What??? I thought the health board had to have at least one representative who was also one of the three Ada Co. Commissioner positions?

What Erico49 said!!

As an INDEPENDENT, I’m always a little leery of “party faithful” of either party in positions of influence. It’s far worse in DC, but plenty evident in that building downtown… the one with the big dome. Loyalty to PARTY is far more important than doing what’s right for your constituents.

Yeah… I’m fully in favor of TERM LIMITS at all levels of gummint.

Labrador is the right choice if he believes that adults are mature enough to make their own decisions. Many of us have seemed to forgotten that we have agency, and the responsibility that comes with it to assess risk. Deciding whether or not to wear a face mask is your right, despite lack of evidence that masks prevent the spread of the virus or that this disease poses any risk for 95% of the population.

JJ nailed it. Individual choice, but don’t step on my toes in exercising that choice.

So Jo Jo, explain how the position was,
or would be, more non political when held by an elected County official who campaigned with party affiliation and endorsement.

Why is it that every argument put forth by pro-maskers is almost religiously based upon the false premise that masks, especially the common, cheap ones and bandannas, are highly effective at preventing viral transmission? Clearly, they are not. It is well known that a high percentage—70% is a common figure—of those who contract the virus were maskers. This should tell something to a thinking person. No, what masks are mostly effective at is symbology—symbols of fear, compliance, and virtue to some. A companion question is this: if maskers truly believe their face ornaments prevent them from unknowingly spreading the virus to others, and by logical extension, from inhaling it themselves, why are they hell-bent on controlling the behavior of others who disagree, followed closely by shaming those who don’t march lockstep with them? It would be refreshing if those advocating compulsory masking, as well as those engaging in shaming the noncompliant, would intellectually grapple with both these questions before continuing with their arguments.

EDITOR NOTE–The maskers say “YOUR mask protects me and MY mask protects you.” Those who contract the virus are victims of the folks who are non-maskers according to the experts.

“Anti-masker”

Soviet word-smithing from our fledgling Ministry of Truth.

See, this is why I don’t like to engage in political discussions very often. Caeth makes the assumption I was happy Lachiondo was on the CDH board, and I wasn’t. Additionally, the “what about” is never any sort of useful thing in rhetoric–two wrongs never, ever make a right.

A health board would ideally be populated with people who understand things about health. Why should it be political at all? From a budget standpoint, and funding, sure. Making recommendation about public health, I don’t see a role for politics.

And before someone suggests I’m in favor of government by “elites”, why yes, yes I am. You trust your personal health to elites normally referred to as doctors and dentists, for example. I most certainly am not an expert in many things, let alone everything, and as much as I hate trusting others, I often must. And public health issues should require knowledge about medicine, health, public safety, epidemiology, and a number of other topics. I don’t think walking around Boise Town Square without a mask in violations of the guidelines in place at the time shows any real ability to understand the issues at hand.

I’m not in favor of anything in general other than common sense, but that’s a flower that doesn’t seem to grow in every garden. I also believe in the Biblical admonition to treat others in the way I would like to be treated, and I am very disappointed others seem so self-centered and uninterested in anyone or anything other than themselves. So everyone knows, yes, I’m a liberal, but apparently the weird kind 🙂

EDITOR NOTE–From the GUARDIAN green box at the upper right we said of the politicos at the beginning, “They aren’t ALL bad people, they just need direction.”

I think New Zealand’s relative success with the pandemic also has something to do with that country having an intelligent, science-understanding population and enlightened national political leadership. New Zealand, as an island nation with a high degree of international tourism despite its isolation, understands its interconnectedness with the larger world. No nation is an island in this global economy and in this global pandemic … not even Idaho.

There has been so much disinformation during this “pandemic,” that the one thing for sure is uncertainity. Progress was not made with Diana Lachiondo on the CDH Board, now let’s see what Raul Labrador can bring to the table.
It did bother me that a young and healthy Ms Lachiondo received a vaccine in the first round of distribution. The way Ada County Commissioners conducted its hearings via video, what elevated Ms. Lachiondo? IMO, she should have deferred to first responders and the elder population.

Jo Jo: I made no such assumption. The Board, by makeup, is political. As it should be. They only make administrative decisions on proposals by the professionals on the District staff. Therefore they must stand before the electorate to defend those decisions. Power to the people.

Any entity that prescribes more freedom is fine by me. This whole Covid Plandemic makes me livid. I have piles of studies that point out how ineffective a mask is to screen a particle that is smaller than the mask can ever stop. And dentists are warning about the REAL adverse symptoms of wearing masks too long every day. If you want to wear a mask…Go for it. It will “protect” you from those who don’t…right? The rest of us will avoid you if you wear your mask.

There are certainly a lot of COVID fanatics in the world these days. Many insist that we are all going to die unless we follow big brothers prescriptions.

So herewith are a few questions for the fanatics, or anyone else who wishes to participate.

We are told Masks are necessary to prevent COVID germs, why then are the masks not treated as hazardous waste? We see them in regular trash cans but we also see a lot laying on the ground in parking lots and in sidewalks. Is that not super dangerous?

How does a Paper mask or a cloth mask really stop the virus when the weave is bigger than the virus molecule? Isn’t it like trying to stop a mosquito with a chain link fence?

How does the virus know to leave you alone when seated at a restaurant but gets you when you walk in or out?

Why does anyone think they are “safe” wearing a mask outside or driving alone in their car?

Finally, why are we being told to lessen our immunity to all sorts of viruses and diseases by wearing masks constantly? After all, it’s being subjected to germs on a daily basis that gives us immunity to all sorts of things.

McClean Lover,
How does it work?
No one is trying to stop the mosquito using a chain link fence. They are trying to use a fence to stop the mosquito attached to a basketball.
A virus/viron attaches to what is effectively your exhalation vapor.
You know when you breathe in cold weather– that is your breath vapor condensing in the cold. Those same vapor molecules would contain any applicable virus or bacteria, or other “stuff” in your respiratory system.
Just like other virus, it needs body fluids. “don’t breath on me”
.
This reminds me of the people scared of HIV on water fountains back in the early days of HIV. Then everyone came to realize, ‘oh sex is required to get it.’ So even the religious started using condoms. Science proves to us how this stuff works.
Sure build your immunity with some exposure. But OUR health care system CAN NOT handle EVERYONE getting ill at the same time. It’s math.
.
You can help out. Help our nurses and doctors. Slow down the mosquitos. Flatten the curve for now. And then you can feel free to pass on the vaccine- get sick, go to Walter Reed to get the world’s best health care to save your bacon.

p.s. Remember mosquitos carry West Nile Virus. Want to reduce your chance of WNV- use protective clothing, right? It’s not 100%, but better than nothing.
In 2006, Idaho had 23 WNV deaths. Imagine if Idaho were to have 1,654 WNV related deaths (same as covid) this year.
We would be spraying everything in sight with bug bombs. And the cowboys from Emmett would be first ones asking for it.

OK, I had resolved to myself I was going to revert to lurker status, but I can’t let this one go…

RIP Easterner, you are exactly right–mosquito abatement is the best fix for WNV. That said, are you putting all your eggs in one basket? I’m not–when I’m in areas where I could reasonably expect to encounter mosquitoes, I wear protective clothing.

COVID vaccine is identical–it’s not 100%, and not everyone can/will get the shot. Why wouldn’t you also be willing to have a backup plan? I’ll probably be able to get the shot near the end of February, but I’ll still be wearing my mask, because I can’t be certain I’m immune, and I wish to continue to protect myself and others.

There really aren’t very many magic silver bullets in the world. I sure do wish people would quit pinning their hopes on magic silver bullets, and have enough sense for defense in depth.