What a tragedy to read that despite the science, non-medical officials defer to their bias. Where does this end? Will they be making policing, firefighting, educational, conservation, air quality decisions and or military decisions without deferring to experts because they feel they know better? want to cater to a demographic that is suspicious of all action? Now, they refer to PeaceHealth as the "left"! Ridiculous. Anyone that has a different view is the "left" in their view. Ridiculous!
No one enjoyed the COVID restrictions. Those restrictions were imposed to preserve lives and did just that at a high economic cost. The restrictions were also placed because the government and medical profession did not know enough about the virus. It is a shame that economic rights trump health. Shop away and live as though nothing is wrong and disguise this as "medical freedom". Ridiculous!
Being an elected official is a difficult job that open one to articles and opinion, such as this. That said, the officials are charged with making informed decisions, not decisions based on a gut feeling without factual basis and masking the chutzpah with slogans. This is dangerous. That is irresponsible! That endangers people, here, health standards. Decisions are often unpopular and can be modified at a later date. Democracy is fragile and this is opinion reminds us that we need to remain engaged and constantly re-examine our policies and achievements. A re-examination does not mean jettison everything because the previous policy failed to hit the proverbial "bulls-eye". The policy was close, but not perfect or desirable ... but it was necessary and going around demanding "freedom" as a way to jettison it is irresponsible. Let's elect and choose officials that are more serious about their charge.
With the county commissioners part of the board of health, that’s 3 non-medical professionals on the board. Are the other 4 members part of the medical community? It seems to me that the board of health should have a majority of medical professionals on it.
We have to vote these people out of office every last one of them, they aren't there to govern, they don't know how to govern, it requires give and take, they only know how to take and bully others.
Ignorance is damaging. It is clear that public education k-12 inadequately prepares people to understand the scientific method. Science attempts to separate causality from coincidence by the use of a specific methodology. Public schools need to spend time inculcating this methodology in students. I think basic statistics should be part of the public education. This would help in the understanding of the statistical evidence for public health measures, otherwise it all seems arbitrary. It ain't.
Chairman Lane is an ideologist and not an epidemiologist. There are libertarian extremists who believe that individual liberty means you have a right to be a disease vector. The Supreme Court ruled on this issue in Jacbson v. Massachutests in 1905. In a 7-2 decision they upheld the authority of the state to enforce compulsory vaccination laws. The state had an interest in protecting the public health and safety of citizens.
The stated that individual liberty is not absolute and is subject to the police power of the state. Subsequent decisions have upheld this standard. Ideological extremism of any flavor is wrecked on the shoals of reality.
I wish this standard would protect us from stupidity, but I guess that is going too far.
Thank you Andre for the very complete review of an important issue. I think you, Mary Jane and Dennis are right. Hang in there and thanks.
What a tragedy to read that despite the science, non-medical officials defer to their bias. Where does this end? Will they be making policing, firefighting, educational, conservation, air quality decisions and or military decisions without deferring to experts because they feel they know better? want to cater to a demographic that is suspicious of all action? Now, they refer to PeaceHealth as the "left"! Ridiculous. Anyone that has a different view is the "left" in their view. Ridiculous!
No one enjoyed the COVID restrictions. Those restrictions were imposed to preserve lives and did just that at a high economic cost. The restrictions were also placed because the government and medical profession did not know enough about the virus. It is a shame that economic rights trump health. Shop away and live as though nothing is wrong and disguise this as "medical freedom". Ridiculous!
Being an elected official is a difficult job that open one to articles and opinion, such as this. That said, the officials are charged with making informed decisions, not decisions based on a gut feeling without factual basis and masking the chutzpah with slogans. This is dangerous. That is irresponsible! That endangers people, here, health standards. Decisions are often unpopular and can be modified at a later date. Democracy is fragile and this is opinion reminds us that we need to remain engaged and constantly re-examine our policies and achievements. A re-examination does not mean jettison everything because the previous policy failed to hit the proverbial "bulls-eye". The policy was close, but not perfect or desirable ... but it was necessary and going around demanding "freedom" as a way to jettison it is irresponsible. Let's elect and choose officials that are more serious about their charge.
With the county commissioners part of the board of health, that’s 3 non-medical professionals on the board. Are the other 4 members part of the medical community? It seems to me that the board of health should have a majority of medical professionals on it.
Laughingstock is right! I’m becoming embarrassed to say I live here!
We have to vote these people out of office every last one of them, they aren't there to govern, they don't know how to govern, it requires give and take, they only know how to take and bully others.
Ignorance is damaging. It is clear that public education k-12 inadequately prepares people to understand the scientific method. Science attempts to separate causality from coincidence by the use of a specific methodology. Public schools need to spend time inculcating this methodology in students. I think basic statistics should be part of the public education. This would help in the understanding of the statistical evidence for public health measures, otherwise it all seems arbitrary. It ain't.
Chairman Lane is an ideologist and not an epidemiologist. There are libertarian extremists who believe that individual liberty means you have a right to be a disease vector. The Supreme Court ruled on this issue in Jacbson v. Massachutests in 1905. In a 7-2 decision they upheld the authority of the state to enforce compulsory vaccination laws. The state had an interest in protecting the public health and safety of citizens.
The stated that individual liberty is not absolute and is subject to the police power of the state. Subsequent decisions have upheld this standard. Ideological extremism of any flavor is wrecked on the shoals of reality.
I wish this standard would protect us from stupidity, but I guess that is going too far.