Public health isn't political

We have now observed what seems to be punishment at the Sanders County Commissioners meeting on September 15 for alleged “inappropriate” medical care. This appears to be an open ploy by a group of county citizens to intimidate public servants, (elected, paid or volunteer) to do their bidding or quit to then have people with similar viewpoints placed in office. Remember, in a mid-August article it was clearly stated that it was the desire to have a “medically trained conservative patriot” on the county board of health. Does Sanders County really need a group of random citizens meeting in a room dictating to medical personnel on specific medical procedures for individuals with information from the internet?

There are repeated news articles of exhausted medical personnel and overwhelmed facilities; these are not fantasy stories. While all of us need medical attention at some point in our lives, some of us can avoid a COVID related hospital stay with a C-19 vaccine when it is available.

The next Sanders County public health officer to fill that now open position must be appointed on the basis of his or her medical training and experience, not political leanings. Commissioners have to hear from other Sanders County citizens who want at the minimum a professional health provider who can leave their own political views at home.

Contact the Sanders County Public Healthh Board, let them know you want informed professionals making health decisions, attend commissioner and health board meetings with a couple of like-minded people, write letters, (the commissioners actually read messages from the public) post and talk on social media. Allow yourselves to be perhaps uncomfortable at public meetings, etc. Let health workers know they are appreciated, from the cleaning staff, to all levels of care providers, to secretaries.

While I am concerned in the short run, I do have hope for the future that we will return to some type of equilibrium in local, (state and national as well) politics, but not without some intense conversations and a return to civility.

Steve Oswald, Thompson Falls