You have championed states without mask mandates and comparatively low Covid cases. You acknowledge those states still have counties and businesses with mandates. So what was your point?
Simple Floggy, states without mandatory, state wide lockdowns have fared equal to or better than those that have them.
Are you saying the concept escapes you that when a state removes a "mandatory" mask mandate, that local jurisdictions can't have different rules?
As mentioned, my state of MD opened up back in October. My county chose not to. The majority of the state went back to life. Just like MS and FL and TX and SD and ND etc.