

Rowe concluded, saying every American who wants to get the vaccine has had the opportunity to get it and they’re not going to be persuaded by him. He said that if the government really wanted to take sensible action, they needed to dispense with the politics and the celebrities, and just provide the hard transparent data to people.

“In other words, give us the facts, admit your mistakes, try on a bit of humility, and stop treating the unvaccinated like the enemy,” Rowe finished.

Thank you, Mike Rowe, because that’s exactly what so many have been feeling and thank you for saying it so well for all of us.