Letters to the editor May 7

As a nurse in Kalispell, I want to say thank you to Governor Steve Bullock for his swift action confronting the COVID-19 pandemic. While hot spots sprung up around the country and many politicians sat on their hands, Governor Bullock demonstrated what strong, steady leadership looks like.

The governor did what was necessary to protect Montanans and flatten the curve in the state. This made it possible for Montana’s doctors and nurses to properly treat patients who did contract the virus.

Though we have seen successes in Montana, like having the lowest rate of hospitalizations per person in the country, the hardest part of our new normal is still ahead.

As the stay-at-home order lifts, everyone must continue to follow the guidelines laid out in the next phase of this. Continue to social distance, always wear protective gear in public, and work from home if possible.

We are by no means out of the woods yet, and I know we will get through this next phase, just as we did the first one — by listening to our leaders, acting responsibly, and taking care of our neighbors.

—Tara Lee, Kalispell

For the past several weeks, we Americans have been told we must stay at home. We have been told we cannot attend church. We have been told we cannot assemble in groups larger than 10.

The state of Maryland has deployed drones to enforce social distances on people’s private property. In Wisconsin a mother was cited for allowing her young daughter for playing out side in the front yard and notation was make in the police report of the incident the mother was being “uncooperative”! A Jewish family in New Jersey was told they could conduct a wedding on their own property. The Illinois governor said his words become law. The governor of Maine has some how become able to declare anything legal or illegal, simply by saying so.

Have we Americans lost our minds?

Where does any politician think he (she) has the authority to make these orders? The orders we have been given in the past several weeks have been absolutely illegal. No where does a politician or a doctor have the authority to tell us these things. The Constitution does not state that when an emergency is declared, the Constitution is null and void. The Constitution is there just for this reason.

Health officials declare they can demand anything in order to “save lives.” Why don’t they declare war “illegal” in order to save lives? Why don’t they declare motorized vehicles illegal in order to save lives?

In the past few weeks we have lost every semblance of the Bill of Rights and no one seems to care.

—Philip Gregory, Kalispell

We appreciate Costco’s decision to require masks for customers, and we assume that they can insist on compliance because their customers are members.

But for other stores, maybe using an incentive program would encourage this practice, as well. Perhaps retail businesses could offer a discount on sales to those who wear masks. Those of us who are in the high-risk group certainly appreciate people who will be protecting us and each other when we are encouraged to reenter the “new-normal” world.

Thank you to all of you.

—Diane Conner, Kalispell

I wish to address the letter to the editor written by Jane Adams of Kalispell on May 2, in which she requests that all businesses in the Flathead make it mandatory for customers to wear a mask. I take issue with her statements on a couple of points.

First off, I am an 80-year-old woman who takes full responsibility for her health by eating healthy, organic, non-processed foods, exercising at least 10 hours a week, and using cosmetics and household products that are not laden with harmful chemicals. I would never ask or expect anyone to be responsible for my health. That responsibility is mine and mine alone.

Secondly, numerous studies show cotton masks may be somewhat effective if worn properly, but that is usually not the case. What they do do is make one inhale their own waste and limit their oxygen intake which is one of the primary catalysts of Covid-19. She calls those of us who to refuse to wear a mask selfish, reckless, disrespectful and inconsiderate. If she feels so strongly, she is right to stay inside or wear a mask herself, but I think it is terribly presumptuous to expect everyone to share her fear and compromise their health in doing so.

I’m sorry she choses to live with such fear, but Covid-19 has a 97% to 99.75% recovery rate. That is of the confirmed cases. Most people who get it self-medicate at home for a few days and it is over. Media has an agenda to keep the fear and panic alive and most people have fallen into their trap.

I do not agree that Costco or any other employer who mandates mask wearing is heroic. On the contrary, they are putting their employees at great risk. I feel for these people who have no choice but to lose their jobs, but all who I have talked to feel it is wrong.

—Alice Infelise, Whitefish

As a retired litigation attorney I am appalled at what I consider conduct totally unbecoming for one who wears the robe of justice.

The Montana Supreme Court suspended Judge Harada without pay for 30 days. There were four specific complaints of judicial misconduct. The most grievous of the four, lying under oath, demands that this judge be removed from the bench.

I have appeared before hundreds of judicial officers and have enormous respect for the robes they wear regardless of my opinion of the person adorned therewith. Were I to encounter a judge lying to me, under oath or otherwise, I would demand removal of that person from the bench.

The people of Montana have a right to expect justice from those entrusted to dispense it.

—William J Tewksbury, Marion