MANDATE: Exercise in futility

I believe the city’s recent decision of mandating masks and the state’s backpedal to Stage 3 are actually irresponsible and borderline insane. One of the only things we know about the virus is that it is only dangerous to a small percentage of our population. The other thing we know is that it is so contagious that it is nearly impossible to contain. We’ve tried masks, shutdowns and social distancing — nothing has really worked.

Most Democrat-led states and cities have been heavily shut down since the beginning, and they are in the same or worse shape for their efforts. The only real answer is a vaccine.

Of course, I am very concerned about health care workers and our local hospital being overwhelmed. Nobody wants that. Just like nobody wants fires or crime or war that put our firefighters, cops and soldiers in harm’s way. But fires, crime and war are not going away and neither is the virus without a vaccine.

It’s time to accept that we are going to have to live (and unfortunately die) with this virus until there is a vaccine. Masks and shutdowns have not worked in those areas of the world with even the most stringent regulations.

So, for now let’s protect the vulnerable as best we can and get back to the business of living. Einstein famously defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” We’ve been there and done that, it doesn’t work. Let’s move on.

DAVID PULIS

Coeur d’Alene