Regarding the Aug. 19 article on the commissioner’s meeting on Aug. 17:

No human activity is without error, science included. Science does, however, have a process to correct itself. Theories and publications are reviewed with a robust procedure to verify the accuracy and check for diligent work. Scientists acknowledge errors and disappointing results and those who publish deliberately false reports are discredited in their community and sometime lose their job or license. Facts evolve as new information is discovered and refined. Facebook, social media, unverified medical or science articles, etc., are not the equal of science. Being loud, strident and intense does not mean competence or knowledge. A forum for free speech is just that, not a platform for unproven scientific theories to be taken seriously.

Private pilots of single engine Cessnas do not train Air Force pilots to fly modern warplanes; no one takes their car to the dentist or asks their plumber for tax advice. Why would anyone listen to untrained people on the internet on medical matters? Why is vaccine and disease research not trusted while so many of us willingly trust the medical profession for other issues? Airplanes, computers, cars (the list is endless) are all based on modern science and for better or worse most people accept that.

While anyone can voice their opinion on the decisions politicians make, no one should attempt to coerce them to overturn legitimate health protocols made by medical professionals. Commissioners supervise county staff according to laws to see that public health is addressed to professional standards, not to political agendas by untrained voters on medical issues. Individual county employees can and should be held responsible for inappropriate actions, not for following established medical protocols. My guess is the county health board owes responsibility to the regulation of health for the benefit of all Sanders Co. residents, not just a few.

Patriotism can also be wearing an annoying mask and getting a shot to keep fellow citizens from catching a disease that is fatal to some of us. Sacrifice, a small one in this case, is usually considered a positive when done for the greater good.

Support the commissioners and county health board as they follow the established protocols of disease control. Let them know there are voters and citizens with another view of the mask and vaccine issue. Masks and vaccines do work; ill-and-misinformed people in a public meeting with a declared political agenda should not be allowed to make policy decisions regarding employment of county workers.

Steve Oswald,

Thompson Falls