I don't agree that the government should be "punishing" people per say for not wearing masks
Totally agree but this just highlights the inherent flaw built into the system; education. Kids were never taught, for generations, how to think properly: critically, skeptically, even aginst the teachers teaching them how to think. So without punishment - which isn't an option - the only results are extremely dire and there's no fix quicker than multiple generations.
As mentioned in another comment, in Asia, people just inherently understand that wearing masks is a societal good, and working together will help to fight this thing off. Freedom isn't even relevant, since they can still exercise their every day freedoms, just with a mask. Like if it's cold, you wear gloves.
It's quite magical how freedom came into the debate in the US to begin with. If it hadn't maybe the whole use of threats and force wouldn't have even been considered, because like here in Asia, everyone would have just done the common sense things.
when it comes to outright abolishing police
I have seen some fringe idiots actually suggesting abolishing the police - such as that ridiculous autonomous zone - but the movement as far as I can tell is largely misunderstood in that they do literally just mean reduce the funding of the police in order to put that money elsewhere where its more valuable for the health of the community, preventing crimes before police are even necessary. Even paedophiles are found to seek help when the help is available for them, before they even commit the crimes their desires force on them.
borderline anarchy
Honestly, I don't think the ones who even want full anarchy are actually capable of it in practice. I get that it can work in small groups or tribes, but in the modern world it just ain't happening - but that's a debate for another day!
Too many variables. The more people you involve in anything, the more likely it is to fail.